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Assembly 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 in the China Room. Here, members of the White House pastry team erect the cornerstone wall of the gingerbread house. Couverture chocolate was piped against the walls of the house to support its structural foundation. 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.
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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