What’s more fun than getting together with quality singles and cooking up something good in the kitchen? A comfortable atmosphere makes it easy to form personal connections while mixing and having fun.

Okay, so maybe Mama was on to something when she said the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. And maybe there is more brewing in the kitchen than coffee and dirty dishes. If you have felt lately that being unable to mix with quality men is par for the course, you need to check out what Faye Tillery has been cooking up in kitchens across Southern California through a social gathering she started and coined Cooking Date Night. Comprised of professionals desiring to meet quality singles, Cooking Date Night has proven to be a big hit and the connections have been impressive.  No worries if the thought of a 4 minute dating event makes you uncomfortable. You will undoubtedly adjust to the fun atmosphere created at a Cooking Date Night.

Faye created the concept when, after hearing the frustrations of her single male and female friends she identified as good partner potentials. Many of whom were either not open to Internet dating even with free online dating sites, or simply ready to experience better relationships. Her mission? To find a way to bring them together in a relaxed and fun atmosphere that engages everyone throughout the evening. After incorporating a few old school tips and some good old fashioned match-making, Cooking Date Night was formed. She says organizing one is simple, just ask several of your professional single girlfriends about their friends, compose a few e-mails and you have the ball rolling for your first date night.

Part of the fun is putting together recipes on the cooking date night once you know how many and who will attend. Singles are grouped together by menu items such as salad preparers, vegetables, main course, celery choppers, etc. Once everyone is assigned to a particular group, the fun begins as singles mingle and complete the menu items they are preparing. Once done, everyone enjoys the meal together as a group.

“The Key is to gauge where singles are [for example, single and looking] and focus on matching great people with great people and make sure it’s someone you yourself would find acceptable as a date. So, they must be quality professionals who would appeal to other quality professionals.”

Once you identify a quality group of men and women, send out invitations to women first and then to the men and include a brief description at the end of the email to the women highlighting several points about the single men who will be in attendance [for example: 34-year-old lawyer, 34-year-old Ivy Leaguer, etc.]. Once the invitations are accepted provide the information on the nominal cost for dinner preparation items and get ready to cook up tons of fun!

“The feedback has been very positive even in situations where no love connections were made because everyone just has such a great time meeting exciting professionals for great conversation and good food!”

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To start your own Cooking Date Night or to get information on attending a Cooking Date Night contact Faye Tillery at singlescookingparty@gmail.com and keep abreast of what’s cooking up with Cooking Date Night or by looking her up on Facebook under Faye Tillery.

Check out the upcoming film, Speed-dating movie starring Wesley Jonathan (Crossover, Roll Bounce, What I Like About You), Holly Robinson Peete (For Your Love, Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper), Emmy Awarded Chris Elliott (Something About Mary, Cabin Boy), Chico Benymon (Half & Half), Leonard Robinson (Wild ‘N Out), Vanessa Simmons (Run’s House, Daddy’s Girls), Chingy (multi-platinum rap artist), and Clint Howard (Night at The Museum II, Austin Powers) at www.Speed-datingmovie.com, and follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/Speed-datingmovi, on Facebook at Speed-Dating The Movie, and on YouTube TV at: SpeedDatingMovie.

| Carmen Santos Monteiro