Sweet Traditions

Here at New Jersey Monthly, we know all of the fine points of this great state; but have to admit, one of the cool things about being from the Garden State is that NYC is just across the river. And there is no more magical time to visit the city than during the winter holidays.

The nearly 10-foot tall gingerbread plaza has five separate buildings. It required 120 pounds of dough, 240 cups of flour, and 80 cups of molasses.

It took Short Hills Hilton pastry chef Doug Baklarz (left) and his staff about 215 hours--including 10 hours and three people for the assembly in the hotel lobby--to create this confection version of Rockefeller Center's holiday scene.

The Christmas tree is 30 pounds of solid chocolate airbrushed with green cocoa butter and accented in white and dark green. The skating rink is spun sugar (40 pounds of it for the 1,179 windows and rink combined) and the angels that surround it are made of pastillage--sugar dough that hardens when it dries--and then painted with gold powder.

The iconic gold sculpture was hand carved and molded out of chocolate. The penguins and snowman that "people" the streets and the ice were made by hand and required about 15 hours to complete.

Growing up, every Christmas meant a trip to see the tree at Rockefeller Center, to watch the skaters whizzing along the shiny ice, and to marvel at the line of angels heralding the season.

As much as I loved those trips, it’s been years since I’ve made it to see the tree at Christmas time. Recently, though, I visited the Hilton Short Hills and found a lovely surprise in the restaurant lobby: A nearly 10-foot tall, candy and gingerbread replica of Rockefeller Center. Not only does this rendition have fabulous detail—the NBC building, retail stores, and a spun sugar skating rink—it is entirely edible.

Of course, it is not the same as being there, but the up side is there is that no bustling crowd, no chilled air, no trek through a bridge or tunnel, and yet it will inspire that same child-like wonder. You will feel the season’s spirit and enthusiasm as you note with delight all of the awesome details from top to bottom. Go and see it for yourself; perhaps it will become a new tradition.