One Ocean Resort & Spa in Atlantic Beach hosted its annual gingerbread unveiling last Thursday, Nov. 29.
The life-sized gingerbread structure features a 2D design of a Christmas village, complete with lights and trees. One Ocean Resort & Spa’s Pastry Chef, James Victorino, headed the design with Ezra Cardona and Erika Sanchez. Previous gingerbread designs included a castle, Santa’s sleigh and a replica of Atlantic Beach.
Homemade ginger cookies, candy canes and sparkling apple juice were served in flutes to the children at the unveiling.
“To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of One Ocean Resort & Spa, we wanted this year’s display to offer a unique twist on the traditional, three-dimensional gingerbread village,” Victorino said. “Constructing a display of three different two-dimensional panels was the perfect way to achieve this vision, resulting in an interesting three-dimensional effect when observed from the front.”
High Tea
In other news, One Ocean Resort & Spa is offering patrons an opportunity to immerse themselves in 19th century English culture with its daily High Tea event that is being held through December.
Patrons of High Tea can sip specialty teas and enjoy bite-sized sandwiches in the Azurea Lounge. The event is styled to recapture 19th century English afternoon tea culture. Both classic and modern teas are served, including White Ambrosia tea and the time-honored Earl Gray. Sandwiches include avocado brioche with pumpkin seed pesto and pastrami on pumpernickel with braised purple cabbage.
While this is his first High Tea at One Ocean Resort & Spa, Executive Chef Aaron Chavarria previously lived and worked in Europe and is familiar designing afternoon tea luncheons and finger sandwiches.
“The difference between constructing a regular sandwich and a small sandwich is that the finger sandwiches focus on flavor,” he said. “It must be an explosion of flavor at the first bite.”
High Tea will be open to the community from 2 to 4 p.m. daily for $35 per person until Dec. 30. Reservations are required, with 24-hour notice recommended. Call (904) 249-7402 to make a reservation.
