Gingerbread Scene Celebrates the Season
December 5, 2007
This old-fashioned gingerbread grist mill, inspired by New England tradition,
was made by Dining Services’ executive pastry chef Roger Lanctot and
his colleague Kerri Buchanan.
On display at Holloway Commons until Dec. 22, the house has more than 40 pounds
of gingerbread, 60 pounds of icing, and 20 pounds of candy. It took more than
40 hours to complete.
After the holidays, the gingerbread house will given to Exeter Hospital where
it will be displayed in the oncology unit.
Ginger was brought to Europe in the 11th century by crusaders returning from
the Middle East. In medieval England, the term gingerbread referred to preserved
ginger. During the 15th century it became associated with a type of cake flavored
with ginger. Its preservation properties led to making breads that could be
cut into shapes.
The Grimm brothers made gingerbread houses famous through their fairytale, “Hansel
and Gretel”. After the story was published in the early 1800s, German
bakers began making lebkuchen houses and hired craftsmen to decorate them.