Ritz-Carlton Unveils Large-Scale Gingerbread House Model of Washington Irving’s Sunnyside

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Westchester’s largest and most historic gingerbread home was unveiled Thursday, December 8, at , where representatives from the hotel and Historic Hudson Valley gathered to reveal a 6’ x 6’, 350 lb. gingerbread replica of Sunnyside, the home of celebrated American author Washington Irving.

The ceremony was attended by costumed guides who work at Sunnyside, as well as invited guests and onlookers.

The house was created by the hotel’s pastry team and was inspired by the look and feel of Sunnyside. Washington Irving designed Sunnyside and its grounds himself, collaborating with his neighbor, the artist George Harvey. "It is a beautiful spot," Irving wrote, "capable of being made a little paradise."

Beginning in 1835, he expanded a small cottage in stages, combining his sentimental interests in the architecture of colonial New York and buildings he knew in Scotland and Spain. The house became a three-dimensional autobiography.

Irving's contemporaries extensively described and illustrated Sunnyside during his lifetime. Visitors to the property enjoy an authentic experience, as Sunnyside and many of its furnishings remained in the family.

More than 150 man hours were spent creating the gigantic house, which will remain on display throughout the holiday season. 

It took 150 man hours to sketch, bake, assemble, and decorate the house, which is made of:

• 100 lbs of flour
• 85 lbs of powdered sugar
• 160 eggs
• 40 lbs of butter
• 40 lbs molasses
• 27 lbs of brown sugar
• 5 lbs egg whites
• 2 lbs cream of tartar
• 1 lb each ginger and cinnamon
• 25 TBSP salt
• 13 TBSP each baking soda, ground cloves, ground nutmeg
• 15 different kinds of candy serve as decoration on the house
• The house weighs approximately 350 lbs

It was also announced at the event that the hotel would become a member of the corporate partners program of Historic Hudson. The hotel and non-profit organization will work together to create weekend packages that will leave guests with meaningful experiences.

“We’re so pleased to partner with Historic Hudson Valley,” said Jeff Dziak, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester. “Westchester has so much rich culture and history and we look forward to introducing our guests to the many historic sites in the area through our partnership.”

"We are pleased to welcome The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester as the newest member of our corporate partners program. This impressive and quite tasty looking Sunnyside gingerbread replica speaks to the creativity of a team we very much look forward to working with," said Rob Schweitzer, Director of Public Relations for Historic Hudson Valley.

ABOUT THE RITZ-CARLTON WESTCHESTER:

The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester is the area’s premier hotel and sets new standards for hotels in the market.  It features 146 luxury rooms, an award-winning spa with rooftop pool and state-of-the-art fitness center, a comfortably elegant Lounge, and 10,000 square feet of meeting and special event space, including a 500-person ballroom.  In addition, the hotel offers BLT Steak, located on the ground floor and Restaurant “42,” on the 42nd floor.  Set in the heart of the Hudson Valley, The Ritz-Carlton Westchester is just minutes from Manhattan, yet miles from the ordinary.  The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester immerses its guests in all the luxury and cultural heritage that is Westchester County, and offers a beautiful retreat for both business travelers and leisure guests.

ABOUT THE RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL COMPANY L.L.C.:

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 76 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. More than 38 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, an award that originated in 1987. Its purpose is to promote the awareness of quality excellence, recognize quality achievements of companies and publicize successful quality strategies. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company won the award in 1992 and 1999. For more information, or reservations, contact a travel professional, call toll free in the U.S. 1-800-241-3333, or visit the company web site at www.ritzcarlton.com. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR).