Focus: Local corporations spice up their business at Eurostoves

By Jonathan Phelps
Correspondent

April 07, 2008 01:20 pm

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BEVERLY — Many local business and corporations such as Mullen Advertising are starting to spice things up, literally, by adding cooking to their repertoire.

Although Mullen isn't in the culinary arts industry, the company turns to Eurostoves Inc.'s Culinary Centre in Commodore Plaza on Enon Street for many of its team-building exercises and social events.

That's right, corporate teams don't just have to meet in board rooms and sit through boring meetings all day. Eurostoves provides a unique and relaxed atmosphere that inspires creative thinking, builds stronger leaders and helps boost employee and team morale.

"It's a unique experience for corporate teams to meet here," said Stacey O'Brien, the culinary program director at Eurostoves. "It really sends a positive message to employees that the company cares. It's more of an award, not just another dinner or catered food."

These corporate team-building programs are customized to the specific needs and goals of each company. Typically, a large group creates a menu together, then splits into smaller groups to prepare the different parts of the meal.

"Not everyone needs to be a gourmet chef to participate as a team," O'Brien said. Cooking is "a real fun, hands-on experience."

Each group is led by a professional-chef instructor and learns kitchen secrets and culinary techniques to improve their cooking. This is all done from Eurostoves' 2,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art kitchen.

Some groups even add a competitive edge and have the different prepared meals judged, said O'Brien, while other groups might cook the meal and also come up with marketing plans to go along with it.

"Mullen is in a creative business and Eurostoves lets us unleash our creative energy in a really classy, fun and inspiring environment," said David Swaebe, vice president of agency communications at Mullen. "Everyone who participates leaves with a big smile on their face."

Other businesses that meet at Eurostoves on occasions are Raytheon, Enterprise Rental, Beverly Hospital and many more. Corporations also hold board meetings, holiday parties and luncheons at the facility.

After the meal is complete, each group gets to sit down and enjoy the meal they made together. And they don't have to wash the dishes afterward.

Classes start at $125 per person (including all ingredients) and can hold 40 to 50 participants. They can be scheduled days, nights or weekends. To reserve an outing, call Eurostoves at 978-232-0007 or go to www.eurostoves.com.