Dining in a life-sized gingerbread house is a holiday experience awaiting at the Ritz-Carlton Cleveland, arguably the city’s finest hotel. The 12-by-12-foot Gingerbread Chalet fills a corner of the TURN Bar + Kitchen, on the hotel’s seventh floor. Its exterior is made of gingerbread bricks, secured together with frosting, while inside is a holiday table set for eight in a space brightly decorated for the season. Peak through a gingerbread framed window to see a pair of Christmas trees decorated with twinkle lights and a dining table in front of a stone fireplace. Imagined by Executive Chef Manikandan Ramalingam and created by his kitchen’s two pastry chefs, it’s just one of the special features that have become part of the TURN experience. “We’ve been working on it since August,” said “Chef Mani,” as he’s known to his 17-member kitchen staff and other employees. “We don’t have the free time to do a project like this in a week, so we’re baking five or six gingerbread bricks each day and assembling it as we go.” Gingerbread bricks are secured with frosting on the exterior of the Gingerbread Chalet, which is open through the holiday season in a corner of the TURN Bar + Kitchen at the Ritz Carlton Cleveland. (Janet Podolak – For The News-Herald) Although he leads a sizable kitchen staff, TURN is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so they stay busy. Its name reflects how its mood changes with the time of day. Ramalingam seems both mellow and disciplined. The Gingerbread Chalet will be open for dining (and looking) on Nov. 29. In Cleveland since June, Ramalingam has developed a menu reflecting the city’s working-class roots, with tastes recalling some of the South Indian flavors of his childhood. Manikandan Ramalingam is the executive chef at Ritz Carlton Cleveland. (Submitted) The Roasted Cabbage ($24) on the dinner menu is one of his favorite dishes. It recalls for him a sauce his mother served with potatoes when he was a boy. “We eat very little meat and a lot of vegetables in India,” he said. “This sauce with mustard, ginger, garlic, tomato and turmeric was easy for her on a busy day and is delicious with many vegetables.” He shares that recipe today. Kitchen Social review: Pinecrest location of small Ohio chain is really cookin’ Despite the high-end restaurant’s reputation as one of the finest in Cleveland, its menu has the comfortable familiarity of dishes such as pierogi, braised beef short rib and pea soup. Ramalingam and Executive Sous Chef Jesus Caperon, who’s from Mexico, are infusing ingredients typical in their native countries in the hope of captivating Clevelanders who dine there. Avocado Cones with Preserved Lemon Cream is among the starters on the dinner menu at the Ritz Carlton’s TURN Bar + Kitchen. (Janet Podolak - For The News-Herald) My friend and I chose a table with high-back wing chairs near the bar because we’d heard about its smoked craft cocktails and wanted to witness the preparation. A work whistle, like those announcing a factory’s change in shifts, is rung when a smoked cocktail is made. It’s all part of the working-class Cleveland setting. My friend ordered Roast Atlantic Salmon with Bourbon Barbecue and Baby Squash ($38), while I had the Tandoori Spiced Brick Chicken with Ginger Farro Risotto, Lentil Gravy and Scallions ($42). TURN Bar + Kitchen’s dinner menu offers Roasted Atlantic Salmon that’s served with a bourbon barbecue sauce, carrots and baby squash. (Janet Podolak - For The News-Herald) We shared the Tuna Crudo appetizer $24) and Key Lime Mousse ($18). We enjoyed every bite. Key Lime Mousse, showcasing lime cream and chocolate, is among TURN Bar + Kitchen’s stunning desserts. (Janet Podolak - For The News-Herald) Lunchtime menus are less costly and include comfort foods such as a Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup ($18) and the Hot Corned Beef sandwich ($22). Recipe Roasted Cabbage (Serves 4 to 6) Ingredients ½ cup oil 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds jalapeno slit in half ¾ cup red onion, chopped ¾ cup peeled ripe tomato, chopped 7 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped 3 tablespoons fresh ginger, chopped ¼ cup tomato paste ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper ½ teaspoon turmeric Salt, to taste 1 red cabbage, cut in wedges Fresh mint leaves Instructions Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan, add mustard and wait till it crackles. Add jalapeno. Add onion and sweat for 5 minutes. Add chopped tomato and keep cooking for 5 minutes. Add ginger, garlic, tomato paste, turmeric and cayenne. Related Articles A starry Thanksgiving: Recipes beloved by Donna Kelce, Eric Stonestreet, Taylor Swift Pie crust 101: How tos from longtime instructor Tips for Thanksgiving turkey-roasting success Make these Tahini-Roasted Sweet Potatoes for Thanksgiving 7 recipes that will add a new twist to your Thanksgiving dinner Add 2 cups water and continue cooking on low heat for 20 minutes. Remove the jalapeno from the sauce mixture and discard. Blanch cabbage wedges in salted water for 6 minutes. Drain and cool cabbage wedges. Spoon tomato sauce in between the leaves of the cabbage. Cover the cabbage with the sauce and wrap it in aluminum foil. Bake the cabbage in a hot oven for 10 minutes and serve with torn mint leaves. — Courtesy of Chef Manikandan Ramalingam, Ritz Carlton Cleveland The Ritz Carlton The hotel is at 1515 W. Third St., Cleveland. The Gingerbread Chalet table will be available in the dining room starting Nov. 29. Reservations require a $150 deposit, which is applied to the check after dining. A $150 minimum is required. High tea for both adults and children is available in several time frames during the holidays. Dinner on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve also is available. For details, call TURN Bar + Kitchen at 216-905-5255 on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. and between 5 to 10 p.m. Also find information at bit.ly/r-c-cle-turn.