Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village

For Seattle Sheraton executive chef John Hart, constructing gingerbread houses is a seasonal labor of love, and one that even finds its way into his own home. Hart has spent the last several months "messing up the kitchen" to construct a giant Snoopy for this year's gingerbread display.

On Tuesday, the Sheraton Seattle Hotel is unveiling its 17th Annual Gingerbread Village, a benefit for the Northwest Chapter of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

"Not only are you doing it for a great cause, but for the kid that's living inside you, it's a blast," Hart said.

Volunteers like Hart work with volunteer teams of local architects to create wonders, and guests are invited to vote for their favorites. This year's theme, "A Reel Christmas," shows scenes from popular Christmas movies.

Volunteers from the firm 4D Architects were constructing a gingerbread mountain with the help of Sheraton banquet chef Jay Sardeson, who collects candy all year to find unusual colors and textures to use in building. Other teams include Callison, Master Builders Association, KMD Architects and DLR Group.

Their creativity extended to a gingerbread floor tiled with pastel candy hearts, popcorn smoke rising from a chimney of peppermint bars, a pretzel wagon, a railroad of black licorice and a dusting of coconut snow.

Each creation takes the volunteers hundreds of hours, and for many teams it has become an annual tradition. The event has raised more than $425,000 for the foundation over the past 16 years.

For Hart, the fundraising also has a personal side — he's a diabetic. So why feature concoctions made of sugar?

Not all sugar is bad; it's just a matter of counting carbs, he said. "If you can have 60 carbs, maybe 24 of them could be chocolate cake," he said. Besides, "it's not so much about eating as about getting into the spirit of Christmas."

Donations can be made at www.gingerbreadvillage.org.

Kristi Heim: 206-464-2718 or kheim@seattletimes.com