Around fifty people filled the Community Room at the Evanston Public Library Sunday for free Gingerbread House Workshop with Chef Michael Niksic.
Chef Niksic says he uses meringue icing only to decorate the houses — it’s not strong enough to hold them together.
Children and their parents received recipes and learned the intricacies of the process, including adding multicolored icing and other ornaments to houses that should last an average of three to five years.
The event ended with a “lights off” showing of several gingerbread houses made previously by Mr. Niksic, who will be doing similar demonstrations through February at public libraries across Illinois.
Mr. Niksic say that when he’s not cooking, he performs at the Chicago Air and Water Show and is an avid water skier.
One lucky audience member, Padma Rao, also won a gingerbread house. Several of the other houses will be donated to local organizations.
After the demonstration, audience members got an up-close look at the houses created by Chef Michael Niksic. (Allison Williams photos)