Hotel du Pont decks its halls with edible Christmas display

Cheery Christmas decorations and holiday celebrations at downtown Wilmington's Hotel du Pont are a longtime Delaware tradition. 

The 1913 hotel at 11th and Market streets has been decking its halls and hosting jovial parties for more than 100 years. It most recently ushered in the seasonal festivities on Dec. 1 with the glitzy, Grand Gala, a sold-out black-tie event that for the past 42 years has been raising money for nearby The Grand Opera House.

If you need a boost to get into the holiday spirit, a visit to the historic hotel might do the trick. There are Christmas trees and lights throughout the building. 

To further enhance the good tidings, executive pastry chef Leah Steinberger and her team of baking elves have created a new, and edible, holiday lobby display.

The public is invited in to see the display — but, no nibbling, please — which includes a life-size fireplace, a recent visit from Santa Claus and wrapped gifts.

The attention to detail is exacting and Steinberger's team has shown a creative use of edible items.

Bricks on the fireplace are made from fondant that's usually used for the hotel’s wedding cakes. Santa's legs poking from the top of the chimney, a teddy bear and Santa’s toy sack are made from Rice Krispie marshmallow treats.

The fireplace mantel clock was constructed from gingerbread and highlighted with edible gold-leaf. 

Steinberger said construction began Oct. 30 with the building of the plywood foundation on wheels and outlining the “bricks."

It took about 88 hours total. Steinberger said it was primarily her and another member of the pastry team, and that both others chipped in for smaller parts and helped out with day-to-day work so they could spend so much time on the project.

The hardest thing to construct was the mantel clock.

 It "was the most complicated to construct. Gingerbread is not easily shapeable like the gum paste we used for so many other elements, so creating the curved edge of the clock was a challenge," Steinberger said. 

"The placement of the logs and flames was difficult in a different way; it took longer than anticipated because we wanted it to be as realistic as possible, and that required a lot of creative vision."

The team picked the fireplace theme because "we wanted a design that would complement the Christmas tree, as well as fit into the lobby aesthetic. Our lobby doesn’t have a fireplace so we thought it would be perfect to add such an iconic and warm holiday scene to the hotel," she said. 

"There was a lot of brainstorming, and when we hit on 'fireplace,' it just kind of clicked."

The creation, which the public can view free of charge, is on display until Jan. 9. Take a seat in the new furnished lobby and enjoy a drink. Happy hour specials are available from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The hotel also will be hosting a $50 gingerbread house decorating event this Sunday at 2 p.m. in the cafe, next to the Green Room. 

Don't worry about construction. The baking staff will provide a fully assembled gingerbread house. You'll get tons of royal icing and all the candy you’ll need for decorating. It's open to all ages, although adult assistance is suggested for children younger than 8.

Lunch with Santa ($14-$22) will be held on Dec. 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the cafe. The menu will be "family-friendly" and children can get pictures taken with Santa.

A Victorian afternoon ($13-$26) at 3 p.m. on Dec. 16 in the Green Room includes tea sandwiches, scones, the hotel's famed desserts and performances by the Yuletide Singers, an ensemble of Victorian-era carolers.

The Green Room also is offering a five-course meal Christmas Eve, with seatings at 5 and 8 p.m. The cost is $85 per person; $35 for children younger than 12; and free for children younger than 5.

On Christmas Day, brunch will be available at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Buffet items include a salad, oyster, shrimp and sushi station, international cheese and charcuterie, smoked salmon, and a choice of seven entrées. The cost is $75 per person; $35 for children younger than 12; and free for children under 5.

For more information and reservations, call (302) 594-3154 or visit www.hoteldupont.com/en/dining-en.html. 

MORE DELAWARE FOOD:

Free pizza Thursday at new Pike Creek eatery

Delaware restaurants open on Christmas Day

Eggs Benedict and more brunch offerings at new First Watch

Contact Patricia Talorico at (302) 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com and on Twitter @pattytalorico