It’s a childhood fantasy that lingers long into adulthood: gingerbread. The good, crisp-chewy stuff is what dreams are made of, eaten plain or even better, decorated with colorful frosting and candies. Have some extra fun this year, and challenge your inner artist with these extra inspirations.
9th Annual Sonoma Valley Gingerbread Contest
Once you’ve got the hang of making a gingerbread house, you may crave more inspiration. The 9th Annual Sonoma Valley Gingerbread Contest is a popular activity running through Dec. 31, 2014. Wineries throughout the area have created gingerbread masterpieces, and have them on display for your viewing and voting pleasure.
A few recommended stops include B.R. Cohn, Chateau St. Jean, and VJB Cellars. Bonus: Make a day out of it, with for private transportation by calling Pure Luxury Transportation at 800-626-5466. Mention ‘Sonoma Valley Winery Gingerbread Competition’ and receive special corporate preferred pricing!
Details: 707-935-0803, sonomavalleywine.com.
Gingerbread Houses for Teens, Sebastopol – Dec. 16, 2014
Get those teenagers grinning, with the class of would-be-bakers age 12 to 18. This Tuesday at 4 p.m., the Sebastopol regional library morphs to a free elf workshop. All materials are provided, and the team effort on the gingerbread house will be entered into a competition.
Details: 7140 Bodega Avenue, Sebastopol, sonomalibrary.org.
Relish Culinary Center, Healdsburg – Decorating Class Dec. 17, 2014
Making gingerbread men, women and animals at home is fun and easy, especially for the kids. For a larger project, like a gingerbread house, though, it can help to have some assistance – a general cookie contractor, if you will – to guide the construction of walls, roof, and glue to hold it all together (aka frosting).
A cooking school like Relish in Healdsburg is a great place to get some tips. This Wednesday, owner Donna del Rey is hosting a holiday-spirited evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. of decorating a big, delicious gingerbread house. Relish provides the materials and oodles of candy, cookies, cereal, candy canes and other edible decoration to inspire creativity in all ages. Holiday music and hot chocolate keep the party going, and each group gets to take home its own decorated gingerbread house to admire (then devour). Groups of up to five in each can join the fun for just $79, with advance registration requested here.
Details: 4 Matheson Street, Healdsburg, 707-431-9999, relishculinary.com.
