In an effort to get the community involved and to gather gingerbread enthusiasts from all over Long Island, The Chocolate Duck and the Village of Farmingdale’s Downtown Events Committee hosted a Gold Coast Era themed gingerbread competition on Saturday, Dec. 13. A total of six people entered the contest, which entailed a 100 percent edible product.
The contestants included Amy Donnolo of Farmingdale, Jean Schwapol of Hicksville, May Budd of East Northport, Edward Lee of Babylon and Julian and Karlin Beiderman of Great
Neck. The winners received a cash prize, flat screen TV or a gift certificate to the store.
The gingerbread houses attracted many visitors who enjoyed free treats. They also had the opportunity to partake in judging by casting a vote for the People’s Choice category.
Carolers from Northside Elementary also joined in the fun by singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer—and of course by choosing their favorite gingerbread house.
Rosemarie Picone, a resident, stopped in to admire the gingerbread display, and she found it very difficult to choose her favorite house.
“They all looked like gingerbread doll houses. Each one was beautiful in its own way” she said. “I would have voted for them all if I was able to.”
Christina Bisbee, owner of The Chocolate Duck, was delighted about how many people entered this year.
“It has gotten bigger and better from last year. The judges including myself, Steven Ciccone, an employee, and Micheline Cumming of Madame Butterfly Cakes had to go over these houses at least 100 times to decide the winners because they were all very good.”
John Capobianco, vice president of the Farmingdale Board of Education, was also pleased with the entries.
“Putting together a gingerbread house is not easy, but these contestants surely made it look that way,” he said. “Everyone who came in was excited and left happy.”
Amy Donnolo of Farmingdale entered last year’s competition, creating a vineyard on Long Island’s East End. This year she created one of her favorite structures of the Gold Coast Era—
The Great Gatsby Mansion. She placed second in the competition along with Jean Schwapol of Hicksville who made the Chelsea Mansion.
“I was so excited when I heard the Gold Coast Era was the theme for this year. I love The Great Gatsby, and I got to recreate my own interpretation of the mansion in the book,” said
Donnolo. “It’s made entirely out of gingerbread, and I used some fondant for decorations, candy for glass windows and ice cream cones for the roof. I tied in the Gatsby story with green lights.”
Donnolo attended the Culinary Education in Manhattan, and this competition put her skills to the test.
“I do a lot of fondant cake decorating, so I found this whole project very fun to apply those skills on a different medium,” she said. “This is my second gingerbread house that I’ve
made, and I found it difficult to measure all the pieces and find a good recipe.”
Bisbee’s favorite aspect of the competition was seeing everyone from different towns get together in one place to celebrate the holidays and admire gingerbread.
“I hope even more people come out next year for this wonderful event. There is something about gingerbread that puts you in the holiday spirit,” she said.
The Chocolate Duck is located at 310 Main St. in Farmingdale. The phone number is 516-249-0887.
