20+
FROM FIRST TIMERS TO C-SUITE
30+
COUNTRIES OF RESEARCH
13
CUISINES IN ACTIVE ROTATION
DC
HOME BASE, ON SITE NATIONWIDE
THE EXPERIENCE
Part cooking class, part cultural journey
​
1. Your team cooks together
Everyone works at the stove — no experience needed, just curiosity and an appetite. A curated dish, made with their own hands, guided every step.
​
​
2. Every ingredient has a backstory
As you cook, the history and culture behind each ingredient comes alive. The depth is what makes it unforgettable — and what makes it stick long after the meal.
​
​
3. Tailored to your group
Built around your team, your goals, and your space. From a leadership off-site to a heritage-month gathering, the format fits your moment.
"Real connection happens when people make something together."
Marianne Tshihamba · Founder, GastroSoul
WHY IT WORKS
More memorable than a team dinner. More meaningful than a happy hour.
-
Real connection
A shared, hands-on activity that gets people laughing, collaborating, and connecting — far more than a meal you sit through.
​
​
-
Inclusive & global
Exploring the food and heritage of different cultures is a warm, natural way to celebrate your people and mark heritage moments.
​
​
-
Right for the moment
Perfect for off-sites, employee appreciation, client experiences, or welcoming a newly merged or reorganized team.
​
​
-
Memorable
Delicious food, real accomplishment, and stories your team will retell long after the event is over.
INVESTMENT
EXPERIENCES AND PRICING
Group size, menu, and format are tailored to you. Multi-event and recurring engagements available.
Final quote after a short planning conversation.
MOST POPULAR
Team Cooking Experience
$3,000
Starting Price
Leadership Experience
$4,500
Starting Price
Best for: Senior teams & key clients
Heritage Event
Custom
Quoted after consultation
Best for: Company-wide culture moments
WHY GASTROSOUL
A culinary historian who has worked at every level.
Culinary Historians of Washington, DC
​Member and active contributor to the region's foremost food history community.
Les Dames d'Escoffier International
​Member of the premier professional organization for women in food, beverage, and hospitality.
20+ Years at the Highest Levels
​Decades working with heads of state, ministers, Fortune 100 leaders, federal agencies, and international organizations.
American University · School of International Service
​Guest speaker, Gastrodiplomacy: How Cuisine Promotes Foreign Policy.
​Fox 5 DC · Good Morning Washington · Edible DC
Featured in regional broadcast and print media as a culinary culture authority.
DC History Center · Who Feeds the District
​Launched Immigrant Food, a public program celebrating DC's immigrant culinary heritage.
Ready to build something your team will remember?
A 20-minute planning call is all it takes to scope your experience, pick your cuisine, and find a date.
marianne@gastrosoul.com
GastroSoul, Washington, DC
What others are saying...
“My team at the Gates Foundation has been looking to reconnect after months of working from home. Marianne suggested we make a dish from Africa as a way of connecting with the cultures where we work even when we could not travel. We all had a great time and learned about the food and culture. Thanks.”
— Lee Pyne-Mercier
The Gates Foundation
“Marianne is amazing and knows her food! We cooked Thai dishes that she learned to cook on her travels there. Seems she travels for food a lot! She makes it seem so easy and fun to learn. Take her class. You will not be disappointed”
— Peter Stoutjesdijk
“ The friendliness and the wood was amazing. Marianne is telling you a story of flavor and tradition as she cooks"
— Vanessa