Sweet Taste of Victory — U.S. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina

Two Greenville girls took home awards from the 30th annual National Gingerbread House Competition in Asheville, N.C., on Nov. 21.

More than 200 houses were entered in the adult, teen, youth and child categories, all up for a slice of the more than $40,000 in cash and prizes.

Every entry had to be 75 percent gingerbread and 100 percent edible. Overall appearance, originality, creativity, difficulty, precision and consistency of theme were the judging criteria.

The competition, advertised as the largest in the country, began in the early 1990s. It is held at The Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, about 65 miles north of Greenville.

The houses will be displayed at the inn through Jan. 2, available for viewing by the general public Monday through Thursday and after 6 p.m. on Sundays. This excludes Dec. 23-25, 30-31 and Jan. 1. All Fridays and Saturdays are reserved for resort guests and those with dining reservations.