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Fresh Sheet: Culinary crews to construct their gingerbread treats

The Christ Kitchen Gingerbread Build-off features teams of area chefs working with local architects to design and build amazing structures while the public watches. Courtesy of Christ Kitchen (Courtesy of Christ Kitchen)
By Lorie Hutson lorieh@spokesman.com(509) 459-5446

Catch the action in this year’s Christ Kitchen Gingerbread Build-off on Sunday at the Davenport Hotel.

Culinary teams from Yoke’s, Marsells Cakes and Desserts, the Coeur d’Alene Casino, INTEGRUS Architecture and Sew Sweet, the Davenport Hotel, Off the Wall Events, the Globe Bar and Grill, Northern Quest Casino and Europa will decorate their ginormous gingerbread houses in three hours while the public watches.

The action begins at 10 a.m. in the hotel’s Hall of Doges and spectators can vote for their favorite structure. The theme this year is children’s movies.

Kids can also try their hand at decorating during the event. Make your own minigingerbread house in the Grand Pennington Ballroom between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The cost is $7 per person.

Money raised helps Christ Kitchen, a job training program for Spokane women living in poverty.

‘Top Chef’ finale tonight

Tune in to Bravo tonight at 10 to catch the finale of “Top Chef” – there’s a chance you could have tasted the winner’s cooking.

Finalist Kevin Gillespie briefly worked at Luna on Spokane’s South Hill in fall 2007. He’s now a partner and executive chef at the Woodfire Grill in Atlanta.

Gillespie faces brothers Michael and Bryan Voltaggio in the previously taped finale. Bravo has sworn the contestants to secrecy until after the show airs.

The grand prize includes a spread in Food & Wine magazine, cooking merchandise and $100,000.

Colbert woman among Bake-off finalists

Colbert baker Joan Cossette has done it: She’s one of the finalists in the 44th annual Pillsbury Bake-off.

Cossette’s recipe for Orange-Coconut Rolls topped competitor Mary Beth Mandola’s Apricot-Nut Pastries in an online showdown this summer.

Recipes entered by Mandola, of Houston, and Cossette were part of a new category in this year’s competition, called “You Be the Judge!” Their recipes were posted on the Bake-off Web site for two weeks and online votes decided who would advance.

“I’m just so thankful that the people of Spokane voted for me,” says Cossette. It was the first time she’s entered a competition.

Cossette and her family will travel to Orlando in April, where she’ll compete against 99 others for a chance to win the $1 million prize.