Break Bread In Belterra's Giant Gingerbread House While Helping The Homless

Press release by Belterra Casino Resort Photo provided. (Florence, Ind.) – A new holiday tradition is coming to Belterra Casino Resort this year in the form of a giant gingerbread house big enough to hold eight people for a holiday feast. The life-size confection creation will be open Nov. 25 – Dec. 24 serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Reservations to dine in the house are required, along with a $25 donation that will benefit the Coalition for the Homeless in Louisville. Each guest for lunch or dinner will enjoy a special holiday menu that includes salad, a ham or turkey main course, and dessert. Diners can also order from restaurant menus for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. “This house will give a chance for our team members and guests to give back this holiday season in a meaningful and powerful way, all while creating memorable moments at Belterra,” said Sue Ascanio, Vice President & General Manager of Belterra Casino Resort. “We expect the gingerbread house to be very popular since it is such a unique experience,” said Ascanio. “Weekend and holiday reservations will fill up quickly so guests will want to make their reservations early.” One hundred percent of all reservation donations to dine inside the completely confection-covered cottage will benefit the Coalition for the Homeless. “On behalf of the homeless clients we serve, we are honored and thrilled to be the beneficiary of the inaugural Gingerbread House Experience,” said Natalie Harris, Executive Director. “These proceeds will benefit one of our many programs to get homeless people off the streets during the brutal winter months.” The Coalition for the Homeless programs to benefit include the White Flag program, which brings someone off the streets during cold weather for only $5 each night, and the collaborative Rx: Housing Veterans initiative, which successfully coordinated partners to end homelessness among veterans in Louisville in 2015. All of the radio stations in Alpha Media’s cluster have also signed on as this year’s media partner to bring even more awareness to the promotion and the Coalition for the Homeless. The house will be built during the weekend of Nov. 14 - 22 by Belterra’s culinary arts teams led by Executive Chef John Geschrei. Chef Geschrei is designing a 10’-by-12’-by-15’ German Hűtte to reflect the region’s German heritage. Chef Geschrei, along with Pasty Chef Luis E. Mendez and their team of ten pastry chefs, will construct their Gingerbread House Experience this year with 650 pounds of powdered sugar, 550 pounds of gingerbread, 160 pounds of flour, 120 pounds of shortening and 100 pounds of corn syrup to make 1,000 gingerbread bricks. The bricks will be mortared to the house using 300 pounds of powdered sugar-based royal icing. Forty pounds of modeling chocolate will be used as decorative edging at the base of the roof along with 130 pounds of Isomalt to make stained-glass windows, icicles, assorted candy and gumdrops. One hundred pounds of candy will be used throughout the house for detailing. The Gingerbread House Experience will be open for donation seating 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25 – Dec. 24 at Belterra Casino Resort. The fully-tax deductible $25 reservation donation can be made by calling Belterra at 812-427-7897 or by visiting the host stand at The Buffet at Belterra Casino Resort. The non-refundable reservation must be secured with a credit card and will ensure that guests and their party can enjoy private dining inside.