November 28, 2018

Gingerbread competition to showcase ‘Giant Leaps' as part of holiday tradition

Gingerbread competition entry Staff from the Central Production Kitchen will defend their title at Purdue Dining & Catering's annual gingerbread competition Dec. 3-7. Pictured is their 2017 creation, which won first place. (Photo provided) Download image

The annual Purdue Dining & Catering gingerbread competition will highlight the University's sesquicentennial "Giant Leaps" theme as part of the holiday spirit in this year’s contest and display in Purdue Memorial Union.

The contest’s rules call for each entry to emphasize the “Giant Leaps” theme through the construction of a structure. The gingerbread competition showcases the talent of Purdue Dining Services employees, who create gingerbread compositions to be judged by a panel of University employees and students.

The creations will be placed on display between 3 and 6 p.m. Monday (Dec. 3) and will remain on display through Dec. 7. The display will be located in the Main Lounge directly adjacent to the Great Hall in PMU. The exhibition of the entries is part of the traditional Holidays at the Union festivities, which run Dec. 3-8.

Staff from Earhart, Ford, Hillenbrand, Wiley and Windsor dining courts, Retail Dining, the Central Production Kitchen and the Athletic Dining Room will submit entries to the contest. Entries are constructed by crews consisting of students and full-time staff. At least half of each team’s membership consists of students.

Construction of the gingerbread entries began Nov. 5. Each project is limited to a 40-by-48-inch base and must be constructed primarily of gingerbread and edible products. Entries can incorporate electrical components, but all motors and batteries must be hidden beneath edible product.

“We’re excited to continue this tradition that has become a popular part of the holiday spirit at Purdue,” says Bruce Haumesser, director of culinary operations and executive chef. “We’ve had almost 2,000 people vote for entries each of the last two years and look forward to seeing what our creative staff and students come up with to show off this year.”

Prizes will be awarded for the first-, second-, and third-place entries, as well as a people’s choice award. The first-place and people’s choice winners will receive a traveling trophy. The defending winner of the first-place trophy is the Central Production Kitchen, while the reigning winner of the people’s choice award is Retail Dining.

The general public will be able to vote for the people’s choice winner from 9 a.m. Dec. 5 to noon Dec. 7 through QR codes at the Union or on the Dining & Catering Facebook page.

Following the competition and conclusion of voting, the gingerbread creations will be transported back to each facility for display.


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