The Taste Trial

A Sensory Showdown That Will Surprise Your Senses

Think you’ve got a sharp palate? The Taste Trial is here to challenge everything you think you know about flavor. In this high-energy, laugh-filled experience, your taste buds are your only guide as you dive into a series of mystery bites — blindfolded and fully immersed in the moment.

Each teammate will face the challenge solo, but your collective performance is what counts. Identify ingredients correctly, rack up your score, and earn a valuable edge for what’s coming next. From sweet to savory, classic to unexpected, this flavor-forward challenge is all about instinct, teamwork, and a little friendly competition.

Expect the unexpected, cheer each other on, and get ready to see your favorite foods in a whole new way. This isn’t just a warm-up — it’s your first step toward culinary domination.

Ready to taste victory?

Contact

More about the taste trial

A Sensory Challenge That Sharpens Your Palate and Boosts Your Team

Welcome to The Taste Trial: a high-energy, laugh-out-loud, and surprisingly tricky sensory challenge designed to put your taste buds to the test! Think you know your favorite foods? You might be surprised…

This fast-paced team competition invites each contestant to step into the hot seat, blindfolded and wearing sound-blocking headphones, to sample five mystery bites of delicious (and sometimes devious) ingredients. The goal? Identify as many as possible using only your sense of taste.

The Twist:

Each person on your team gets their own five-bite challenge. Your individual scores will be combined into one total team score. The team with the highest number of correct guesses will earn a special advantage in the primary cooking competition later in the experience, like a head start on ingredients, extra planning time, or another powerful perk.

What to Expect:

A mix of sweet, savory, tangy, and classic flavors

Familiar foods, nothing gross

A supportive and hype-filled atmosphere where teams cheer from the sidelines

Plenty of laughs, surprising guesses, and bragging rights for the best palates

Is it hard?

Challenging, yes, but this isn’t a trick show. No TV-level pranks or bizarre ingredients here. All foods will be real, recognizable, and totally guessable. It’s about tuning into your senses, trusting your instincts, and having fun in the process.

Team Bonding + Strategy

Use your collective food knowledge to your advantage! Share tips, talk flavor profiles, and encourage your teammates as they taste. You’ll need sharp senses and sharp teamwork to win.

Reward:

Bragging rights and a real strategic advantage heading into the main cooking challenge.

The Taste Test is more than a warm-up; it’s a full-on flavor showdown. Ready to taste victory?

Frequently asked questions

  • Culinary Experiences are interactive cooking competitions designed for people who love to watch cooking competition shows, and have always wanted to try it for themselves.

  • These experiences are designed for:

    • Friends and family gatherings

    • Visitors to Sonoma County

    • Locals looking for a group activity

    • Corporate or team-building groups

    • Wine club groups and special interest groups

    No professional cooking experience required!

  • Most experiences are designed for adults. There are three options to consider in designing your experience:

    1. Adults over 18 only;

    2. Mixed group of adults over 18 and teens aged 11-18;

    3. Teen groups aged 11-18 only

    We will work together to design the perfect experience for your group, regardless of age!

  • No. Experiences are designed to be approachable and enjoyable for all skill levels. A little experience in the kitchen is helpful, but your group will work in teams, so you will likely have at least a few people with experience.

  • Locations vary based on your group’s needs.

    • Small groups (6-12) can often use a standard size kitchen, either at your own home, or a rental property for visitors

    • Large groups (12-16), or those in need of a larger space, can use the Cooking for a Crowd kitchen

  • Group sizes vary depending on the experience, but most events are designed for medium-sized groups. Since the experiences are competition based, the minimum group size is six people. Teams will be divided into groups of three or four, depending on group size. The maximum size is 16 people.

    If you are interested in a larger experience, we can work together to provide it. (Our biggest group has been 50 people!)

    If your group is smaller than six, contact us, and we can try to schedule two smaller groups together. The nature of the competition requires at least six people.

  • Pricing includes:

    • All food & ingredients

    • At least two hosts, or more, depending on group size

    • Setup & cleanup related to the experience

    • Any additional costs (such as wine purchases or venue fees if needed) will be clearly stated and agreed upon in advance

  • Pricing varies by experience and group size. Most experiences start at a per-person rate, with add on item pricing available upon request. Current pricing will always be listed on the experiences page.

  • Yes! All experiences are private experiences!

  • No. We are not licensed to provide alcoholic beverages, and you will be using knives!

    Depending on location of the experience, you may be able to offer your own drinks following the competition, while you eat and judge each other.

  • Yes, many dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice, including vegetarian and gluten-free. Please share any restrictions when booking.

  • Most experiences require nothing beyond comfortable clothing and a willingness to participate. Any specific requirements will be communicated in advance. If you have long hair, bring something to tie it back.

  • We recommend booking at least 2–4 weeks in advance, especially for weekends and peak travel seasons.

  • Cancellation policies will be clearly outlined at the time of your booking. Because food needs to be purchased in advance, experiences must be cancelled at least three days prior to the event, and may incur a cancellation penalty.

  • Tipping is never required but is always appreciated if you feel the experience exceeded expectations.

  • Experiences can be booked directly through our website. Fill out the contact form, and we will get back to you to determine group size, date & time, and help you choose the best combination of experiences to suit your group.

  • Experiences are hosted by Cooking for a Crowd. Depending on the size of your group, you will have at least two people hosting. They will lead all activities, setup and cleanup related to the experience, and make sure you and your group have the best time possible!

  • If you’re unsure which experience fits your group, reach out — we’re happy to help you choose or create something that works.

Schedule an Experience

If you're interested in booking an experience with us, complete the form with a few details about your needs. We'll review your message and get back to you within 48 hours.