Gingerbread Dreamscapes and Christmas Hopes

Just before Christmas, I pedalled over to a Christmas gingerbread display at  Hyatt Hotel in downtown Vancouver.  The hotel hosts this public event,  an annual Christmas gingerbreadscape competition and showcase.  Fun cookie and icing sugar-candy festooned scenery, are lovingly shaped by groups ranging from schoolchildren to aspiring chef students at the Pacific Culinary Institute.

A winning entry for welcoming land of misfit toys. Vancouver BC 2015. Photo by J.Chong

The gingerbread dominant lobby was humming with visitors marvelling at gingerbread towers tall and small, while others peered into  child-fingered, wobbly gingerbread dreamscapes.

Whales frolicking in winter wonderland -an elementary school entry. Vancouver BC 2015. Photo by J.Chong

Lobby furniture and lighting was even rejigged along with festive decorations, to grace the cookie structures.  People milled around a Gastown inspired gingerbread street light against an artist-drawn chalkscape of favourite downtown Vancouver neighbourhoods.

Mini gingerbread town. By students from local culinary school. Vancouver BC 2015. Photo by J.Chong

Of course the culinary school’s entry was in good shape –outdoor snack stand, pastry shop lining a little town square with Santa,  bundled up pedestrians and a winter carousel.  There was even a gingerbread bike parked at the back of a building.  How Vancouver-like.

I spotted a gingerbread dollhouse with aerial views into tiny house rooms squished with gingerbread furniture, figurines in a kitchen, a study and even a library with study tables of books.  The dollhouse compound looked heavily fondant

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loaded on top of cookie crust.  What were the rules for this contest?  Nevertheless, miniature dishes, wall map in the study and staircase were teeny-tiny fine details of wonder.

Of course, there was a school entry of playful whales in winter wonderland city –a snowy cheer to Pacific coast nature. Every participant must have had fun shaping their gingerbread dreamscapes.

Library study tucked inside fondant draped over cookie walls. Vancouver BC 2015. Photo by J.Chong

In every gingerbread creation  I saw, was an unabashed attempt to capture child-like magic of festive Christmas memories and hopes.  May we hold those hopes, every year and every season.

Warmest wishes for a memorable Christmas!

Animals content at Christmas. Vancouver BC 2015. Photo by J.Chong