ChocoArt

The recent Primer Festival Gastronómico in La Antigua Guatemala centered on the uses of chocolate, primarily cooking with cacao.

The highlight of the event however was created by Alex Farrar, owner of a local bistro/art gallery and an excellent artist in his own right (he won first prize at the Venetian Masked Ball in February). Farrar appeared with his easel, rolled up his shirt sleeves and after unwrapping a few bars of locally-made chocolate, he began to sketch the figure of a Maya lady wearing her traditional clothing.

Creating light and shadows? Easy enough … a few passes of darker variety of chocolate and then fill in the background with white cacao. Voila! as the French might say … or sacre bleu! A chocolate work of art!

Fernando, a local chocolatier of renown in La Antigua, happened to come to taste the food. He was amazed as were the other guests with yet another use for chocolate. Who would have guessed?
There were no snickers.