Many people bake treats for the holidays, but the culinary staff at the Hyatt each year takes it to the extreme.
This year’s gingerbread village in the lobby includes an electric train that was loaned to the hotel by CSX Corp. Another addition is a backdrop of mountains with a tunnel the train passes through.
Executive chef Scott Brittingham said Carlos Feldman, the hotel’s pastry chef, and his team spent several days constructing the components for the village, which will be on display until the Gator Bowl guests arrive for the Jan. 2 game.
The recipe called for 40 pounds of flour, 20 pounds of brown sugar and 2 gallons of molasses for the gingerbread. The village was iced with 50 pounds of powdered sugar and 1 gallon of egg whites, and then decorated with candies and pretzels.
“They have taken it to a new level this year. The train makes the lobby sound like Christmas morning,” said Brittingham.
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