The Gingerbread Extravaganza At The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, Is Spectacular

There are many iconic symbols of the holidays, and one of the best known is the gingerbread house. The Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel, California, has taken the gingerbread house and multiplied it many times over to create a whole village. The hotel's talented executive pastry chef Daniel Dominquez brought on a construction crew of pastry chefs, led by his assistant pastry chef, Theresa Ebilane-Moore. Together, the group created a display to celebrate diversity in our nation and the world. The only restriction on their creativity was that the team had to make everything out of confectionery, baked goods, candy, and other sweet treats.

Over a span of 500 hours, Dominquez and his team put together a completely edible display that measures 18 feet across. The finished village has gingerbread people representing different parts of the world. Each person stands in front of his or her respective gingerbread home holding a flag or a sign with a saying such as "We are better together" or "Peace, Love, Unity."

At one corner is Santa, standing near his chair and looking upon the children of different nations coming together to celebrate one another. At the center of the display, you'll find a globe topped with a big red bow. A sky serves as the backdrop with the sun on one side and the moon on the other. Finally, a border of gingerbread men and women seems to hold up the display. It's hard to believe that the entire display, from the ground up, is edible.

The entire exhibition is a must see before it vanishes at the end of the season.