Press release:
The 23rd annual National Gingerbread House Competition’s winning entries can now be viewed at bit.ly/20ZIBHi
Culinary artists of all skillsets from across the country came together on Nov. 16, 2015, for the 23rd annual National Gingerbread House Competition. Hosted by The Omni Grove Park Inn, the popular nationwide competition received more than 160 entries for a chance to win the grand prize of $7,500, with total prizes for all categories valued at more than $20,500.
With the requirement of being made of at least 75 percent gingerbread, each holiday display was judged on overall appearance, originality/creativity, difficulty, precision and consistency of theme. This year’s elite panel of judges featured world-renowned pastry chefs, artists and media experts, including the nutritionist for NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” a curator from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the author of “The Gingerbread Book” and many others.
The 2015 winning entries in the categories of adult, teen, youth and child include:
Grand Prize Winner – Adult: Jennifer Elmore & Mike Willauer from Chapel Hill, N.C.
Adult Second Place: Billie Mochow from Burns, Tenn.
Adult Third Place: Suzanne Kanaly from Liberty Township, Ohio
Teen (13- to 17-year-olds) First Place: Courtland High School German Program from Spotsylvania, Va.
Teen Second Place: Emily Grant from Greer, S.C.
Teen Third Place: South Rowan High Rock the House Club I from China Grove, N.C.
Youth (9- to 12-year-olds) First Place: Collin Anderson from Conover, N.C.
Youth Second Place: Perry Pate from Hickory, N.C.
Youth Third Place: Nadia Fuentes from Canton, N.C.
Child (5- to 8-year-olds) First Place: Spirit Girls from China Grove, N.C.
Child Second Place: Emmet Otter’s Friends from Blue Ridge, Ga.
Child Third Place: Abbey Browning from Candler, N.C.
All gingerbread masterpieces will be on display on a complimentary basis at The Omni Grove Park Inn from Nov. 18, 2015, through Jan. 3, 2016. A portion of parking proceeds generated during this period are being donated to the following local nonprofit organizations: Special Olympics of Buncombe County; Asheville City Schools Foundation; American Legion Baseball Post #70; Homeward Bound; Asheville Humane Society; and Children First/Communities in Schools. Travelers interested in viewing the hundreds of intricate and stunning holiday designs can book the Gingerbread Holiday package for stays Nov. 15 to Dec. 29, 2015. Starting at $308 per night, the package includes deluxe accommodations, the Art of Breakfast Buffet in the Blue Ridge restaurant, one gingerbread cookie per registered guest and overnight valet or garage parking.
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