Each year a gingerbread lighthouse graces the entrance to the restaurant to celebrate the holidays. It's a great exercise in combining my architecture background with pastry. It's a huge crowd pleaser and a tradition I look forward to each winter.
Through the years, the style has changed, as well as the size. Rather than a traditional lighthouse, this year I was inspired by a modern interpretation of art deco, which is quite common in this neighborhood (Rockefeller Center!). The tower tops out at six feet, which is that tallest ever built here. The structure is completely edible, and is supported only by thick slabs of baked gingerbread. Electric lights, which have been imbedded on top and throughout the building, give the illumination that is required by any lighthouse. And of course, there is a ton of candy, everywhere.
Here's a look at this year's tower:
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| The original sketch. | Just some of the candy needed. |
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| The foundation. The hole is for the storage space for battery operated lights. | Tower is assembled in two pieces. Lights are installed very early on. |
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| Tower is assembled and the sugar windows are placed around the lights. | A finished view of the tower. |
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| The sugar spire on top captures light and is the "beacon." | A bird's eye view of the spire and its lighting. |
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| The lobby entrance. | This year's Christmas tree. |
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| A lone Tootsie Roll man stares over the graham cracker fishing pier. | An art installation of lollipops |
Not enough pics? Come by Oceana until January 1, 2012 to have a look for yourself.
Happy Holidays!
