Mt. Washington Valley, NH— Hungry cookie munchers came from throughout New England to sample sweet and savory treats while enjoying tours of the 17 inns featured in the 10th Annual Inn-to-Inn Cookie Tour, December 9-10, 2007. This year, gingerbread creations were added to the event, with businesses throughout Mt. Washington Valley constructing fabulous fully-edible holiday scenes featuring a nutcracker theme and dedicated to non-profit organizations of their choice. Tour goers voted for their favorites, and every gingerbread structure on the tour received multiple votes.

The winners of the “Nutcracker Sweet” gingerbread competition were:

First Place: Displayed at the Glen Oaks Inn; the Mount Washington Hotel Bakery Department’s interpretation of the Stahlbaum house - a large and grand house with the most beautiful tree imaginable, the Nutcracker Prince, the Mouse King, and sugar plum fairies

     Prize: $500 for the Giving Tree
     Baker: The pastry artisans from the Mount Washington Hotel

Second Place: Displayed at the Inn at Jackson; the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce’s interpretation of the Jackson, NH covered bridge being guarded by nutcracker solders..

     Prize: $350.00 for National MS Society, Central NE Chapter
     Baker: Cathi Belcher

Third Place: Displayed at, and created by, The Notchland Inn; a representation of the Mother Ginger, a giant gingerbread creation that comes to life in Clara’s dream, complete with her gingerbread children circling her hemline.

     Prize: $250 for Conway Area Humane Society
     Baker: Sandy Reinschmidt

To emphasize this perfect community fundraising event, most of the gingerbread creations will be auctioned at the Yankee Swap and Silent Auction at the Red Fox Bar & Grill, in Jackson, NH, on Saturday, December 16, 2006. One-half of the monies from each creation will be donated to the designated non-profit, and, the other half will benefit the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce.

Cookie revelers who visited all 17 participating inns received a collectable brass nutcracker ornament, the first of a series, and became eligible for a drawing for a Country Inns in the White Mountains gift certificate. In a random drawing from eligible participants, the Country Inns in the White Mountains awarded a $250 gift certificate to Cathy Donoghue of Saugus, MA, for a future stay at the inn of her choice among the participating 17 inns.

The Inn-to-Inn Cookie Tour is held every year during the second weekend of December. For more information or to view photos of the cookies featured in the 2006 tour as well as gingerbread creation winners, visit www.CountryInnsintheWhiteMountains.com and click on the Cookie Tour icon.

High resolution photos available of gingerbread creations.
Contact Marti Mayne, 207-846-6331 or info@maynelymarketing.com