COD student takes fourth in gingerbread competition

College of DuPage Culinary student Raquel Amechazurra of Aurora placed fourth in Pastry Chicago's Gingerbread House Competition.

The theme of the fifth annual competition was Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. Amechazurra's winning creation was based upon Wright's design of the Stephen M.B. Hunt home in LaGrange, Ill., and is on display with the other winners at the Hotel Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, host of this year's competition.

This was Amechazurra first attempt at a gingerbread house, and the experience provided her an opportunity to learn more about the famed architect.

“I actually didn't know much about his architecture, so I went to Borders and bought a book with his designs,” she explained. “I wanted to get away from some of Wright's more popular buildings that I thought the other competitors would select, so I researched Hunt House, which he designed in 1907.”

Amechazurra created a pattern for her gingerbread house, and the details had to be true to the scale of her design, which was her most challenging task. In order to stay ahead of the competition, Amechazurra incorporated techniques and ingredients that were more complex in order to demonstrate her creativity and attention to detail. After approximately 25 to 30 hours, her house was finished.

Although this was her first gingerbread creation, Amechazurra had previously entered a cake decorating competition through the French Pastry School in Chicago but did not place. This time, she felt she had nothing to lose.

“It was a lot of stress but a lot of fun,” explained Amechazurra, a billing manager at Rush Copley Hospital in Aurora who is pursuing a certificate at COD. “If you enjoy doing it, it's definitely worthwhile. And it's addicting. Next year I want to take first place.”

For more information about COD's Hospitality Administration program, visit www.cod.edu/hospitalityadministration.