By THÉRÈSE MARGOLIS

Members of the International Women’s Club (IWC) enjoyed a culinary tour of Colombia at the Aura Alta Cocina food academy in Mexico City’s Colonia Roma Norte on Thursday, March 10.

The lavish seven-course meal, prepared by chefs Jorge Jiménez and Oscar Darío of the La Beautiful restaurant in Manizales, Colombia, and accompanied by a selection of Mexican wines and Colombian firewater cocktails, included a sampling of dishes from six gastronomic regions of the South American nation, from Caribbean shrimp simmered in a fresh coconut shell to a classic macizo of beef and potatoes cooked in a pouch of banana leaves set aflame at the table.

The two chefs, who were visiting Mexico for a three-day festival of Colombian cookery, explained the historic and geographic significance of each dish, and even provide a culinary passport for each guest, rubber-stamping their “epicurean trek” through the South American country.

Colombian food is known for its robust and well-seasoned stews and sauces, but, unlike Mexican cuisine, relies heavily on herbs and natural fruit and vegetable flavors, rather than piquant chilies.

La Beautiful, which focuses on traditional Colombian recipes with unusual contemporary flares, is rated among the 50 best restaurants in Latin America by the International Restaurant Association.

Aura is owned and operated by haute cuisine chef Graciela Montano, a IWC sponsor, and offers cooking seminars and pop-up festivals of fine dining from around the globe.