Gingerbread House competitors make plans to build a winning entry

The dog days of summer usually does not conjure up thoughts of sugar plum fairies, snowy days and holiday memories, but this is the time of year many participants in The National Gingerbread House Competition start thinking about those creative confectionary constructions. The 14th annual National Gingerbread House Competition is scheduled for Monday, November 13, 2006 at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa located in Asheville, North Carolina. This year’s event will be held in the Heritage Ballroom with the judging beginning at 6:00pm. Last year, The National Gingerbread House Competition drew a record 300 entries from 20 states. Bobbie Jinright from Troy, AL was the winner of the 2005 grand prize. The competition expects to draw even more entries this year and the resort has already received them from states that are newly represented including Louisiana, Illinois, California, Texas and Canada. The National Gingerbread House Competition is comprised of three age categories: Adult, Teen 13-17 and Youth 12 and under. All entries must be completely edible and they are judged on specific criteria: Overall Appearance, Originality/Creativity, Difficulty, Precision, and Consistency of Theme. The entries can be no larger than two feet wide, long and high. More than $6,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded. The overall grand prize is $2,000 plus a Romance Package including two nights’ accommodations, dinner, daily breakfast, champagne and floral. All contestants will receive a personalized certificate featuring a photograph of their entry. As always, Executive Pastry Chef Aaron Morgan will conduct The National Gingerbread House Workshop on Monday, October 30 to show how these amazing creations are made, pass along some trade secrets and answer any questions people may have about how to build their own gingerbread house. The workshop is free and open to the public. Entry forms and official rules for the 2006 National Gingerbread House Competition can be found by clicking on “Happenings” at the resort’s website: www.groveparkinn.com or by calling (828) 252-2711 Ext. 8045.