Colombian Trout Ceviche, created by Embassy Chef, Gladys Rodriguez, is made with fresh Colombian trout shipped directly from the country of Colombia with coconut milk and cilantro.
This extraordinary commitment takes on new meaning as the couple describes their daily life at the height of Andres’ political career. “When I was mayor of Bogota I would receive four or five death threats every day, and during my presidential campaign I remember having to wear a bulletproof vest the entire time. And during my presidency, I believe we uncovered ninety-seven plots to kill me,” at which point his wife reaches across the sofa and pats him on the hand. “Ninety-eight, dear,” she says gently. He nods, adding “Frankly, it’s all fighting for Colombia, and we’re going to win this war. We, the honest people, will win it. That’s where you find the strength in yourself.”
Ambassador and Mrs. Pastrana approach their mission to the United States with an appropriate seriousness, given Colombia’s status as the third largest recipient of US foreign aid in the world. The bulk of this aid is used to fund a long-term anti-narcotics effort called the Plan Colombia, and one of Pastrana’s most important tasks as Ambassador will be to maintain bipartisan Congressional support for the Plan. But if anyone can negotiate a win-win deal, it is Andres Pastrana. “We’re working side by side with the U.S., and we will find bipartisan support in Congress because we share the same goals.”
