Ideas for a low cost, offsite dinner

[jennika]

Besides a picnic, does anyone have an idea for a low cost, off site, fun team building type dinner event?  It has to be done "at" dinner.  

[JessW]

Just a thought, but how about a 'bring your own food and drink' barbecue at someone's house/garden, if it is work then perhaps a manager's / director's / executive's house.

Good fun, they buy the food they want and cook it, with the 'host' providing the lit barbecue.

It can work,and takes very little organising.

If it is friends, then it is even easier!

Jess

[adminforyou]

Find a small diner with a varied menu and make reservations - have everybody pay for their own dinner.

[Atlanta Z3]

How about a scavenger hunt, ending at a favorite fast food place?  Won't be the best meal in town, but the hunt would be the bigger part of the event.    

[Katie G]

My organization has moved away from hosting full sit-down dinners and moved towards hors d'ouvres stations.  Less formal, less expensive -- particularly if you keep the beverages to beer/wine/soda, or no alchohol at all -- and it's easier to mingle as people move around the room......

Or is there a really good pizza place near you?  Most offer meal-sized salads and soups for those with wheat and/or dairy issues as well.

 

[msmarieh]

Bowling with pizza

Miniature golf tournament

Volunteer with United Way Day of Caring type of program



Marie
Peer Moderator

[jennika]

Thanks for the responses, we are paying for a nice dinner.  It is the "team building" part I am trying to work out.    We are going to have about 20 people attend, I am thinking of before the meal pulling a desert bar, teams of 4 or 5 will have to create some corporate theme (logo, a project, one of our products) made with.. brownies, ice creams, sugar condiments, etc.   in a big pan.  Then our department head can pick the winner and after dinner is done, the winning dessert will be presented.

That is what I am leaning towards, but haven't made my mind up.  But you can see it is "at the restuarant" type event ideas I am looking for.

Thanks for the input so far, if you have any other ideas, let me know.

[JessW]

In that case, how about going to one of the companies that teach cooking for corporate teambuilding.  They even get to eat their own creations.  Best of both worlds.

Jess

PS your question was very misleading and gave an entirely different image of the information you wanted.

[Atlanta Z3]

If this is a nice dinner, creating a dessert could be a messy endeavor.  Also the men could feel left out of this if they are not kitchen creative.  How about a trivia contest - questions all based on the company. Such as year started, mission statement, largest client, company goals, president/ceo's hobby.  Set up teams and which ever team has the most correct answers wins.

[mashley]

We had a great time using trivia about staff.  Each staff member was handed index cards and asked to write something no one at the company knew about them, 1 per card.  It was a lot of fun trying to guess the employee, and the prizes were from the dollar store! (it was 9 years ago and I still remember being surprised to learn my boss had raced go karts as a child)

[jennika]

Sorry I was confusing, at that point nothing was set in stone.   I like the card activity, it is neater then the dessert idea.  I I think I will go for that one.  It is a good icebreaker and can promote internal discussion between our managers.  I like it!  Thanks for the idea.

[mashley]

When's your meeting?  I'm curious how it went.

[jennika]

It is not until September.  I will let you know.