TOCA’s Unique Sports Marketing Solutions
Most sports fans show up at an event to enjoy the game and to add their energy to help their team win. The focus is on the action, and all the rest is usually taken for granted. Creating a good sporting event is an art form, with many different pieces that go into framing the event in order to make it a memorable and exciting experience for everyone involved. Creating the Ideal Fit The sporting industry requires a special eye to marketing. We are proud of our team of TOCA professionals who are able to work hand in hand with clients in order to create the perfect fit for each event. Making Every Experience One to Remember At TOCA, our goal is to make every event we produce an experience that people will enjoy to the fullest and remember for a long time to come. In service to our clients, we make sure that what we add helps to articulate the brand, inspiring and building recognition and customer loyalty every step of the way. Bringing An Event to Life Having produced sporting events at regional, national, international levels, we consider ourselves experts at creating customized solutions for every possible situation. We love the challenge of collaborating with our clients to explore innovative strategies that bring an event to life. Some of Our Favorite Events Some of our favorite events of the past have been creating critical elements for SONY Open Tennis and the BCS College Football Championship Game. And of course, with one of our main offices based in Rio de Janeiro, we always enjoy working with clients there, such as the Confederation Cup and FIFA World Cup, and we’re absolutely thrilled about being a part of the Rio Summer Games coming up in 2016. New Contracts Currently TOCA’s focus is on the new contracts that are keeping us busy as we enter the new year. In the initial process of envisioning plans for each one, here just a few of the things we’re up to: We just received a three year contract with Banco Itau International to produce their experiential marketing component at the Miami Open. With Toca’s Co-Director, Sean Gibbons wielding his racquet on the court whenever he gets the chance, there is no question that this is a perfect fit. Presented by Itau, the contract covers the event for 2015, 2016, 2017, which puts us right in our sweetspot! Another contract we recently signed is once again with Univision to produce their Fieston 2015 events. These will be hosted in Los Angeles in February, Houston in August, Chicago in April, and Dallas in October. The focus is around Liga MX, the Mexican Soccer League, where we expect an attendance of over 8,000 guests! Loving What We do Working to create sports marketing solutions is as exciting as you can imagine. Bringing our clients’ visions to life by carefully honing a solid strategy is extremely satisfying, especially as the project approaches its final form. Experiencing the end product with fans who not only engage with their team, but also feel the vibe that we’ve helped create becomes the absolute topping on the cake. And this is why we love what we do! Contact Us For more information on sports marketing solutions, contact us today: www.tocaevents.com
Rio de Janeiro: Passion, Pleasure, and Practicality
Rio de Janeiro… immediately the name evokes steamy nights, sun-filled days, samba, Carnival, and so much more. If you’ve already been to Rio, you might remember the first time you arrived, with that view of Corcovado rising from the ocean, the long stretches of beach, and the fragrance of possibility permeating all. Known as the happiest city in the world, it is no wonder that TOCA Events is based here, as well as in sexy Miami. In fact, TOCA co-owner Robson Coccaro is a Rio native, with all the charm, spice, and flair that is so emblematic of his culture. Soccer at sunset in Ipanema: Carioca life style Exceptional Weather, Exceptional Culture At TOCA, we love Rio for uncountable reasons. The hot summer weather that sends us straight to the water; the temperate winter that has us donning light sweaters as our friends in colder climes wish they were here; the exceptional culture that captures cuisine, entertainment, and all the rest that defines Rio’s sultry and fun-loving way of looking at life; and the exuberance of the people, which keeps us smiling 24/7. A Passion for Life We don’t have to tell you that the Brazilian passion for life is contagious. Go to one Carnaval celebration and you’ll be hooked for life. The greatest party in the world, this is just one facet of Rio that keeps revelers coming back for more. Architectural Imagination and Respect for the Past Rio is a combination of gorgeous Colonial buildings and modern skyscrapers. With so many cities losing their character to overdevelopment and poor city planning, Rio maintains its soul by fusing architectural imagination with a respect for the past. Unparalleled Nature And then of course, there is the natural scenery, with 55 miles of gorgeous beaches, including famed Ipanema and Copacabana. Visit the 8,000 acres of Tijuca National Park and you will be in the midst of the largest urban forest in the world, found right at the base of the Christ statue. Venture further out and you will experience breathtaking flora and fauna in natural habitats that are unparalleled. The Perfect Meeting Ground As global event planners, it became obvious to us right from the start that Rio de Janeiro is the perfect meeting ground for businesses around the world. With its growing infrastructure, the city boasts great hotels, a good subway system, an international airport that is only 25 minutes from downtown, and exceptional convention venues. Event Planning Whether planning an event in the trendy Tijuca district at Riocentro, with its five pavillions and one million square feet of space, or in Lapa, the artistic neighborhood that features the Rio Scenarium, options abound. Every event venue offers a plethora of activities all around, including live music events, hotels, and excellent restaurants. Our event planning team often opts for locations around Sugarloaf where there are various meeting areas highlighted by the stunning view. Knowing the City Like the Back of Our Hand Having a main office in Rio makes us very lucky event planners indeed, and we know the city like the back of our hand. From sports hospitality, B2B forums, product launches, and everything in between, TOCA is often called upon to host major events such as the 2014 World Cup, along with the upcoming 2016 Summer Olympics. Our international team has also been a part of enhancing activities at the NBA Rio Games 2013 and 2014 at the HSBC Arena and the FIFA World Cup 2014, where we used multiple venues for our multimedia presentations. Passion, Pleasure, Practicality Businesses from the world over clamor to come to Rio. They know that any event hosted here will be a success with their clients, as there are few on earth who don’t appreciate a place that so successfully combines passion, pleasure, and practicality. Contact Us For more information on bringing your event to Rio, contact us today! www.tocaevents.com
The Fine Art of Flower Arrangement
Even the hardest of hearts will open before the presence of beautiful flowers. Touching us in the deepest way, their inherent magic penetrates our psyches, lifting us up on the darkest days and granting us continuing joy on the brightest. It is more than apparent to us at TOCA that flowers help to make the event. Whether you’re hosting a party of thousands, an intimate setting for two, or enjoying time on your own, flowers complete the scene. Flowers create a mood. They affect our emotions without the use of words. They help to create a connection between people and environment. They raise the spirit. You can gather a bunch of wildflowers together and put them in a jar, place a simple bouquet in a vase, or use your imagination to create a combination of colors and textures. No matter what you do, flowers will exercise their power to enchant. When we follow the history of flower arranging, we find that the earliest versions began in ancient Egypt, where cut flowers were placed in vases to enhance a table. To celebrate an event, such as a procession or burial, stylized arrangements were put together to honor the moment. The ancient Greeks and Romans used flowers for their symbolic meaning, creating garlands and wreaths used to award highly regarded poets, orators, and athletes. In Rome, a military victory saw commanders crowned in headpieces made with herbs and flowers woven together. In ancient China, floral arrangements were used profusely in the Han era, which dates back to 207 BC. Looking at carvings, pottery, and embroidery from this period, you will see the extraordinary finesse the Chinese applied to creating their flower decor. With the Byzantine Empire, floral arrangements were often designed in a cone shape. Using flowers such as daisies, carnations, and lilies combined with fruit, cypress branches, pine, and ribbons, floral decoration became as varied as a designer’s imagination allowed. Flower arranging in Europe really took hold around 1000 AD when churches and monasteries were adorned with lush florals. In the Middle Ages, gardens expanded as herbs and wildflowers became more popular and in demand. And just look at Renaissance paintings to enjoy the magnificent vase arrangements that were in fashion, as well as the ample garlands created to decorate walls and ceilings. Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, is perhaps the best known for its exquisite detail and simplicity. The disciplined practice of Ikebana emphasizes the importance of shape and line, where the colors of blooms combine uniquely. Here the use of a rock and cactus, along with a minimal use of flowers create a spiritual and meditative message that can calm and widen the soul. Serene, whimsical, or vibrant, a floral arrangement can create any mood required for any occasion. At TOCA, our floral designers are kept on their toes with a wide variety of events to challenge their artistry. Enhancing decor with dried flowers, bark, leaves, moss, and artifacts, they can create a spectacular effect, no matter what the season. Contact Us For more on creating flower arrangements for your event, feel free to contact us at: www.tocaevents.com
The Seaside Town of Sitges
There is nothing more wonderful than becoming familiar with parts unknown! At TOCA we love the excitement and mystery of travel, and making discoveries that we can share with our readers is just another way we can help to expand borders. Our TOCA Events Brand Interface Director, Fabio Pamplona, recently came back from a trip to Barcelona, extolling the virtues of a small seaside town called Sitges just a hop, skip, and a short train ride away. With its 17 beaches, you can easily spend the day in Sitges, or better yet, book your entire trip there and then pop over to Barcelona to get a smattering of city life before heading back to deep seaside reverie. A True Vacation, Spanish Style Visiting Sitges means sunbathing, swimming in the azure waters of the Mediterranean, and enjoying the pleasures of a true vacation, Spanish style. With beaches for everyone you’ll find the gamut, including family friendly, gay friendly, and nudist friendly, assuring you that Sitges is a place where everyone feels comfortable and welcomed. Choose a beach close to town where you can people watch and enjoy the company of many, such as Platja de La Fragata right in front of the main church. Or, a bit off the beaten track, you can find a more secluded environment such as Platja de Terramar or Platja de las Aniquines to the west. People Watching and the Allure of Cafe Life Taking a bit of a respite from the sun, you can walk the famed Passeig de la Ribera with the old city on one side and the sea on the other. As wildly passionate cafe lovers, we at TOCA are like iron filings to the magnet of an attractive cafe, and on Sitges there are many. Stop in one of the many local cafes to people watch as you sip a refreshing drink in the breeze. Parc del Garraf From the island you can take some wonderful pilgrimages to the many points of interest nearby. There’s a great national park just inland from Sitges called the Parc del Garraf. With its arid landscape, you get a real sense of the area’s beauty through the flora and fauna, with a stunning backdrop of indigenous calcareous rock formations. The Wine Tour at Castell de Vilarnau Fabio was particularly taken with the excellent wine tour he took to the Castell de Vilarnau. With so many great cavas, it is no wonder that the Catalunya region boasts some of the greatest wines in Spain. Founded in 1986, Castell de Vilarnau’s guided tour includes observing the different stages of production the grapes go through, along with the requisite tastings, and of course, a chance to dine at the great restaurant there. The Monastery at Montserrat An impressive property with majestic views, you can see the monastery at Montserrat from Vilarnau. Montserrat was founded in 1025, becoming a strong destination for pilgrims and visitors as they heard stories of miracles taking place there. With its breathtaking mountain vistas, you can walk there on well trodden paths, or take the funicular to the top. And while you’re there and if you get the chance, listen to the Basilica choir so famous for their Gregorian chants and other types of religious choral music. Finding What’s Right for You Whether you want to relax and do next to nothing or be an active participant in all that Sitges and its environs have to offer, you will find exactly what’s right for you on and near this gorgeous Mediterranean paradise. Contact Us For more information on great destinations for enjoying a vacation or holding your event, contact us today: www.tocaevents.com
The Fine Art of Event Lighting
Lighting creates an atmosphere. When it’s right, it ignites the emotions, sets the mood, and offers direction. Just think of the full moon in a midnight sky shining over a lake. Creating the ultimate romantic setting, it also asks us to look out at the world as we connect with the beauty of nature. Making an Idea Come Alive When it comes to an event, lighting is a powerful design tool that can make an idea come alive. At TOCA, our goal is to create a lighting scheme that is in tune with the surroundings, whether it is used for general illumination, or as an accent or decorative element. When lighting can be layered, using all of the above, the perfect ambiance can be achieved as all falls into harmony. Different Kinds of Lighting General lighting fills up a particular space with overall visibility, such as when we turn a light switch on to see what’s in a room. Accent lighting is directed at a specific area, where we want to direct attention to a particular object or objects. Decorative lighting comes in the form of varying types of small lighting devices, such as table lamps, wall sconces, and even candles. Outdoor Illumination Often we are asked to create exterior lighting, especially when we want to add character to a specific area. This type of lighting can be quite crucial to an event where activities are going on outdoors, as the direction of light will instruct guests where they should be, encouraging them to enjoy certain areas rather than others. Outdoor lighting opens up an event even as it creates a contained atmosphere. It also ensures a safe space for guests, providing them with confidence to see in the dark. Opening Up and Defining Space Our TOCA lighting experts are always looking for the ideal way to open up and define space, whether it is an outdoor or indoor venue. Highlighting installations while also providing the right amount of light to get the most out of photography for a special event is crucial. Impacting the Quality of an Event Good lighting will always impact the quality of an event. A good lighting designer will first assess the possibilities in a given environment and then go to work to find just the right combination of direct and ambient elements. LEDs One of our favorite sources of light comes from LED lighting, which has really taken off as a way to illuminate events over the past several years. In the beginning, using LEDs was expensive and not so easy to control. This has all changed as the art and science of LED illumination has evolved. The beauty of LEDs is that their color output is absolutely terrific for achieving optimum impact. And because they never get hot, they are so much safer to use than conventional lights, eliminating risk at events. LEDs also consume a fraction of the energy generated by traditional incandescent lights, allowing for a longer life and more efficient power requirements. Reducing the Carbon Footprint One of the best aspects of using LED lighting is that they help reduce the carbon footprint, which is what we at TOCA stand for as we seek out the most environmentally sound practices for every event we create. Providing Our Clients with the Best Atmosphere At TOCA, we hold the art of illumination in high regard as we strive to give our clients the very best atmosphere in which to hold their event, no matter if it is a corporate get-together, an art opening, a sporting extravaganza, or a gala party. Contact Us For more information please contact us at: www.tocaevents.com
The Magic of December in Berlin
Most of our team at TOCA agrees that Berlin is an absolute favorite destination, especially during the winter season. We know that many are daunted when thinking of going to a northern European city in December, where skies are mostly grey and temperatures drop down into the single digits, but we’re here to tell you that you will see a completely different side in Berlin when the Christmas holidays come around! Old-fashioned Charm and Youthful Ebulliance December is a time when the German spirit is brimming with an old-fashioned charm along with a youthful ebulliance that is so signature to this city. Putting aside the great music and art scene, and an international supply of restaurants that seems to expand every month, the winter holidays are a time to bundle up and take to the streets. Enjoying the Holidays Berliner Style With over 80 Christmas markets offering everything from handmade artifacts to antiques, locally designed clothing, artwork, jewelry, and so much more, there is very little of the frenetic shopping we’re so used to seeing around this time in the States. Watch children play on bungee-rigged playgrounds as they fly from ground to air, sit at an outdoor cafe wrapped in a blanket as you sink your teeth into a mouthwatering bratwurst with its blistering coal-roasted skin topped with mustard, wander around the wooden booths that seem to be designed for another century, and imbibe the ubiquitous gluwein that warms you down to your toes… this is the way Berliners and the rest of Germany enjoys the holidays, and we are all for it! Potsdamer Platz’s Winter Wonderland We love the winter wonderland at Potsdamer Platz, right in the heart of Berlin, where you can skate around the ice rink, go on a toboggan run, visit any one of the wooden huts to sample holiday fare, and all the while take in the stunning view of the Brandenburg Gate. Nearby there is a great Christmas market, where stalls are stocked with leather, textiles, pottery, wood carvings, and other handcrafted goods. Listening to the Masters Music is a staple in Berlin, and no matter if you are into the club or classical concert scene, everyone goes to listen to the masters in the magnificent churches and castles around Berlin. There is nothing quite like listening to Bach or Handel in the Kopenick Palace, or in the hauntingly beautiful Hall of Mirrors at Clarchens Balhaus, which is precious any time of the year. After 60 years of abandonment, you feel the history here. Ravaged from the war, the hall has kept its peeling wallpaper and bruised stucco. With the candles lit, flowers anointing each table, and good wine available from the bar, there is a sense of decadent splendor and profound magic as you absorb the remnants of the hall’s history, letting the music take over. The atmosphere and acoustics are ideal for a romantic night of chamber music, which is why locals and visitors in-the-know hold the hall in so much regard. Celebrating the City We love Berlin for its history, its vibrant present, and the sense of its pulsating future. With so many events taking place here, we at TOCA celebrate the city and invite you to do the same. www.tocaevents.com
How to plan an event
How to plan an event A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN EVENT COMPANY In this article we show you how to plan an event. Creating an event is a many layered thing. No company knows this better than TOCA. From sports hospitality to experiential activities, corporate incentive settings, sponsor-based fabrications, and more, our mission is to construct a unique and exciting experience for everyone involved. Capturing the Client For the TOCA team, creating an event is all about communication. Our success begins the moment we start building a relationship with our clients. Of paramount importance, we get to the heart of what they wish to achieve and what they hope their attendees will take away once the event is over. If you want to know how to plan an event, pay attention. This the key to penetrating the desires of our clients. We make it our business to set up a comfortable and open dialogue where we can pinpoint the essence and spirit of the event at hand, enabling us to ultimately create the perfect blueprint for a successful experience. Creating the Proposal Once we understand the needs and objectives of our prospective client, we go to work on the proposal. This is where we cover all the necessary elements in how to plan an event, such as: transport security staffing hotels business sessions 3-D imaging and animation break-out components such as small meetings, coaching sessions, and the like activities team building entertainment evening receptions dine arounds where clients can feel the pulse of the city daytime activities spouse programs After determining exactly what is needed, we submit our user-friendly package with descriptions, graphics, and an itemized budget. Shifting Into Gear Once the client signs off on our proposal, we then move on to pre-production mode, shifting into high creative gear where each of our departments addresses their respective area of expertise. Keeping in mind the necessary calls to action that are essential to our client’s campaign, this is where the collaborative process is at its highest pitch. It is at this point that our team comes together to create the final design, with suggestions and revisions resulting from the synergy of TOCA’s collective creative vision. The Critical Path Mapping the progress of our productions and staying true to our critical path is where all of the details combine with the bigger picture. Having carefully defined each of the many and diverse moving parts that make up an event, we are now ready to mobilize onsite production and organization, which includes our vendors, set designers, stage direction for business meetings, entertainment talent …and so much more. The Psychology Behind a Great Event Creating a great event has to do with psychology. At TOCA, our passion is to put everyone involved deep inside an exceptional experience, no matter what the content. Once we understand what our client hopes to achieve, we direct all of our moving parts into action to fully and effectively fulfill that vision. And with a cross-cultural team that includes creative minds and designers from the United States, Brazil, Asia, and Europe, we are proud of a staff that is sensitive to the nuances of varying cultures. This ensures that every event is created with a tone that is always right. The Arc and Balance of the TOCA Touch Because every TOCA event is custom designed, we take the time to configure the perfect arc and balance between business-related activities and diversion. And of course, we are always in service to our client’s image, making sure that the messaging, branding, and scripting is all of one piece. Working closely with our clients’ leadership, our job is to make their vision a reality, always with the unique and exciting TOCA touch. Contact Us For more information, take a look at our website at: www.tocaevents.com/contact-us
Tips On Hosting Your Indoor Tea Party, TOCA Event Style
TOCA Events is used to giving parties. From a mere handful of people to thousands of guests, we create everything from intimate breakfasts to over-the-top bashes, and we love every minute of helping to spread the joy wherever we can. In this spirit, we are always ready to help our readers construct their own festive moments and today we want to talk about the simplest of events: the tea party. Bringing People Together A tea party is a great way to bring friends or business associates together in a cozy setting that is conducive to socializing. Whether buffet style or a sit down affair, you can create a special ambiance with a great setting, delicious foods, and well-thought-out décor. The Right Table As party specialists, TOCA Events always starts out with a good working list of what is needed. First, we look at the room. Is it ample enough to accommodate a table where everyone can sit around it, or should it be used just for food and beverages? If you choose buffet style, move the table against a wall if space is short, otherwise place it so that it is accessible from all sides. Decor Choose a tablecloth and matching linen napkins. A solid color is always a good choice, making the perfect background for beautiful china and well-chosen florals. Select flowers without strong scents, and if there is not enough room for vases or a centerpiece, scatter petals around the table instead. You can also use seasonal elements such as an autumn leaf displays, pine cones and branches, or freshly picked wildflowers surrounding your serving plates. The Sit Down Party For a sit-down tea party, our TOCA Event party planners observe the classic setting with plates centered for each guest and linens folded in either a rectangle, square, or triangle, placed to the left with the open edge on the right side. If there isn’t enough space, put each napkin in the center of the plate. Be sure not to overcrowd your table with cutlery or décor. Cutlery Your cutlery depends on what type of foods you are serving. Place a small spoon on the right side of each plate for tea. If sticky foods are on the menu, place a small fork on the right and one or more knives between the plate and spoon, with the blades facing the plate. If spreads and jams are involved there should be a serving spoon for each one. Cups and Saucers Teacups and saucers go to the right of the teaspoon and a tiny bowl should also be offered for used teabags, tea leaves, and used lemon wedges. Water glasses go above the knives or the tea cup if there are no knives. If you are serving other beverages such as champagne, mimosas, or lemonade, then include the appropriate glass to the right of the water glass. Place the dessert plate or bowl above the main plate, including a small dessert spoon and/or fork horizontally between the two plates. The Buffet For a good buffet, arrange the room elsewhere so people can sit or stand comfortably. Use chairs and sofas to create areas that invite conversation, and provide small tables so that guests can easily put their plates and drinks down. For the buffet table, place the tea service at one or both ends of the table. Make sure you have several tea options on hand, including caffeinated and herbal teas. At TOCA we prefer loose-leaf teas that are freshly brewed in their own teapots Remove the leaves before serving or provide a strainer. Include a bowl of raw sugar granules or cubes along with a honey pot and server and lemon wedges or lemon halves wrapped in gauze for easy squeezing. And don’t forget small pitchers with cream and milk. Placing Your Foods A tea party usually calls for finger foods. Place savory and sweet foods in the middle of the table. These can include small sandwiches without crusts, deviled eggs, scones, small cakes, cookies, and the like. Our TOCA Event party designers love to use three layered cake stands instead of trays, placing scones on top, tea sandwiches and savory snacks in the middle, and sweets on the bottom. Cold drinks can go on a side table and can include water, iced tea, lemonade, white wine, champagne, and sherry. Entertainment Choose your music well, as this is key to creating just the right atmosphere. If you can hire musicians, find a harpist or guitarist or a classical or soft jazz trio. Otherwise, make or find a good playlist that sets the tone while helping guests relax and enjoy! For more information on hosting a party, contact us today at: www.tocaevents.com
A Private Fashion Day in Rio with TOCA Events
As masters of special event production, TOCA Events struck gold once again with a special fashion extravaganza for VIPS in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With offices in two of the hottest capitals in the world, Miami and Rio de Janeiro, TOCA Events made the most of two hours on a Saturday morning, treating high-profile guests from the USA to festivities that delighted the senses and inspired the soul. With their knack for always being in the know, TOCA chose the super trendyDona Coisa store for their exclusive event. Right near the Jardim Botanico in one of the most coveted neighborhoods in Rio, guests were treated to a private fashion show with exquisite clothing, jewelry, and accessories created by some of the top contemporary Brazilian designers. Because the store was closed to outsiders, the VIPs could comfortably browse the store, also enjoying sumptuous displays of native cosmetics and other unique offerings that captured the best of Brazil’s artistic climate. No wonder the invitees were in seventh heaven at this luxurious Brazilian event, with full attention give to them by handsome barmen, a personal shopper, manicurist, make-up artist, and photographer. Sipping mimosas, shoppers chose outfits, basked in beauty treatments, and mingled amongst each other. Great music deejayed by one of Rio’s best accented the morning, making the event another hit for TOCA Events and proving that the company indeed deserves the accolades and recognition it gets for throwing great parties coast to coast. Contact Us For more information on TOCA Events, contact us at: www.tocaevents.com
Spreading the Joy at TOCA Events’ “Top Flight” Baking Class
Yes, TOCA Events produces grand corporate parties and large scale entertainment, but we’re also known for our intimate gatherings, thanks to our impeccable design team. Our “top flight” baking class, hosted for the Univision World Cup program in Rio de Janeiro in 2013, is a perfect example of bringing people together over delicious food and wine. Four Days of Delight in Brazil Univision’s plan was to fly in 120 top VIP guests on a charter flight in order to watch the World Cup final game live. Treating these CEOs and high level execs from Univision’s sponsoring companies to four days of delight in Brazil was a natural for TOCA Events, and we were immediately brought into the mix. Keeping Everyone Entertained and Engaged Along with their spouses, leaders from companies like Coca Cola Pepsi and Johnson & Johnson were given platinum treatment as they participated in activities devised by our design and entertainment wizards at TOCA. With a mission to keep everyone entertained and engaged in a unique event, we decided on a particularly enjoyable idea that would get them involved in the kitchen! Baking Brazilian Style There was no doubt that a Brazilian baking class with Chef Elen Casagrande from the Escola do Pão in Rio would be a surefire hit. Twenty five of our guests participated in a high-spirited, interactive three-hour experience, dipping their hands into flour as they joined a hands-on demonstration making mouthwatering pão de queijo (100% gluten-free traditional cheese bread made from yucca starch and cheese), pizza, and several to-die-for Brazilian desserts. Creating a Meal to Remember There is nothing quite like sitting down to enjoy a lunch that you’ve helped to make. Bonding in the open kitchen, executives and their partners followed Chef Elen’s instructions dutifully as they kneaded dough, cut tomatoes, and did everything else to create a meal to remember. In true Brazilian spirit, the mood was set, along with the table, and under our Chef’s knowing eye and brilliant coaching, it wasn’t long before mouths were watering and everyone was ready to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Letting Their Hair Down Of course food is almost nothing without accompanying wine, and our TOCA Event wine experts were on the case, offered a tasting of fine South American whites and reds to top off the experience. With the pure pleasure of cooking, eating, and imbibing, everyone let their hair down as they enjoyed sitting at table with friends old and new. Spreading the Joy Taking place in the famous former home of one of Brazil’s most important writers, José Lins do Rêgo, the location was the perfect match for an exquisitely choreographed afternoon, if we say so ourselves! Proud that we could provide our clients with smiles, happy bellies, and great Brazilian recipes that they can recreate for friends at home, we realized once again that this is why we started TOCA back in 2010. Creating pleasure and spreading joy is what we do best, whether it is for just a few or a cast of thousands! Contact Us For more information on TOCA Events, contact us at: www.tocaevents.com