CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The green and festive spirit of the holidays is decking the halls of The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte this year, as the new LEED-built hotel has just unveiled its first annual environmentally-friendly, all-organic gingerbread house. Available for public viewing inside the lobby of the new hotel, the architect-designed green gingerbread house was created by Chef Jon Farace and the culinary and engineering teams of The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte. The edible estate measures 10 feet high by 14 feet wide, features a striking Tudor architectural style, and is built of all-organic culinary ingredients. Design highlights include LED lights and a green “vegetated” moss roof inspired by the eco-minded roof of The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte itself.
The structure was built by Jonathan Gellman of Skyward Builders, using efficient framing practices, recycled nails and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified lumber and OSB panels obtained from within a 500-mile radius of the hotel. The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte’s Dan Spiegel, LEED AP, supervised the construction.
The green gingerbread house has just been unveiled in the lobby of The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte and will remain on display throughout the holiday season. The culinary structure is created from the following ingredients: 350 pounds of organic white, brown and confectioner’s sugar; 70 pounds of organic egg whites; 300 pounds of organic bread flour; 100 organic eggs; 24 pounds of molasses; four pounds of salt; four pounds of baking soda; 120 pounds of shortening; 24 ounces of cinnamon; two gallons of organic milk; eight ounces each of nutmeg, allspice and cloves; and nine ounces of ginger.
The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte’s Green Gingerbread House complements the hotel’s upcoming series of holiday teas, which will be offered within the hotel’s residential-style 15th floor living room on December 12, 19 and 26.
Go to The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte.
