Every year I look forward to Sausalito’s Gingerbread House Tour as the December holidays approach. Local businesses always put themselves on the map with an amazing and imaginative display. Although there were fewer participants this year, the gingerbread creations were no less splendid. Sponsored by the Sausalito Chamber of Commerce, the Gingerbread House Competition and Tour has become a delightful annual tradition. You can explore some previous Sausalito Gingerbread House Tours in my posts from 2017 and 2016.

Origins of the Gingerbread House

Gingerbread houses in their current form originated in Germany during the sixteenth century. There is some speculation whether the confections were inspired by the fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel, where two children stumble on a witch’s house of treats in the forest. Or perhaps the fairy tale was inspired by a confectionary tradition that had already taken root.

Ginger in Food and Medicine

Ginger root has a long history of use in Chinese medicine. It became a popular flavoring for food in Europe during the Middle Ages thanks to the spice trade. Ginger was used to flavor preserved meats. Soon, however, it made its way into European baking. According to Torey Avey in her blog post, the History of Gingerbread, “Queen Elizabeth I is credited with the idea of decorating the cookies.”

Driver’s Market is displaying a stunning gingerbread ship made by owner Graham Driver and his girlfriend who conveniently has a professional cake decorating background (you can tell).

Sausalito Book Passage by the Bay has a gingerbread recreation of Zukerman’s Barn from E.B. White’s children’s book classic, Charlotte’s Web. It was lovingly created by book store manager, Adrienne Cohen and her daughter over a long weekend of baking and decorating.

Time is always a factor for gingerbread house bakers, but no time was spared on Sausalito’s Optometry’s gingerbread ski tent with delightful details like marshmallows on pretzel sticks roasting over an open fire.

Sausalito Stationary proves simple can be better with a delightful gingerbread birdhouse.

CIBO, a local favorite hangout for coffee and noshes, and Angelino’s Restaurant feature finally finished classic gingerbread houses with glowing windows.

There are also two churches entered in the competition this year. Fast Food Français is showing a gingerbread version of Paris’ Church of Notre Dame complete with candy cane buttresses.

St. Mary Star of the Sea is displaying a gingerbread model of its own church on the hill.

Since Sausalito is a town by the water, water (or ice) is also a theme for the City of Sausalito’s Parks & Recreation a model of Dumphy park complete with the beloved gazebo.

Inn above the Tide has skater’s village with A-frame gingerbread, and The Spinnaker restaurant has gingerbread sailboats and a model of its bayside restaurant with Santa’s reindeer on the roof, not the usual seagulls and pelicans.

The Barrel House Tavern presents a theme of unity and people standing together in this divisive time. And The Trident restaurant evokes the sixties and the peace movement with its gingerbread offering.

Every business on this tour is worth a stop. I’m sorry I couldn’t include them all and as far as I’m concerned, I think everyone who participated in the Gingerbread House Competition and Tour this year is a winner.