Giant Gingerbreading Leads Us to the Showdown
Missy & Cheryl are going to the Showdown
It may be 20 years in the making but this is the story of how Missy and Cheryl came to be on Episode 203 of Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown.
The Meeting of Crazy Minds
I’ve always said that it was my lucky day when Missy came in my kitchen looking for a job! It was fifteen years ago that this talented new graduate of the Pastry Program at Kendall College in Chicago joined our team at the Chicago Marriott Downtown on the Magnificent Mile. How could you possibly hope to find someone who is skilled, enthusiastic, full of great ideas and just plain fun. As any kitchen professional will tell you, you spend more time during the week with your co-workers than your own family so they quickly become your family. Even though a few too many years have passed, and we reside in two different states, Missy is more than family! She is the Ethel to my Lucy!
Mixing it Up for the Holidays (above) features mischievous mice in a decked out Christmas kitchen.
The Gingerbread Years
At a large hotel in Chicago we had a wonderful pastry team of twelve talented individuals. A 24-hour scratch pastry kitchen is rarely seen at hotels - even in those days. It was a dream to be a part of a kitchen that made food the old fashioned way - using whole ingredients to create laminated doughs, desserts, wedding cakes and YES - gingerbread! What started as a relatively small gingerbread display of 23 smaller houses each year our ideas and displays became larger and grander! Just how large? These displays weigh in from one to two tons of gingerbread dough, candy and royal icing!!!!!
What Starts as a Fun Project Becomes a Passion:
Let me first say that creating large gingerbread displays are a labor of love! No one ever said to us that we needed a gigantic display for the lobby. No one ever said that it was a part of job description or yearly goals. Heck, if it wasn’t for the creative financial planning of our Executive Chef, we wouldn’t have even had a budget! The growing force was simple - passion! And it has to be passion when you are speaking of hours and hours of work by countless individuals in the pastry kitchen and beyond.
Can’t Beat The Chicago Winter Blues (above) features an elevated train, Chicago skyline and Blues instruments!
The Process
The process for these gigantic displays is like eating an elephant one bite at a time! You are taking little bites to achieve a big goal! The concepts for each display are roughed out in July/ August. Large batches of gingerbread dough are beginning to be produced and stored in the freezer as early as late September. As time goes on this dough is rolled out on to backs of sheet pans using a large mechanical dough sheeter to achieve just the right depth. Sheets are mass baked, cut into patterns, labeled and assembled. Meanwhile, large support structures are being assembled to provide structure for hundreds and hundreds of pounds of gingerbread, icing and candy. Lighting and mechanicals are being planned. Special and massive amounts of ingredients are being ordered. And all the while a pastry kitchen is still producing desserts and breakfast pastries for room service, banquets, tastings and food outlets.
Dreaming of Gingerbread - This display features a snoring Santa in a chocolate covered gingerbread bead.
So Much Fun But Only So Much Time
As I have looked back on this time, I realize that I am missing so many pics of our work. What a shame! These were times before easy, but incredible, photography with the touch of your phone. Truth be told, I am sure some projects weren’t documented due to fast-paced days with too little time. Eventually Missy and I find ourselves going in different directions and our time together ends but my great memories linger.
Getting the Chance To Get the Band Back Together
It’s August. I check my in-box. I make a phone call. Would I be interested in learning more about trying out for Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship: Gingerbread Showdown? Do I know someone who would be interested in partnering with me as my baker? Am I dreaming? Is this a chance to work with Missy again? I pinch myself and call her. Start the tour bus and call the rock and rollers ‘cause it looks like we are gettin’ the band back together!
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Stayed tuned for more insider posts on our journey to Episode 203!
