Food for thought (and team building)

Many people consider cooking to be an art. Now it has become an exercise in team building.

In this issue of Options, we look at team building in two out-of-office experiences, in the kitchen and on the water.

In the first example, writer Joan Tupponce finds out who can stand the heat in the kitchen at Mise En Place in Richmond and the Founders Inn in Virginia Beach.

Meanwhile, in Hampton Roads, writer Jill Keech tries out another team-building venue aboard the schooner Virginia, a reproduction of a 1917 tall ship.

In both scenarios, group leaders say, the usual chain of command falls away as leaders emerge from the team. And everyone has some fun as well.

After all that hard work on the deck or over the stove, some men would like to relax with a little pampering. The perfect place is in Tysons Corner. At the Grooming Lounge, people like Redskins’ cornerback Shawn Springs can get a manicure and other spa treatments without feeling out of place.

But for real relaxation, nothing can beat a weekend getaway to the beach. Familiar vacation spots Virginia Beach, the Outer Banks and Myrtle Beach, S.C., offer many new attractions.

But the ultimate getaway might be a fishing trip to Mongolia or the Amazon. Richmond-based Fly Fish the World is true to its name, leading fishing expeditions to some of the most exotic locales on earth.

Some participants say the best thing about these trips is the camaraderie they create within the group. Of course, they can always build on that team spirit when they head to the kitchen and cook their fish.

Robert Powell
Editor
Virginia Business