NEWS

Asheville gingerbread competition selects 12 winners

Hayley Benton
hbenton@citizen-times.com

ASHEVILLE - It was all smiles at the Omni Grove Park Inn on Monday night, as sugar dust floated through the air.

In the Grand Ballroom, which had a distinctly sweet aroma, more than 100 competitors and their families were packed in for the 24th annual National Gingerbread House Competition awards ceremony.

Nine expert chefs judged the show, a fiercely competitive display of creativity that takes some sugarcrafters up to six months to complete.

In each of the four categories — child, youth, teen and adult —  10 finalists were named, before the crowning of the top three winners from each.

In the child category, for sugarcrafters ages 5-8, the Edwards Workshop team from China Grove took home the top prize for their "Build A Snowman Workshop" candy sculpture. In second place: the Enka Village Girls team from Candler, for "Grace & The Eiffel Tower." In third: Steven Forrest from Shelby for his "Holiday Harvest."

For youths ages 9-12, Perry Pate, of Hickory, took home the grand prize for her impressive "Chef Ginger the Nutcracker" design. In second place was The Tree Toppers team, from Blue Ridge, Georgia, for the kids' "Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree." Local Ashevillian Josie Robinette took home third for her "Castle in the Snow."

In the competitive teen category, for age 13-17, Courtland High School German Program from Spotsylvania, Virginia, won first prize for the school's build of a fairy-tale-like German village, named "Once Upon a Time." Gabriella Arthur from Easley, South Carolina, won second place for her sparkling and beautiful "Pompous Peacock." And in third, Chloe Jennings from Purlear took home the prize for her "Gingersnapper the Nutcracker" edible art.

While the competition is for artistic competition and partially for the honor and bragging rights, there are also some sweet prize winnings that go along with each group. The first place winners for the teen category, for example, won $750 for their efforts.

But the highly competitive adult category takes the cake for its prizes — with third place receiving $1,200 and a one-night stay at the Grove Park Inn, second receiving $2,500 and a two-night stay and spa package and the grand prize first place winner receiving $5,000, a two-night stay and a prize package that includes a two-day class at the Chef Nicholas Lodge's school in Atlanta.

Taking third place: Asheville's Linda Carney for her gingerbread sculpture "The Bakers," featuring two gingerbread cookies baking gingerbread (of course). "Poinsettiaville" by Glenda Tant, from Lebanon, Tennessee,  was second, the display featuring tiny fairies frolicking beneath a sparkling bouquet of edible poinsettia flowers.

The 2016 grand prize winner, all the way from Innisfil, Ontario, Canada, was Beatriz Müller for her "Dream House," a magical and gravity-defying display of sugarcraft. The gingerbread castle towered over its platform, featuring Gothic spires and arches — a truly unique and inspired sugar-filled creation.

IF YOU GO

The National Gingerbread House Competition is open to the public Nov. 27-Jan. 5 at the Omni Grove Park Inn, with viewing times Sunday through Thursday after 3 p.m. No reservations needed.

There's a $10 per vehicle fee for parking but none for admission; parking fees go in part to a different local nonprofit each week: Asheville City Schools Foundation (Nov. 27-Dec. 1), Children First/Communities in Schools (Dec. 2-8), United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County (Dec. 9-15), Homeward Bound (Dec. 16-22), American Legion Baseball Post #70 (Dec. 23-29) and Meals on Wheels of Asheville and Buncombe County (Dec. 3-Jan. 5).

To learn more, visit omnihotels.com, search for the Grove Park Inn page, then click on "Gingerbread Information" under "Things to Do."

HOME OF THE WEEK

The Home of the Week feature will return Dec. 3. To nominate your home or the home of a friend, email Bruce Steele at bsteele@citizen-times.com. Include your name and the homeowner's name, if not you, and a contact telephone number for the homeowner.

Over 100 hopefuls entered their creations in the 24th annual National Gingerbread Competition at the Omni Grove Park Inn. Two finalists and one winner were chosen in each of the four groups- child, youth, teen, and adult.