The Great Tofino Gingerbread Extravaganza lived up to its name.
On Friday evening Dec. 2, over 250 Jinglers made tracks to the Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre to drool over an edible display of the town’s favourite landmarks and buildings.
From Gary’s Kitchen, the Vet Clinic, and Beaches Grocery to Lovekin Rock, the Tofino Market, and Monk’s Point, the gingerbread village of Tofino was a sight to wonder.
“I just thought it would be fun to do the town out of gingerbread,” said Jessyca Fulsom, co-owner of Tofino’s french style bakery Ouest Artisan Patisserie.
A couple weeks leading up to the big reveal on Dec. 2, Ouest donated gingerbread house kits to about 26 eager participants. During Friday’s showing that coincided with Tofino’s annual Jingle Into Christmas shopping night, onlookers were asked to vote for their favourite gingerbread house created by a kid and their favourite by an adult.
With more votes than any other entry, the People’s Choice went to KC and Emelia for their creation of the Tofino Air Seaplane Base.
“(It) got better and better the more you looked at it. These two had some super creative ideas, and used cookies, candy, even isomalt. Great work,” Fulsom posted on social media.
Julia Burkhart won Adults People’s Choice for her replica of Beaches Grocery.
“Julia worked super hard on this little grocery, and included so many minute details such as Al’s hand sanitizer outside the front door. Al was so surprised and excited to discover this miniature of his shop, he wanted to take it home.”
Mila won Best Children’s entry for her candy-crammed replica of Monk’s Point.
“So much candy, all the gorgeous colours on one house, a Kit Kat fence, rice crispy base, cotton candy flavoured chocolate! And it just looked so beautiful, like some sort of Hansel and Gretyl fantasy. Just awesome,” said Fulsom.
Other categories included Best Creative use of gingerbread (Kayoko’s Lovekin Rock), Best Creative use of kit house (the Beach Shack/Cantina), and Best local legendary landmark (Christie’s entry of Gary’s Kitchen).
And to save the best for last, the overall winner and Best in Show of Tofino’s inaugural gingerbread contest was Elaine Santiago for her jaw-dropping replica of Long Beach Lodge.
“Her LBL replica really was phenomenal. Don’t get me started about the mini fire pits and Adirondack chairs. Too amazing.”
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