Setting the Scene
The first part of any birthday party is the decorations. They’re what set the tone for the entire event. For this party, we used inexpensive wrapping paper to do just that. We chose a bright polka dot paper from Target for $3 and used it in several places. It gave us a lot of bang for only three bucks.
The Little Chef Table
- Choose a plastic tablecloth that coordinates with the paper. For this event, we chose a bright lime green to coordinate with our inspiration paper.
- Cut a strip of wrapping paper the length of the table and then in half. This is a great runner for any party and can be used to personalize tables for any theme.
- Next, add coordinating square paper plates and paper cups in a solid color.
- You can utilize any kitchen items for centerpieces. We put green foam into a container from the dollar store and added some pot holders on top of skewers. Add tissue paper and you’ve got a centerpiece. We also put a small pail with bright colored candy (in this case, Pixie Stix) in it to finish off the tables.
Treat & Favor Table
- For the table covering, again, a lime green plastic tablecloth works well (we purchased a two-pack).
- Wrap a shoe box with the gift wrap and place the cupcakes frosted in white on top for decorating later. Add a 6-muffin tin in front of the box to highlight the fun goodies that will be used later to decorate the cupcakes.
- Cut a piece of the gift wrap to wrap around the top of a juice or milk box, leaving the top and bottom open.
- We added popcorn in fun cupcake liners for the little chefs (or parents) to munch on. This is a great and inexpensive way to display some goodies for the party.
- For this particular party, favors were our big splurge. I found these great chef hats and aprons at Michaels for $3. They were really cute and a must-have for any chef party, so the $3 spent was well worth it. We also included a cookie cutter ($0.29 each) along with a recipe for one of the guest of honor’s favorite sugar cookies. We printed the recipes on cardstock and glued a fun coordinating paper on the back. We then put both into a cellophane bag and tied with a ribbon – a simple and inexpensive way to send a small favor in addition to the apron/hat set.
Arrival
Upon arrival, each child should take one apron and hat from the table and put it on.Activities
Since the theme of this party is “Top Chef,” we have incorporated individual and team food challenges.Salad on a Stick (Individual Activity)
Time: 10 MinutesObject: For each child to stack yummy salad ingredients on a stick to make a unique healthy creation.
Materials: Any variety of salad ingredients cut into bite-sized 1” chunks.
Here’s what we used:
- ¼ Head of Lettuce
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- Green Peppers
- Croutons
- Salad Dressing for Dipping
- Toothpicks
How To:
1. Place the ingredients in the center of the table.
2. Give each child a small plate with a number on it and 2 toothpicks. Instruct them to make 2 identical salads on a stick: one for them and one for the judge.
3. Set a timer for 2 minutes and say, “Go!”
4. Let them create!
5. When time is up, they should give their plate with their creation to the judge who will pick a winner based on creativity and flavor.
Smoothies (Team Activity)
Time: 15 MinutesObject: To create a yummy fruit smoothie as a team.
Materials:
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Mixed Frozen Fruit (slightly thawed and divided into bowls by type of fruit)
- Variety of Fresh Fruit (bananas are great for this and inexpensive)
- Blender
- 2 Bowls or Pitchers
How To:
1. Place all of the possible ingredient choices on the table.
2. Divide the little chefs into two teams (we purchased two colors of aprons to make that easy) and assign a Sous Chef (adult) to each.
3. Set the timer for 4 minutes and say, “Go!”
4. Let the little chefs work together to create the perfect smoothie.
5. When time is up, the adult from the team blends up the concoction.
6. Each team serves their creation to the judge and each team member.
Pizzas (Individual Activity)
Time: 10 MinutesObject: Create a yummy pizza that will be tasty for the little chef. This round is not judged by anyone except the little chef themselves.
Materials:
- 8 English Muffins
- 4 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 1 Jar of Pizza Sauce
- Pepperoni
- ½ Chopped Green Pepper
- Canadian Bacon
- Small Can of Pineapple
How To:
1. Split all of the ingredients into 2 sets of bowls and place a set at each end of the table.
2. Give each little chef a plate with an English muffin (or other crust option).
3. Let them go to work creating a little pizza.
4. Bake until done (until the cheese is lightly browned).
5. Enjoy!
Blindfolded Taste Test (Team Activity)
Object: Each little chef should identify three mystery foods while blindfolded. I have seen this one on the “Top Chef” show and it’s always entertaining!Materials
- 2 Blindfolds
- 24 “Mystery Bites” (This can be anything you have on hand. I recommend using the ingredients that you already have for the party. Examples: Pineapple, pepperoni, marshmallows, cheese, strawberries, yogurt.)
How To:
1. Divide into teams.
2. Blindfold the first little chef on each team.
3. One at a time, give each little chef a mystery food and let them guess what it is.
4. Each food identified correctly earn the chef a point for his/her team.
5. Repeat this round three times and then move to the next round of little chefs.
6. The team with the most points wins!
Cupcake Decorating (Individual Activity)
Object: Turn a cupcake into a masterpiece.
Materials
- Cupcakes with White Frosting (homemade or store bought)
- Sprinkles
- Any Other Toppings (marshmallows, crushed cookies, candies, etc.)
How To:
1. Place a cupcake in front of each little chef and let them decorate until their masterpieces are complete.
2. Eat and enjoy!
Tara Odebrecht is the brains behind Shindig Diva, a boutique event planning business serving the Twin Cities area.
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