Preparation of Window Details for the "Red and White" Gingerbread House

In this photograph, taken by Shealah Craighead, members of the White House Pastry team prepare the windows and architectural details for the 2006 "Red and White" gingerbread house in the China Room. The detailing of the windows were created by piping royal icing on top of a base cut from a sheet of white fondant. 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. Mesnier and his team decorated the gingerbread White House with more than 850 snowflakes and red bows made from royal icing.