Gingerbread 2018

Gingerbread 2018

It is that time of year again, folks. The National Gingerbread House Gingerbread Competition at the Omni Grove Park Inn was held last week, and that perennial staple, Head Judge Chef Nicholas Lodge was there presiding over all the pomp and circumstance. And this year television crews from both FoodNetwork and NBC were there filming…

Winners from the 25th Anniversary National Gingerbread Competition!

Winners from the 25th Anniversary National Gingerbread Competition!

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS! Last week the Omni Grove Park Inn hosted its annual National Gingerbread Competition, marking 25 years of this amazing event. People of all ages, from all over the world, bake and decorate and make their way to Asheville, North Carolina every November to show off their delicious masterpieces. And these gingerbread “houses” are…

25 years of Gingerbread!

25 years of Gingerbread!

This year not only marks the 25th anniversary of Nicholas Lodge’s International Sugar Art Collection, it also marks the 25th anniversary of another tradition that the ISAC family holds near and dear: the Omni Grove Park Inn National Gingerbread House Competition!  Back in 1992 a group of local community members got together to build some…

Genuinely Good Gingerbread

Genuinely Good Gingerbread

Chef Nicholas has been judging the National Gingerbread House Competition, at the Omni Grove Park Inn, for many years (quite a few of those as lead judge). This year was no exception, but I do believe that this was the first year that judges and competitors alike needed to brave the terrible wildfires that have…

Pop in to our Pop Up!

Pop in to our Pop Up!

Have you heard about pop-up stores? Pop-up events are so hot right now. The first one popped up in Los Angeles in 1997, and now these short terms shops can be found all over the US, Canada, UK, and even as far as Australia! These shops and events are short term, sometimes just a single…

Gingerbread Depot 2016

Gingerbread Depot 2016

When I was growing up, one of my favorites things to do during the holiday season was to build a gingerbread house. I say, “WAS,” because as I grew up and starting building the house on my own I realized how much WORK it was! Cutting and baking the ginger bread (or even going to…

Gingerbread Houses and Giveaways!

Gingerbread Houses and Giveaways!

23 Annual National Gingerbread House Competition Earlier this week Chef Nicholas took up his judging duties at The Omni Grover Park Inn’s 23 Annual National Gingerbread House Competition. As always all of the competitors delivered incredible gingerbread pieces, and judging was no easy task! This year’s Grand Prize winner received a pretty spectacular prize pack…