All Aboard the Gingerbread Express!

The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit and the Royal Park Hotel unveiled its latest gingerbread creation, the Gingerbread Express, to the Rochester community on Thursday, Nov. 17. Guests marveled at the eight foot tall, animated gingerbread locomotive while sipping hot chocolate, listening to Christmas classics performed by The Salvation Army brass band and supporting The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit’s 2016 Red Kettle fundraising campaign.

Cheryl Gambaro of the David W. Elliott Memorial Foundation presented The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit with a generous gift of $5,000. The David W. Elliott Memorial Foundation is matching every paper mitten ornament purchased, dollar for dollar, up to $5,000. The “mittens” are available for a donation of $10 or $25 and can be purchased at the Royal Park Hotel’s front desk.

“The Royal Park Hotel’s gingerbread event has become an annual community tradition,” said Major Russ Sjögren, general secretary and metro Detroit area commander for The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division. “This partnership has helped raise more than $41,000 over the years to help northern Oakland County families and we look forward to great support again this year to help those in need.”

Guests can also support the nonprofit organization by ordering a decadent dessert off the Park 600 bar + kitchen menu. Foodies can devour a Traverse City cherry almond spice tart with black cherry ice cream, anything-but-traditional crème Brule, pumpkin cheesecake with gingerbread crust, or a delicious caramel apple bread pudding. The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit will receive $1 for each dessert purchased.

The Gingerbread Express was brought to life by Royal Park Hotel executive pastry chef Mark Slessor and his team of creative bakers. Inspired by childhood memories of toy trains circling a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, the Gingerbread Express resembles an old-fashioned steam-powered locomotive complete with chocolate nuts, bolts and rivets. Black-tinted gingerbread accented with fondant looks like the steel found on vintage trains. And chocolate cocoa-butter painted gingerbread bricks adorn the wooden cart that houses Santa’s toys.

Ingredients used to create the giant gingerbread locomotive included:

• 200 pounds of gingerbread mix
• 40 pounds of shortening
• 50 pounds of sugar
• 200 pounds of fondant
• 144 eggs
• 200 ounces of food coloring
• 50 pounds of candy

The Gingerbread Express is available for public viewing through Jan. 2, 2017.

About The Salvation Army

Founded by William and Catherine Booth in London, England in 1865, The Salvation Army is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to serving people in need without discrimination. This past year, The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit was involved in providing 2,724,152 meals and 652,786 nights of shelter for the homeless. The Salvation Army uses $.87 of every dollar raised to provide direct services to people in need each and every day of the year. For more information about The Salvation Army, please call 877-SAL-MICH, or visit us at www.salmich.org.

About the Royal Park Hotel

The Royal Park Hotel is located 30 minutes north of Detroit. The AAA four-diamond hotel is within walking distance from downtown Rochester, home of the Big, Bright, Light Show. Featuring 143 uniquely designed guest rooms and suites; relaxed and understated elegance is the specialty of the house. With event space accommodating up to 1,200 guests, the Royal Park Hotel is the ideal setting for corporate meetings, romantic weddings, intimate receptions and gathering with family and friends. For more information, contact Sue Keels at 248-453-8709 or visit www.royalparkhotel.net.