Behind the Scenes at Biltmore Estate

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

Biltmore Estate's restaurants serve fabulous food all year, but during the holidays, the chefs pull out the big pots and the Victorian-era recipes; then they cook up treats fit for, well, a Vanderbilt.

Pastry chefs work hard to put the finishing touches on the Biltmore gingerbread house, a small-scale version of the mansion. They assemble the house and decorate it in the Deerpark Restaurant before transporting it to the Main Kitchen for display.

Formed over a wooden base, the gingerbread house features a rolled fondant roof. The quantities of the ingredients boggle the mind: 72 pounds of powdered sugar, 6 pounds of butter, 4˝ pounds of brown sugar, 6 pounds of molasses, 21 pounds of flour, and 1 pint of red food coloring.

Meanwhile, right next door, the Stable Café--located in what used to be the Vanderbilts' horse stables--presides over dinners during Candlelight Christmas Evenings, which take place in November and December and bring in many guests.

"We start planning menus during Candlelight the year before so we can see what works best," says Stable Café Executive Chef Don Spear of his seasonal offerings. "We found a chef's journal for the house from Victorian times and have been using that as an outline."

Winter Wonderland

October seems to be the month when Biltmore Estate's planning for the holidays begins the final push. The season officially opens in early November, complete with luminarias, candlelight tours, and dinners, so the pace quickens on the property.

Christmas decorations begin adorning Biltmore House in early October, and midmonth, the Stable Café and courtyard start their metamorphoses. By late October, the floral staff members have created their magic with miles of garland and ribbon. The big tree arrives in early November, and that means all hands on deck.

It's here. The day that Biltmore staffers wait for all year--the raising of the tree. And this Fraser fir is a beauty. The freshly cut giant lies out front, wrapped in vinyl and waiting for the Engineering Services staff to don gloves and walk the 35-foot-long bundle into the Banquet Hall.

With military precision, the crew hoists the tree and marches it into the house, watching out for priceless furnishings and chandeliers. Walkie-talkies crackle as the green-shirted staff members deliver their prize into the Banquet Hall. Fifteen staff members pull from the organ loft while 12 pull from the floor as the tree slowly rises to its full height. After a couple of collective gasps and a close call with a swaying chandelier, it's up, and the onlookers break into applause.

Currently all eyes are on the gigantic Fraser fir, but there are still many nooks and crannies to decorate. Granite lions out front will sport bright red bows around their necks. Luminarias will line the long drive leading to the house. Hundreds of poinsettias will snake their way into the Winter Garden, where choirs will sing and entertain guests who tour this holiday masterpiece of a house.

But right now, the massive tree is in place. A year's worth of planning has paid off in a beautifully decorated Victorian showplace that thousands of guests will enjoy. Somewhere, the first Vanderbilts must be pleased at their legacy of hospitality at Biltmore.

Biltmore By the Numbers

• It took six years to build Biltmore House, which opened in 1895.
• The house contains 4 acres of floorspace.
• Biltmore House has 250 rooms including 33 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 3 kitchens.
• When the house was built, the property featured 30 miles of roadways.
• Christmas themes are planned 10 years in advance at Biltmore Estate.
• It takes 108 hours to decorate the gingerbread house.
• The gingerbread house weighs 100 pounds and features 1,400 gingerbread bricks.
• Approximately 200 different musical groups perform during the Christmas season.
• Two warehouses provide storage for 500 boxes of ornaments.
• The staff uses 20,000 feet of garland.
• During Candlelight Christmas Evenings, the restaurants serve 500 to 600 meals per day.
• It takes eight hours to decorate the big tree in the Banquet Hall.
• Five hundred luminarias light the drive leading to Biltmore House.
• About 750 poinsettias, all grown in the greenhouse, decorate the mansion.