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00:01This is a story about a land of sugar and spice.
00:09Where five teams of the nation's best bakers have come together to build entire worlds made of gingerbread.
00:16This is next level gingerbread building.
00:18As they compete for a $100,000 prize.
00:21We're up against some crazy talented people.
00:24Last time we saw some rise to the top.
00:27The winner is… Team Chalet!
00:31Congratulations!
00:33Some fall to the bottom.
00:35Team Mid-Century.
00:36The build did not feel like Christmas.
00:38Oh, it kind of took the win out of my sails.
00:41Team Brownstone.
00:42One of the problems I have is how the buildings are facing each other.
00:46We just want to keep creating more.
00:49And we had a Christmas surprise.
00:51Team Going Home is…
00:54No one.
00:56But, next time, one team is definitely going home.
01:01It's time for our holiday tale to continue.
01:04But first, we need a host.
01:06That's where I come in.
01:08Hey, guys.
01:09I'm testing what it's like to live tiny for when I do shrink my family to live in your gingerbread world.
01:17Welcome back to Gingerbread Land, the biggest little holiday competition.
01:22Are you ready to grow your world again?
01:25Yes.
01:26Yes.
01:27Because in this challenge, you will double it.
01:29And if you make it to the end, your gingerbread lands will be four times as big.
01:33Any of you teams can walk away with a $100,000 prize.
01:37Okay, so before I introduce your next challenge, let's welcome back our judges.
01:43We've got Chef Gail Gant and Architect Michael Ford.
01:47You look like an architect and you look like a pastry chef.
01:51And you look like a lumberjack.
01:53I do?
01:53Yeah.
01:54A little bit.
01:54That's okay.
01:55She said you look like a lumberjack.
01:57I don't mind that.
01:59Okay, so this time your build theme is where we shop and eat.
02:06Because nothing says the holidays more than buying gifts for your loved ones and, of course, stuffing your face.
02:13Your main structure must be a shopping or a dining area.
02:16And your build needs to have a hidden detail.
02:19Something that opens, reveals, or surprises.
02:23Keep in mind, you will be judged on your gingerbread land as a whole.
02:27So you have a chance to go back and maybe fix something that the judges critiqued before.
02:31This week, a team is definitely going home.
02:35What are we looking for?
02:37We're looking for creativity, including staying true to your architectural styles.
02:41But also execution, plus continuity.
02:44So making sure that your new build is integrated with your previous build.
02:49I don't think any of us have ever built a village of this magnitude in this amount of time.
02:55I mean, this is the Olympics of gingerbread.
02:57Okay, teams, you have until the clock strikes midnight.
03:01Only 12 hours for this challenge.
03:03You ready?
03:04Go.
03:05Okay.
03:05Oh, my God.
03:06Oh, my God.
03:07Sketch, sketch.
03:08What are we thinking?
03:10So how about it facing this way so we don't have a back of it?
03:13Yeah, because we got deemed on our positioning on our last piece, and that put us in the bottom.
03:18We have to move it.
03:19We'll move it.
03:19Our entire problem with moving this build is that we have been using isomalt.
03:24It's hard.
03:25That's our glue.
03:27How do we lift it?
03:28I really hope we don't break anything.
03:29Let's do all this stuff first, and then we'll flip it and adjust after.
03:33I love these, like, old-style vintage, like, diners.
03:39Wait, so we have to seamlessly connect this to what's existing.
03:42So what are our ideas on that?
03:44A promenade leading off of this area into the next.
03:47A promenade would be great.
03:48With palm trees.
03:49We're coming into this challenge after being on the bottom.
03:52Last week, we did not budget time well to finish the Christmas elements, which I realized was something we needed to change going forward.
03:59So this week's challenge is where you shop and eat.
04:02What do we want to see?
04:03They need to reveal to us little techniques that they know how to do out of foods.
04:08The way that they build it out is so beautiful, you almost forget that it's entirely edible.
04:12Right.
04:12Last time, Team Chalet won for their precision and inventive use of gingerbread.
04:18The thing about it is, like, every tree is almost the same.
04:22Right.
04:22And I feel like I want a little bit of variation.
04:25Okay, let's talk about Team Villa.
04:26I've been impressed with this team, but it's one big thing that they are missing.
04:30It's not open.
04:31It feels very close.
04:32In that environment, you want to start to have some breezeways.
04:37Let's go check them out.
04:37Come on.
04:38Okay.
04:39All right, Team Mid-Century.
04:40Hi, we're here to check in on you.
04:42What are you building as far as where you shop or eat?
04:45We have a diner with a drive-thru, and then we have a little shopping area that's going to be a bakery and a little retail section.
04:52You know, last time you didn't have a lot of Christmas elements.
04:54We didn't.
04:54I am going to front load Christmas.
04:58I have to do three Christmas trees, three flamingos with hats, a mailbox with deco, a ginger chick, the palm trees.
05:07So, yeah.
05:08So, you got your prep list.
05:09So, it's like organized chaos.
05:11It is.
05:12I'm going to get started on this garage door mechanism.
05:15I want to kind of attack the hidden detail element of our challenge.
05:19I'm going to be making a functional garage door out of chipboard and edible paper.
05:25On the inside, we'll have little mischievous elves creating chaos.
05:31Team Coastal, this is where I live.
05:34What are we doing?
05:36How are we expanding?
05:37As you know, coastal communities don't have malls and big commercial things.
05:43We're going to bring in more of an old fish warehouse that's been converted to three local shops.
05:48We're going to bring in the good old local bait shop.
05:50What's your hidden thing going to be?
05:51So, we're going to have an element where you can view down through that water and you will see fish, turtles, all the things.
05:58It's an underwater treasure.
05:59Treasure.
06:00I love that.
06:01Team Villa in the house.
06:03Where are we shopping?
06:04Where are we eating?
06:05We took mostly Spanish inspiration.
06:07So, we are going to be making a market that is kind of our tall building that will be three layers.
06:14And then we also have our cafe, which we are going to give the Mediterranean arches look on.
06:21So, that you can actually have some breezeways and walkthroughs because that was some of the feedback we got.
06:26And then we're also going to have a bakery.
06:28For our hidden element, we are going to make the bakery windows open.
06:34Oh, wow. I love that.
06:35Yes.
06:35So, I'm going to make some hinges for our bakery shutters.
06:39I'm going to wrap gun paste around a piece of spaghetti because that's what will be in the hinges so the shutters can open and close.
06:48Okay.
06:49All right, behind you.
06:51So, while Faith is working on the shuttered doors, I'm actually working on what is going to be inside the bakery.
06:57I have a mold to create 50 little croissants and donuts and bread.
07:04These are all made out of fondant and then I get to paint.
07:08Did you guys see this?
07:09This is our bakery shelf.
07:11Wow, that's amazing.
07:13Oh, my gosh. I'm so excited.
07:16We're going to do like a big mountain, right?
07:18Yeah.
07:18I'm going to start laying this out.
07:20I'll just take that slope up really high.
07:23Coming into this challenge, I mean, I feel really good.
07:26Very confident.
07:28Winner's chalet.
07:29Winner's chalet.
07:30Timothee Chalamet, chalet, Timothee Chalamet.
07:34Okay, what's the plan?
07:36We're planning to go big this time.
07:39Ooh.
07:39We want a resort, like a nice size.
07:42Is it kind of like a ski resort?
07:43Exactly.
07:44Okay.
07:45We're rolling.
07:46We're using the regular gingerbread and blonde gingerbread.
07:50Basically, it's the same recipe.
07:52It's just we're using corn syrup and the blonde gingerbread.
07:55For our pin and element.
07:56We decide to do a banner celebrating a grand opening for this new shopping plaza.
08:04Tee Brownstone.
08:05Yes, sir.
08:05Can we talk about what structure we're going to build?
08:10It's like one of those old school malls.
08:13With, you know, those quintessential bubble awnings.
08:16Yes.
08:16So for the places that we shop and eat, we're going to be making a mall, a bakery, and a candy shop.
08:23And keep it on the down low.
08:24We're going to give something that the judges can actually eat.
08:27Really?
08:28It was supposed to be a surprise.
08:29No, but he's going to keep our secret.
08:31I'm not going to say anything.
08:32Okay.
08:33Thank you so much.
08:34Thank you guys.
08:35Joel, do we want to move this?
08:36Yeah.
08:37Let me try to slice it with a knife.
08:38Yeah.
08:39Just let me.
08:40We're twisting our building around because the judges said
08:43they want to see it facing them.
08:45So we have to do some surgery.
08:47Okay.
08:47You got to be very careful with your wall.
08:49It took forever.
08:50And if you break something, there's no time to refix it.
08:53I don't want it to lose.
08:54Wait, wait, wait.
08:54Let me get my fingers in.
08:56One sec.
08:57This wire is stuck.
08:58Just cut it.
08:59It's fragile.
09:01Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait,
09:03Oh!
09:04Cut the wire.
09:05We have to twist our building around because the judges said they want to see it facing
09:11front.
09:12Have faith.
09:14There we go.
09:15It looks a lot better.
09:17It looks beautiful.
09:18If we're winning this, I'm getting a gingerbread tattoo here.
09:21We should all get a matching tattoo.
09:22Like, plus, you guys get gingerbread tattoos and I get a bracelet.
09:32So I need to focus on finishing the building.
09:35Do not talk to me anymore.
09:37So for where we shop and eat, the main focus is going to be this large-scale ski resort building.
09:45So Carolina is going to put all her time into this building.
09:48And Susan and I are going to focus on making sure that the foreground and the landscaping
09:52is done.
09:52This is beautiful.
09:54Thank you so much.
09:55We're a little bit ambitious.
09:57I'm going to add this blonde gingerbread to the facade and it's going to have a nice
10:01contrast.
10:02This is just incredible.
10:04How are you feeling?
10:05Good.
10:05It's just, this is the type of stuff that just takes so much time.
10:08It's just that tedious stuff.
10:10Yeah.
10:10Yeah.
10:11So how did you get into all this?
10:12So my grandparents had a soul food restaurant for over 45 years in South Georgia.
10:16And my grandmother taught me how to bake because she made all the cakes for the restaurant.
10:21And I've just been going ever since.
10:24We are trying our best to represent ourselves in our chalet story.
10:29And so I definitely plan to bring my family restaurant to the chalet.
10:34Oh, I'm so happy.
10:36I got my grandparents made.
10:39All right.
10:40Let's put a building together.
10:41Okay.
10:41We are making a shopping and dining area with three main structures.
10:46And this time we're going to have breezeways and openings.
10:49I think this will work because honestly, like, you have more space there.
10:53Which is really what the judges were kind of asking for.
10:56Just more space.
10:59All right, Team Villa.
11:01I'm loving the opportunity to see it before you start to add this ducco.
11:05So we can start to see how you made the gingerbread.
11:07That it's actual gingerbread.
11:08Yeah, into a structural material now.
11:10We will use some hard royal icing to fill the seams so that everything just sticks together.
11:15What is royal icing?
11:18Usually it's powdered sugar.
11:19Egg whites.
11:20Egg whites.
11:20And then some kind of citrus, which helps kind of activate it so it dries faster and further.
11:25So this is some quick-drying mortar.
11:27It basically is a mortar.
11:28And delicious.
11:28And then I think it's just going to be a little bit of a prayer.
11:31Mm-hmm.
11:32We realize now, like, if we really want a shot at winning, let's give the judges what
11:37they asked for, which was cover those seams so that you can't really see them.
11:41There's some spots on the inside that are missed if you want to hit those.
11:46I have to say, I'm a little worried.
11:49You're supposed to be the positive one.
11:50You've got to make three more trees.
11:51To make my palm trees, I am using a gum paste fondant mixture.
11:57Tanya, do you have any of those elves done?
11:59I have four of them basically done.
12:02The judges really didn't like how empty our town felt in our previous challenge, so we
12:07want to add as many people as we can.
12:10I have silicone molds that I've made of little plastic people, and we are taking different
12:16skin-colored gum paste and kind of pressing it into the mold and dehydrating them so that
12:21they're hard and can stand up straight.
12:24Yes, let's do it.
12:27We're going to connect the first build with the second build through the Palm Promenade,
12:31which goes directly down the middle.
12:33We are putting our palm trees in the center, which was always the point.
12:38We just didn't have time last time.
12:39I'm working on the retro style Route 66 Diner, inspired by the classic roof style of mid-century.
12:47Bringing in the Christmas element, the holiday element, proves to be a little difficult.
12:51Keep in mind, there isn't any snow as a part of Palm Springs.
12:55Exactly.
12:58What are you working on?
13:00The awnings?
13:01I was not liking that one.
13:03We have way too much going on.
13:06Look, I'm making a cute snowman here.
13:09When the three of us get together, there's a plan, but all three of us have been going
13:15rogue.
13:16We kind of strayed from the plan.
13:17Like right now, I just thought of something that I haven't told you guys.
13:21I'm going to tell you I'm going to do this.
13:22Perfect.
13:23Joelle's candy shop.
13:24Let's call it Gia's candy shop.
13:27It's my youngest baby.
13:28Oh, yeah.
13:30We're using all techniques.
13:32Heimu is making little window display areas.
13:36Joelle is bringing in the chocolate.
13:38I am.
13:39I don't remember.
13:40Yeah.
13:41So, since we have to reveal something, I want to showcase some of my pastry chef skills.
13:46So, I take the gingerbread crumbs, I mix it with some dark chocolate, and then I press
13:50it in a mold, I let it set, and it's going to act as one of our seats in our bakery.
13:55The special reveal is ready part of it.
13:58Can I eat it?
13:59Yeah.
14:00It's so good.
14:05Joelle, we like you.
14:06How could you not?
14:07So full of yourself.
14:08Okay, teams, teams, you're halfway through your build.
14:11You're halfway through your build.
14:14Keep your head in the gingerbread.
14:17I think for the shops to do stone on the bottom.
14:23Yeah.
14:23We've come up with like an old fish processing center for where we shop and where we eat.
14:28It looks like three businesses now.
14:29We wanted each shop to have a different texture.
14:32We decided we wanted to do a brick wall.
14:34I know that I want to use a brick impression mat.
14:37See, this is like the sample wall with the stone down below.
14:41We'll put the pier.
14:42Is it going to fit right in that lid right there?
14:43It's a painstaking process, but we were in the bottom from the very beginning, and we're
14:49going for $100,000, so I need to show all the skills that I can do.
14:54Okay, Lindsay, if you guys do win, what are we going to do with that money?
14:58I'm taking my brother, who has beat colon cancer twice.
15:03Wow.
15:04On a special trip.
15:05Amazing.
15:06I love that.
15:06That's what I want to do.
15:08Stop.
15:09Aw.
15:10No, seriously.
15:11Like, I can't do it.
15:12It's happy, though.
15:13She can't cry.
15:14I'm happy.
15:15I'm happy.
15:15I'm crying.
15:15She's crying in gingerbread.
15:17It would mean the world to me to win this for my brother.
15:21We're very close, and we always have been.
15:25I'm going to get out of here before I start crying.
15:26Okay, good.
15:27Okay.
15:27We won't tell anyone if you do.
15:29All right, this is the gelatin.
15:31Part of what I'm building is this beautiful bait shop.
15:35Lindsay, look at it.
15:36Oh, I love it.
15:37Do you want to put it over there to check the size?
15:39Sure.
15:42Oh, gosh.
15:43It's big.
15:44Way, way too big.
15:48I think you're going to have to cut it down and make it tiny.
15:53I know.
15:54Breaking down the bait shop, it needs to be done.
15:57It has to fit into the landscape, because you don't want to block what you've already built.
16:01But at the same time, you're like, I just got this thing together.
16:06Oh, look.
16:10I'm so upset right now.
16:12You're under a time clock at that point, and you need to make sure that it's right and get it done.
16:16All that work.
16:17You got it.
16:20Man, it makes me mad.
16:23I'm sorry.
16:24Team Villa, how's it going?
16:28You're smiling.
16:29Oh, yeah.
16:30She loves this kind of stress.
16:32I thrive in chaos.
16:33So what are the structures that you have against me?
16:35We are creating a cafe and bakery and a market where we can shop and eat.
16:40What's each of your motivations for saying yes to this wild competition?
16:44My kids.
16:45So I want to show my kids that I can do this.
16:48I'm trying to prove to myself that I belong here.
16:50Yeah.
16:51You have doubts?
16:52Still a little imposter syndrome.
16:54Aren't you the national champion?
16:56She still has this imposter syndrome.
16:59We're trying to break her out of that shell.
17:01And your motivation?
17:03I am a mother, and I don't need to go skydiving.
17:05I do this.
17:06How old are your kids?
17:07They are nine and eight, and they are competitive cheerleaders, and so most of my life is spent
17:14traveling around the country for them.
17:16So this one's for me, and you'll make them proud.
17:20I hope so.
17:21Good luck.
17:23Good luck.
17:24I've heard some news.
17:25Hold on.
17:26What is this?
17:26Breaking news.
17:27Breaking.
17:28Foghorn alert.
17:31What's going on?
17:32Well, try to pop off the roof, and then it'll come out of this.
17:35Oh, okay.
17:36We're going to figure it out.
17:37When you're working on a gingerbread piece in a competition, you have to be able to take
17:42a risk and change them sometimes.
17:43This is where Jennifer shines.
17:45Oh, it's sticky.
17:47She takes it apart.
17:48She cuts it completely down every wall, every roof, and resizes the entire building to get
17:53it the right scale.
17:54Look.
17:55Oh, I like it.
17:56Okay, cool.
17:57Okay.
17:58Okay, bakers.
17:59Please step away from your gingerbreads.
18:01We're going to stop the clock.
18:03On these presents are five new story prompts.
18:07Hmm.
18:08Honestly, we've been enjoying the story prompts.
18:11Yeah.
18:11It gives you a little bit of focus, which helps us work better together.
18:15Team Chalet, you won the last challenge, so you get to pick your story prompt first.
18:21And all of the other teams, you all get to pick nothing.
18:28That is because Team Chalet will assign these story prompts to everyone else.
18:34I am excited because we can use whatever help we can get at this point.
18:41This competition is so stiff.
18:43We won it.
18:44We have a forgotten toy under the tree.
18:47A treat for Santa to fill the stocking.
18:51And lastly, a lot to carry.
18:54Okay, Team Chalet, come on up.
18:56We knew exactly the one that we wanted because it fit perfectly into our story.
19:01What are we picking?
19:01I was going to say a treat for Santa.
19:04I like it.
19:05Okay, let's start with Team Brownstone.
19:08You love us.
19:09I don't want to hurt anybody.
19:12It's hard to guess what they need.
19:14It's a bittersweet advantage.
19:16A lot to carry.
19:17Team Brownstone.
19:18Oh my God.
19:19A lot to carry.
19:20Perfect.
19:21I like that.
19:23Okay, next, Team Coastal.
19:25Okay.
19:25Oh.
19:26All right.
19:27Under the tree.
19:28Oh, okay.
19:29Yay.
19:30Okay, Team Mid-Central.
19:32Yes.
19:32Okay, I think they can figure something out with this.
19:37We are going to give them a forgotten toy.
19:39We'll take that.
19:40Merry Christmas.
19:42So, Team Villa, process of elimination gives you to fill a stocking.
19:48Thank you for the leftovers.
19:50Sometimes you get a prompt and you just go, oh, well, that already kind of fits into our story.
19:54This one really didn't.
19:55So, thanks, Chalet.
19:58So, judges, any final advice for these teams before the clock starts again?
20:01Your bills need to tell a bigger story inspired by your new prompt.
20:06Remember what got you over the hump the last time or what put you in the bottom two.
20:11Really lean into that story.
20:13Okay, Ginger better.
20:14Let's restart the clock right now.
20:16We've got three hours left.
20:18Okay.
20:19Your time starts now.
20:23Under the tree.
20:24So, wait, what is our prompt anyway?
20:26Okay, so we have a lot to carry.
20:28You guys, I'm struggling.
20:29Let's brainstorm.
20:30Something we learned, I think, from the first challenge is time management is essential.
20:35Yeah.
20:36I'm just going to suggest because I do have a sentimental forgotten toy.
20:41Okay.
20:41My mom made me a teddy bear when I was a baby and the toy was lost.
20:46Oh, my God.
20:47I can't wait to see it.
20:48I'm going to try.
20:49I'm going to hand sculpt Belinda bear using fondant.
20:52I want to add a little white fondant in the brown bear.
20:56Kind of like tattered a little bit because it's been through some stuff.
20:59I'm going to be finished in a second.
21:01Coming from the bottom, there's absolutely pressure to remain in the competition.
21:05So, I'm just hoping that they see the effort.
21:08That is adorable.
21:10How about someone who's carrying, like, maybe a million bags?
21:14Since we have the animals in our story.
21:16Maybe a type of animal.
21:17Is he staring at the teddy bear window?
21:19Yes.
21:20So, he tried to carry his bags, a large candy cane.
21:22Yeah.
21:22To make the candy canes, I cook some isomal.
21:25I divide it in two.
21:26I make one red and one white.
21:28Once I roll them out, I kind of twist and roll, twist and roll, and then I cut it to fit
21:33the size of the candy store.
21:34This is too big.
21:36Can you make me a small one?
21:38And he's going to be holding a candy cane with your roommate.
21:41Do you have an extra basket for stockings?
21:44There's one back there for it.
21:45I was trying to fit your stocking in with the shopping and dining area.
21:50So, I thought maybe we could do a can drive at the market, fill your stocking with canned
21:56goods, and making the stocking of fondant.
21:59I think we need more here.
22:01Let's do a bow.
22:02Okay.
22:02We'll float our Christmas tree out, and that'll allow us to peer down through that water and
22:07see all the fish under the tree.
22:10Let's start.
22:10Let's go.
22:11I am using white gingerbread to make a boat to go out into our water.
22:16All right, so I'm going to use some of this rice cereal treat to get the height that we
22:20want our boat.
22:21Then I can lay the gingerbread.
22:23I'm doing the outside of the boat in white gingerbread that can just air dry.
22:28I got to work faster on this.
22:30My son, every time he's, like, waiting for Santa, he, like, makes sure he won't miss
22:35to put the milk and the cookies.
22:36So, why don't we have Leo bringing Santa.
22:38Bringing me.
22:39Oh, my God.
22:40Some milk and cookies.
22:42We have my son here with the trade of cookies and the milk.
22:46I love it.
22:47My other responsibility is the stage where the hidden element is supposed to be.
22:53It's going.
22:53It's a banner that unravels itself, and it says, Grand Opening.
22:58Aline has the motor, and she showed me how it worked.
23:02You okay?
23:03Yeah.
23:03This is, like, crucial for our story.
23:05Don't think that I know how to do this, but I'm jerry-rigging this thing.
23:09I really hope it works.
23:11We got to move on from this so we can get our decorations done.
23:15Caroline is still working on this massive building.
23:19And it's the only building.
23:20It's a huge responsibility.
23:21Oh, my God.
23:23Oh, it broke.
23:26What broke?
23:28The roof.
23:28The roof broke?
23:29Yeah.
23:30But we have extra pieces to make another one, right?
23:33Don't talk to me.
23:34I have all this stress on me because it's the only building we have.
23:38So, I have to repeat the piece and finish on time.
23:42It's just tough.
23:43Very tough.
23:44Two hours left.
23:45No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
23:47Your builds must be in this room.
23:49Do not crumble.
23:51Too late.
23:53Dad joke.
23:56Anybody going to get done in this time?
23:59Everybody but us.
24:00We're running out of time.
24:01We don't have roofs on our buildings.
24:04We don't have things painted.
24:06And then we have a bunch of buildings under construction.
24:09So, we, we're, it's, we are stressed.
24:13She's moving it.
24:14Can you wait to move that?
24:16I'm not ready for that.
24:17I have to clear this.
24:18Are you rushing me, like, a long time?
24:20No, no, no, no.
24:21Let's not do that.
24:23Carolina is ready to put the building in place, but I'm not ready for her because there are wires in there.
24:28I don't think she understood what was going on on our side.
24:31You can't just pick it up and put it here.
24:33Okay, just do it.
24:34Then I'll put it.
24:35Tensions are starting to rise, and there is this frustration that is palpable.
24:41We need to put Santa in there, and then let's glue what we have.
24:44Let's start gluing everything.
24:46We came out of Challenge 1, like, gliding off the top of the ski slope, so now we feel terrible
24:52because we don't know how the execution is going to manifest in judging.
24:58Pour this first, then it will set.
25:01I've started to pour the water to have it kind of run under the dock.
25:04A clear isomalt, a little blue, a little white, and I'm layering it in to give it the actual appearance
25:10that water's going to come over the edge.
25:12It's coming in over here, so we're going to drip down some of the heat here with the cold.
25:16All right, I know, I know, I know.
25:17Okay, bankers, we have a 20-minute warning.
25:19When that clock strikes 12, your builds must be in the judging room behind me.
25:25Good, that's good.
25:26A high's going to rotate.
25:28Winning is the only option, right?
25:30We came here to win.
25:31We didn't come here to look for, show off our techniques.
25:34We're using all those techniques for the big win.
25:37Finishing touches on now.
25:39It's Oliver Hudson reporting live from Gingerbread Land.
25:41Okay, ready? Slowly.
25:43We have Team Brownstone.
25:45They're ready to push, they're ready to roll.
25:47It's absolute madness.
25:49Oh, my goodness, time is flying, time is flying.
25:52It's super intense.
25:53We put a little razzle-dazzle on at the very last minute.
25:56A mid-century's moving in.
25:57Up, up, up, up, up.
25:59Get your bill to the judging room.
26:01Uno momento, por favor.
26:03All these corners are, like, real bad.
26:05So messy.
26:06Oh, my gosh.
26:08We're putting the seals on the corner, right?
26:10I pull, you push.
26:13Slow, slow, slow.
26:15We got 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
26:26Step away from your bills.
26:28Time is up.
26:30Oh, my God.
26:30Well done.
26:31Ending a challenge like this does not feel good.
26:33There's this heaviness between us that is very uncomfortable, and, quite frankly, I don't like it.
26:39I don't think we're going to be safe.
26:41Hello.
26:49Hello.
26:50Everything looks incredibly beautiful, but judging cannot officially begin until we meet our surprise judge.
26:58She's a two-time James Beard award-winning chef, the founder of Milk Bar.
27:03Oh.
27:04And she knows how to create a space where people don't just shop or eat.
27:08They make memories and connections, which, hopefully, your gingerbreads do as well.
27:13So, please welcome Chef Christina Tosi.
27:16Hi.
27:19Hello, gingerbreaders.
27:21Hi.
27:22How are you?
27:23I'm super excited.
27:24Christina Tosi is a judge.
27:25I have her book.
27:26I use her recipes.
27:27So, Christina, why are you excited to be here in gingerbread land?
27:31Making a gingerbread house every year this time of year is still a tradition, and I'm so excited to see what you all have come up with.
27:39In this challenge, you had to literally double the size of your lands, and you had to incorporate the theme, where we shop and eat.
27:47Plus, you had to include a hidden detail.
27:49Now, remember what the judges are looking for, originality, clean execution, strong storytelling, and a build that flows seamlessly from what you made before into what you currently have built.
28:01Mid-century, you're first.
28:02Let's chat.
28:03Tell us about it.
28:04Okay.
28:04This is our gingerbread version of Palm Springs, and we have the 1950s retro diner here.
28:12We have vintage cars parked in the back.
28:14And then we have a bakery and a shopping area with a roll-up door.
28:20So, your story prompt was a forgotten toy.
28:23Yes.
28:23Right?
28:23If you all look over in the park, there is a teddy bear.
28:28My mom hand-created a teddy bear for me when I was a child.
28:32I was able to pass that teddy bear on to my children.
28:35Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina took that bear, but because of some Christmas miracle, it ended up in our story.
28:43In Palm Springs.
28:43Belinda Bear, which is named after my mom, is our forgotten toy.
28:48It's really nice.
28:49What's making you emotional, by the way?
28:51The story about the bear.
28:54Sorry, you lost your bear.
28:57Okay, let's see the big reveal.
28:59All right.
28:59The hidden detail.
29:00Oh.
29:02Hey.
29:03So, inside, we've got some elves partying.
29:06They came with Mrs. Claus, and they are getting the party started.
29:11Great job.
29:15You not only hit these new challenges, but you went back.
29:18You've picked up a lot of our comments.
29:20So, now to see this promenade of palm trees.
29:22You did a great job at that.
29:24You know, Michael and I talked about making it feel like Christmas there.
29:27And I love how you guys did it, because it wasn't with the traditional, like, red and green.
29:32It's gold.
29:33I found myself truly getting pulled in and lost in this mid-century modern and Palm Springs world.
29:40I am really so in love with the palm trees and everything else.
29:44Thank you very much.
29:45Thank you, guys.
29:46Okay.
29:46So, have a good job.
29:48Next up, Team Brownstone.
29:50I think we have accomplished a lot.
29:53Like, we have put in a lot of details, because we don't want to be the first team going home.
30:00So, welcome to our Brownstone Village.
30:02On Christmas Eve, our zoo animals get together around the tree for the tree lighting.
30:08But, of course, right after, we want to shop.
30:11We want to eat.
30:12We have this wonderful, beautiful shopping mall.
30:15We have Gia's Candy Shop.
30:18What was your story prompt?
30:19A lot to carry.
30:21Our little bear over here, he's carrying all these bags.
30:24And then he sees a teddy bear in the window.
30:27And he drops everything just to go at that teddy bear.
30:31And what about your hidden element?
30:33We wanted to give you something to eat.
30:35Oh, my gosh.
30:35And feel free to take...
30:36Smells amazing in there, like a real bakery.
30:38Your bakery.
30:40Take a seat.
30:41Oh.
30:45Wow.
30:46Oh, fun texture.
30:47Oh.
30:47Yeah.
30:48Got the crunch.
30:48Very nice.
30:49So, that's what we got.
30:50Do you see how excited I am, because you gave me a tasty bite of something?
30:54You're tugging on the heartstrings of, for me, what it feels like to be in the Christmas spirit.
30:58And I love that you listened to some of our criticism.
31:02Previously, we asked you to think about moving buildings.
31:05You did that.
31:07But you all need a master plan.
31:09For me, it feels more like a hodgepodge town of really great ideas.
31:14And I'm not sure that it's all one gingerbread village yet.
31:18Thank you, Team Brownstone.
31:19Thank you, guys.
31:20Great job.
31:21Good to meet you.
31:21I think our piece is us.
31:24And I feel we have a cluttered aesthetic, almost.
31:26I think it should win.
31:30Team Chalet, let's talk about the build.
31:32Welcome to the Sugar Pines Key Resort, where we shop and dine.
31:36And we have our plaza to continue also with our idea of gathering people.
31:42And what was your story prompt?
31:43A gift for Santa.
31:44So we also have my son.
31:47He's bringing a cookie to Santa.
31:51I can smell the gingerbread.
31:54As our hidden element that is on the stage, Arlene is going to show you that we have our banner.
32:01Okay.
32:02Okay.
32:04Down.
32:06No, that's up.
32:07Now down.
32:08Is this a grand opening?
32:09This is the hidden element.
32:10It doesn't work.
32:11Wow.
32:12Oh, man.
32:13Maybe we should have practiced it a few times.
32:16But you did take some risks there with having something that rode.
32:19I get very frustrated when mechanical elements don't work.
32:22You know, sometimes you get thrown curveballs and you got to try to work with it.
32:26Well, first of all, I love the differentiation between the colors of gingerbread and just how it really jumps out.
32:33You all are nailing the style.
32:35On a roof, there were some calculation issues on some of the corners.
32:39You're trying to get everything to line up and it is not an easy task.
32:43I have to say, we sort of eat with our eyes first and my eyes are so happy.
32:50But I don't want to feel like there's a giant 200-room ski resort in the back unless there's a lot more life and texture to it.
32:59Let there be a little bit more imprecision.
33:03I want more of you in this village.
33:07You're getting emotional.
33:10I would not be here if it weren't for those two figures up there in front of Best Restaurant.
33:16That's my family's restaurant.
33:17That's your family's restaurant.
33:18They had a soulful restaurant for over 45 years and my work ethic, my drive, my resourcefulness, it all comes from them.
33:26To have them in this space with me in this space, it's full circle.
33:31Well, I'll tell you, you're motivating a lot of young women who look just like you right now.
33:35Kudos to this team.
33:38Thank you guys so much.
33:40Thank you so much.
33:40Really beautiful.
33:41Team Villa.
33:46This is our Mediterranean gingerbread village.
33:50This is where we shop and where we eat.
33:52Right here we have our bakery.
33:53In the front here we have where everybody kind of gathers.
33:56This is more where these people really live.
34:00So our story prompt was fill your stockings.
34:02So our market is having our community food drive.
34:05So you can grab a stocking and fill it up while you shop.
34:08Great.
34:09And what about the hidden element?
34:10We wanted to show you what it looks like in the morning when the bakery gets open.
34:14Let's open up shop, Gail.
34:16Oh my gosh.
34:18The pastries.
34:20Very nice.
34:21You know, you're a hidden element.
34:22That was a nice approach.
34:24I also want to give you another nod to how you're using stucco as a material.
34:29Going back and approaching some of our previous comments, that roof still confuses me.
34:34I don't know what that material is.
34:36I think we're all a little anxious for water because the Mediterranean is a body of water.
34:42I'm with Gail on the water and I've lost myself in what you've built, but I haven't quite
34:48been convinced that it's the gingerbread Christmas holiday time of year.
34:53Okay.
34:54Team Villa, thank you guys so much.
34:56Amazing.
34:56Good job.
34:57Nothing that they've really said we disagree with, but then I think next to the other four,
35:02it might just seem like it's not enough.
35:05Team Coastal.
35:06Hello, team.
35:07Hello.
35:08Well, welcome to our coastal village where we eat and shop.
35:12It is an old fish warehouse converted to shops.
35:16We've included a bakery and our merry time market.
35:20And no coastal shopping community is complete without the old bake shop.
35:25And do you have a hidden element?
35:26If you want to step forward.
35:28Yes.
35:28We give you a little window to undersea life.
35:32Picture yourself at night looking under the docks and seeing what you see underneath the
35:36docks at night and by day.
35:38Our story prompt was under the tree.
35:41So who best to deliver gifts from under the tree than Santa?
35:45And he had to deliver by boat.
35:47You are more creative with the edible textures and spirit of your coastal gingerbread village
35:53than anyone else in this kitchen.
35:55And it's fascinating.
35:57Each time you get closer, each time you turn a corner, you see more details.
36:00But then how do we start to balance this piece out as it continues to grow?
36:04Because your eye wants to go everywhere.
36:06But we still need a moment of solace and then go back and enjoy all of the fun.
36:11We do love the little perched seals.
36:13Again, it gives, there's just so much dimension.
36:16And the blue is maybe just a little too cartoony comic book blue.
36:22I was glad that they did recognize all the love that literally goes into each piece of gingerbread.
36:30We feel very validated.
36:32It is very personal to us.
36:34Okay, thank you, gingerbreaders.
36:36Now, please head back to your stations.
36:39Emotions are still very high.
36:41Everybody's still tenderhearted, you know.
36:43And I think we're just really nervous because we don't know which direction this is going to go.
36:52All right, guys.
36:54Let's go down the line.
36:55I love how Team Mid-Century brought Christmas in with very few elements.
36:59Those translucent trees.
37:02I'm with you, Gail.
37:02It feels like it's Christmas in the desert.
37:05You're so tired.
37:06It's that good.
37:07For me, Team Coastal kind of shouldn't work, but somehow it really appeals to my heart.
37:14That said, the blue water, they're going to have to improve on that.
37:18I wish it had some green undertone and they don't fret over it too much.
37:22Team Brownstone's greatest asset is that they take risks.
37:27It's not coming together.
37:28It's too much.
37:29There's no editor.
37:30Let's not be hard on ourselves, okay?
37:33We're doing great.
37:34When I look at Team Villas, I don't feel enough life.
37:38The technique of a gingerbread village, 100% is here in Team Villa.
37:42The emotion of a gingerbread village, question mark.
37:46Exactly.
37:47It is very basic, very plain right now.
37:49We need to make the water.
37:51I just hope we get the chance.
37:52Team Chalet.
37:53Team Chalet.
37:54What are we thinking?
37:55As always, it's perfect.
37:57That said, I do think it's too perfect.
37:59I'm not sure we're getting where we shop, where we eat.
38:02It did have some challenges with how the roof came together.
38:05You guys felt that I was taking over everything, which I didn't want to do.
38:09We each have different processes and everybody is trying their best to merge those processes
38:14to collaborate and work together.
38:16And it is a challenge.
38:24Hello, folks.
38:26Okay, teams, let's gather around.
38:27Teams, it's time to reveal who brought the holiday magic and who is going home.
38:40Team Coastal and Team Mid-Century, please step forward.
38:43I assume that Oliver is going to announce that our team and Team Coastal are in the bottom two.
38:49You know, you just don't know the way the gingerbread cookie is going to crumble.
38:53These two teams, unfortunately, you've spent a lot of time on the bottom.
38:57But in this challenge, you're the top two teams.
39:02Congratulations.
39:04What?
39:06The reason both of you are up here, right, it's this balance of technique and heart and humanity.
39:12And that's for everyone to hear.
39:14Now we need to reveal who won, because you will have an advantage in the next challenge.
39:20The winner of this challenge is...
39:23Team Coastal.
39:27Congratulations!
39:33The tears flowed.
39:35And shock, awe.
39:37We just couldn't believe it.
39:39We were just elated.
39:40Elated.
39:40That was a rollercoaster.
39:42We really went from being in the bottom half to the top half.
39:45And I'm so proud of my teammates.
39:49Team Chalet, the judges have decided that you are safe and still in this competition.
39:56I'm grateful that we're moving into the next round.
39:59But this experience has been a huge reality check that we need to communicate better if we're going to do better in the next challenge.
40:05Okay, so unfortunately, that means Team Brownstone and Team Villa, please step forward.
40:11Team Villa, I still feel like I don't feel Christmas in your village.
40:16The judges have made it very clear that they want more Christmas, more holidays.
40:20So we can't help but feel a little discouraged by the position that we are in.
40:25Team Brownstone.
40:27The culinary skills through the roof.
40:30What your team is lacking is the ability to come together and look as if one person is working on your structure.
40:37I do agree with Michael that we need one person to lead and neither one of the three of us was that one person.
40:45Yeah.
40:46Now comes the hardest part.
40:48Who is leaving Gingerbread Land?
40:50The team that is leaving us today, unfortunately, is Team Brownstone.
41:00I knew it.
41:01I knew it.
41:02It's okay.
41:03We got eliminated.
41:05We did.
41:05It just felt like such a blessing going through this entire journey with these two.
41:11You guys made me so proud.
41:12Thank you so much for everything.
41:14We made a lot of wonderful friends.
41:16Team Brownstone, thank you so much.
41:18We're going to miss you.
41:19Whether you win or you lose, it feeds those creative juices.
41:23That's why I'm here.
41:24And if I'm able to do my art, it's a win.
41:28And so the story ends for one team.
41:31But the story continues in Gingerbread Land.
41:33For this new corner of your world, something in your build must move.
41:38Are you being for real?
41:41There's some crazy stuff in here.
41:43You ready for some movement?
41:44Oh.
41:45Hey, that's it.
41:46Wow.
41:47There's so many darling things.
41:49I freaking love it.
41:51Oh.
41:53This is a critical moment.
41:54It came off the reel.
41:57Oh.
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