‘White House’ gets major renovations from pastry chef

By Christina Wilkie - 12/02/09 08:08 PM ET

The White House is missing a main wall of the building, the administration revealed Wednesday.

Luckily, that would be the gingerbread White House, made every year for the holidays and unveiled Wednesday by first lady Michelle Obama.

The replica White House is made out of 400 pounds of gingerbread and white chocolate, and executive pastry chef Bill Yosses said the candy executive mansion took six weeks to make.

The gingerbread mansion is missing a wall for the first time this year, so visitors can view into the miniature State Dining Room. It also features Michelle Obama’s kitchen garden, which is made out of marzipan, an almond paste, and was constructed with the help of a local elementary school.

The first family’s dog is also rendered in marzipan.

According to the first lady’s office, this holiday season about 50,000 people will visit the White House’s 17 holiday parties and 11 open houses.

Lucky invitees can expect to encounter serious security at the gates following last week’s state dinner breach.

“Social Office staff will be present [at the holiday events] to continue to assist guests and the United States Secret Service should any confusion arise,” a spokeswoman for the East Wing said. “As always, the United States Secret Service will provide security and will control who has access to the White House grounds.”