Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao unveils largest gingerbread house in city

SHANGHAI - When it comes to the Christmas season, the world falls in love with the sweet flavour of gingerbread, and for Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao that means transforming its lobby into a magical wonderland featuring the largest Gingerbread House in the city and a magnificent tree with all the trimmings.

Walking into the hotel, you cannot miss the tasty-looking edfifice, with delicate exterior decoration flanked by adorable elks and quaint models of British soldiers to draw you into the fairy tale.

Step up to the Gingerbread House and you will feel like you'vre stepped into the mythical Brobdingnag in Gulliver's Travels! Smell the fragrant gingerbread and be tempted by the, eatable walls and windows, complemented by festive decorations and vintage furnishings in the amazing fantasyland. Inside, you can find the traditional wish list of Christmas goodies like Fromage blanc cream strawberry log cake, cinnamon tea cream, Lebkuchen and, of course, gingerbread cookies.

The Gingerbread House measures 8 metres in length, 4.5m in breadth and 2.6m in height. It is made of more than 1,300 Gingersnaps which weigh 600g each. Such a stunning design and construction is the masterwork of the Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao's multi-award-winning Pastry Chef Caro Chen and six team members who took 72 hours to create the house.

Since 2009, Chef Cheng has represented China at a number of international competitions, taking the Silver Medal for Live Pastry at the Hong Kong International Culinary Classic 09, and the Gold Medal at the Shanghai International Cuisine Competition under the category of Buffet Exhibition. The same year he organised a team to participate in the 11th International Culinary Arts Competition and won the Gold Medal for Buffet Chocolate Competition, as well as the Individual Bronze Medal. Representing China at the 2010 Third Pastry Asian Cup held in Singapore, he won the Best Chocolate Cake and Group Third Prize, going on to take 11th place in the 2011 Pastry World Cup held in Lyon, France.

Chef Cheng has again been chosen to represent China and the Hilton at the 2012 Asian Pastry Cup, having taken the Gold Medal for Best Plate Dessert as well as Best Chocolate Showpiece at the pre-selection competition.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia