Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/232206
39 maltatoday, CHRISTMAS SUNDAY, 22 DECEMBER 2013 Celebrating Christmas at the Radisson Blu Hotels & Resort THIS year, Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts, Malta are celebrating Christmas the Nutcracker way! The lobbies of the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Golden Sands and the Radisson Blu Resort, St Julian's came to life with wonderful themed Christmas creation made by the respective pastry teams. The Nutcracker story was chosen as a theme as it brings together the traditional elements of Christmas with an emphasis on worldwide cuisine cultures. Head Patissier at Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Golden Sands, Jimmy Aquilina, and his creative team replicated a Smurf village using sugar paste featuring a rendition of the Nutcracker ballet performed by a beautiful Smurf ballerina on stage, at Golden Sands. Over at Radisson Blu Resort, St Julian's, Head Patissier, Robert Spiteri and his team replicated life-size versions of the Nutcracker cavalier himself using sugar paste and chocolate which can be found around the main lobby of the resort as well as several toys which feature in the Nutcracker ballet, made entirely out of sugar paste. Both of the creations are set up in the respective hotels' main lobby, waiting to greet visitors and guests, in the midst of further Christmas decorations ensuring the true feeling of Christmas spirit. Radisson Blu Resort, St Julian's – Life-size Nutcracker Cavaliers Ingredients 70kg sugar paste 40kgs of icing sugar 10 litres of egg whites This took 220 hours to make and put together. Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Golden Sands – Smurf Village Ingredients 40kgs of sugar paste 25kgs of icing sugar 15kgs of chocolate This took around 160 hours to create and put together.