ST. LOUIS, Nov. 13, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Creating and decorating gingerbread houses has long been a holiday tradition, but not many people can say they actually dined with their families inside a life-size one! River City Casino & Hotel's Executive Chef John Johnson came up with the idea of taking donations for reservations to dine inside the completely confection-covered abode and donating 100% to The Center for Hearing & Speech. iHeartMedia's KLOU 103.3 The Christmas Station has been a longtime partner, helping raise awareness for the Center and this annual holiday event. This year, Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles will join the effort by building an even bigger house, large enough for six adults to dine inside comfortably.
"As early as July, we started receiving calls as far away as New Mexico, from guests who wanted to make sure we were continuing the tradition," said Johnson, "Of course, we wanted to make this year's house even more spectacular. We've added a nook with a chimney that features a huge Christmas tree. My son came up with the idea of adding a giant coconut snowman." Ameristar's Executive Chef Chris Ipanis engaged his team early to begin designing his two-story bungalow with a dormer featuring a nine-foot-tall gingerbread man that stands outside to beckon children inside.
Not So Silent Night gingerbread houses will be open for donation seating from 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. Nov. 24 – Dec. 24 at Ameristar St. Charles and River City. Ameristar and River City will begin taking reservations Nov. 15. The fully-tax deductible $25 reservation donation can be made by calling Ameristar at 636-940-4454 or River City at 314-388-7625; or by visiting the host stands at Ameristar's Amerisports Bar & Grill or Falcon Diner, or River City's The Beerhouse or Lewy Nine's Café. The non-refundable reservation must be secured with a credit card and will ensure that you and your party can enjoy private dining inside. Each house will feature a special holiday menu that includes soup or salad, a main course and dessert for only $20 per person. Diners can also order from restaurant menus for breakfast, lunch or dinner. No food or drink purchase is required.
The houses will be built during the weekend of Nov. 21-23 by Ameristar and River City's culinary arts teams led by Ameristar and River City's Executive Pastry Chefs Eric Phillips, a past winner of the American Culinary Federation's (AFC) Regional Pastry Chef of the Year Award, and Stephan Schubert, this year's National Winner in the AFC's Pastry Chef of the Year Award competition. Listen to KLOU 103.3 The Christmas Station and visit their website at klou.com during the holidays to learn how you can win gift certificates to Ameristar and River City.
About Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles
Located just west of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport in historic St. Charles, Missouri, Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles offers an exceptional gaming and entertainment experience in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The property features a 130,000-square-foot award-winning casino, AAA Four Diamond full-service luxury suite hotel with 400 well-appointed rooms, an indoor-outdoor pool; seven dining venues, 12 bars, an entertainment venue, a full-service luxury day spa and a 20,000-square-foot conference center.
About River City Casino & Hotel
River City Casino & Hotel, the Best City in St. Louis, is located approximately 10 miles south of downtown St. Louis, in the community of Lemay. The entertainment destination features a 90,000-square-foot, award-winning casino with the best slot machines and table games, including poker; a AAA Four Diamond full-service luxury hotel, a 14,000 square-foot multi-purpose event center featuring national entertainment acts; several restaurants and covered parking. River City Casino & Hotel is located at 777 River City Casino Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63125. Call 888-578-7289 or visit www.rivercity.com or for more information.
About the Center for Hearing & Speech
The Center for Hearing & Speech is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that was founded in 1920. We are an Audiology and Speech disorder facility that serves a diverse client base of children and adults in the St. Louis metropolitan area. We strive to improve the quality of life for individuals with hearing and speech disorders by providing high-quality services regardless of one's ability to pay. Our services include: Audiology, Speech/Language Therapy, School Screenings, a Hearing Conservation Program, Hearing Aids and Community Outreach.
About Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc.
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates 15 gaming entertainment properties located in Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada and Ohio. The company also holds a majority interest in the racing license owner, as well as a management contract, for Retama Park Racetrack outside of San Antonio, Texas.