Sausalito’s 12th Annual Gingerbread House Tour

CIBO Gingerbread, Susan Sternau Photo

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.

The Trident Gingerbread, Susan Sternau Photo
The Trident Gingerbread House

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 Gingerbread Boat, Susan Sternau Photo

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).

Book Passage Gingerbread House, Susan Sternau Photo

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.

Sausalito Optometry Gingerbread Tent, Susan Sternau Photo

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 Gingerbread Bird House, Susan Sternau Photo

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

Angelino's Restaurant Gingerbread House, Susan Sternau Photo
Angelino’s Restaurant Gingerbread House

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

Fast Food Francais Gingerbread House, Susan Sternau Photo
Fast Food Francais’ Gingerbread Church

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 Gingerbread, Susan Sternau Photo

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

City of Sausalito Parks & Recreation Gingerbread, Susan Sternau Photo

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 Gingerbread, Susan Sternau Photo

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.

Barrel House Gingerbread House, Susan Sternau Photo

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.

Gables Inn Gingerbread, Susan Sternau Photo
Gables Inn Gingerbread House

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.

The Spinnaker Restaurant Gingerbread House, Susan Sternau Photo
The Spinnaker Restaurant Gingerbread House

 

2 thoughts on “Sausalito’s 12th Annual Gingerbread House Tour

  1. Linda Boccia says:

    We came with our hiking group on a Thursday morning about 10:30 am and many of the major exhibits were closed so we could not see the gingerbread displays. Maybe next year put a stipulation on the exhibitors to be open (during the exhibit period) from say 10:30 am until their closing so that groups could see them. We were 15 people who were not able see many of the exhibits.

  2. Linda Boccia says:

    As a post script to the above comments we had arranged to have lunch at the Spinnaker and so were engaged for an hour and a half and then many wanted to go home and not revisit the exhibits.

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