Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile Unveils Massive Gingerbread Creation

On Nov. 22, Executive Pastry Chef Cheryl Brookhouzen and a team of pastry cooks, chefs, carpenters, electricians and volunteers unveiled a sugary creation themed the "Hot Diggity Dog for the Holidays!" Featuring 1,400 pounds of gingerbread cookie dough made with 10 gallons of molasses, 15 pounds of ginger, 600 pounds of candy and 500 pounds of sugar, this spectacular creation displayed elves in a Chicago hot dog factory preparing a 10-foot hot dog on a machine playfully named the "Chicago-dog-o-matic." This creation was the latest edition of the annual gingerbread display at Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile.

More than 150 guests attended the event held at this downtown Chicago, IL, hotel and helped raise nearly $1,000 for the Children's Miracle Network. The hotel's spacious lobby was transformed into a winter wonderland with the help of a partnership with PSAV. Staff from Samuel Adams and Angry Orchard poured some of the best beers and ciders paired with culinary items from the hotel's in-house team. Savory sausages, sweet treats, homemade apple cider and hot chocolate were also served. Mr. Arne Sorenson, CEO of Marriott International and a frequent guest of the hotel, was on hand to help unveil the one-ton gingerbread house.

The event is an annual tradition with many guests returning each year and for one couple, this was their tenth year in a row. A viewing of The Chicago Hot Dog Factory is open to the public free of charge through the first week of January.