Two Great Colombian Artists

By Sandra Scott

There are two great artists in Colombia. One is world famous and one is not. They work in different mediums. One, Fernando Botero creates life-size sculptures of plump proportions. The other creates delicate masterpieces in chocolate. Botero’s creations can be found in Bogota, Colombia’s capital, and Medellin. The other artist’s creations can be found at the Crown Plaza Tequendama in the heart of downtown Bogota where Pasteleria Chef Fabio Narvaez is an artist who creates using chocolate and all things sweet.

I often wondered who made the chocolates placed on our bed at night. Lina Ricon of the Crown Plaza explained, “Here at the Crown Plaza our chef makes all our chocolate delights plus our other confections. Come and see his creations.”

Chef Fabio’s creations are creative, delicate, and delicious. Especially interesting were the chocolate mice nibbling at the “Swiss cheese.”

Rightly proud of his work, Confectioner/chocolatier Fabio displayed his chocolate masterpieces: Rollo de Nuer, a sinful chocolate-covered nut brownie with accents of white chocolate covered in gold leaf; layered Terrine de Chocolate in front of a spun sugar latticework; gourmet chocolate pralines filled with amaretto, cognac, and other spirits; Canasta de Frutas, a biscuit basket filled with realistic-looking miniature marzipan fruit; Banana Capricha, the Pan de Casa, a melt-in-your-mouth-banana bread covered with chocolate; and my favorite, Ratones! Ratones, or mice in Spanish, are made of a chocolate pudding covered in white chocolate.

Botero enjoys portraying himself in “full figure” as a Captain, the President, a Roman Gladiator, and even as a guerrilla. Just as Botero has fun with his plump portraits and statures, I think Chef Fabio has fun with his mice. The white chocolate ratones are poised to eat the Swiss cheese, which is a cookie covered in milk chocolate.

Each plate is a picture of perfection framed in a filigree of chocolate powder with spun sugar accents. Amazed and intrigued by the artistic presentation, I asked, “Where did you learn how to do this?”

He admitted that he has gone to special school but then experiments on his own. Ms. Lina encouraged us, “Try some. Which would you like to try first?”

“They are too beautiful to eat!”

“Chef Fabio will have his feelings hurt if you don’t try something.  He is a chef so he expects his creations to be enjoyed first by the eyes and then by the taste buds!”

I guess you could say, “I ate the mice that tried to eat the cheese…and then I ate the cheese, too!”

I enjoyed the Botero artworks but not as much as I enjoyed Chef Fabio’s delectable creations.

Visit www.fernandobotero.com.

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