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Preparation of the "Red and White" Gingerbread House

This photograph was taken by Shealah Craighead in 2006, during the construction of the "Red and White" gingerbread house. Here, a member of the White House pastry team uses a rotary tool to drill holes into a wall of the gingerbread house. The holes were filled with tempered couverture chocolate and used to support architectural details more than 850 snowflakes and red bows made from royal icing. Construction and design of the gingerbread house was overseen by former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier. Mesnier's career at the White House began in 1979. He retired in 2004, but returned at the request of First Lady Laura Welch Bush to create the "Red and White" gingerbread house for the 2006 holiday season.
Photographer
Shealah Craighead
Date of Work
ca. November 2006
Type
Photograph
Credit
Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead/Private Collection
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