FRANCISCO | Keeping up with an historic Westin St. Francis tradition, Executive Pastry Chef, Jean-Francois Houdre has been inspired to re-create a life-sized gingerbread sugar castle this holiday season -- which will surely dazzle children and adults alike!

The inspiration to do a one-of-a-kind grandiose gingerbread castle came from recent family trip to Europe. The Houdre family had the incredible opportunity to visit many remarkable chateaux's. Particularly, Mont Saint Michel and la cite de Carcassonne, which is one of Europe's most complete examples of a fortified abbey.

As the Houdre family toured these spectacular and grandiose castles, son, Henri (7), and daughter, Claudia (5) were able to discover an earlier time when royalty once occupied these magnificent castles over centuries ago. From that experience, the children were able to convince their father that a spectacular gingerbread castle should be built at the St. Francis this holiday season.

Besides his regular duties as Executive Pastry Chef of the St. Francis, Jean-Francois has spent the last six months building his 8-foot masterpiece with great detail and precision.

The castle is entirely edible, and comprised of the following sumptuous ingredients:

• 70 pounds of gingerbread
• 130 pounds of pastillage (Powdered sugar, egg whites and gelatin dough)
• 40 pounds of pulled and bubble sugar
• Royal icing made of 300 pounds of sugar and egg whites
• 40 pounds of molasses
• 60 pounds of flour
• 100 pounds of assorted Christmas Candy
• And 360 hours of hard work!

The gingerbread castle at the historic Westin St. Francis has been admired by thousands of local holiday shoppers and holiday visitors from around the world.