Lorena Sotelo (Photo: Lisa Modiano)

Flipping through the pages of stories and faces in ‘Mujeres Argentinas’, I randomly stop and read through one woman’s story. I am immediately shocked by what she has achieved and how she has dedicated her life to helping underprivileged children in the villas, in spite of her background and the obstacles so often put up in front of her.

This is the story of Lorena Sotelo, which, on first account, reads like a rags-to-heroine Hollywood film script. Yet, two days later, she is recounting to me in person, the gritty reality of how being fed up of government corruption, she decided to build her own nursery school. Despite having virtually no money, no support, and needing to fight against local drug gangs, the nursery school of Las Travesuras stands today.

Describing itself as a book of “lives, portraits, moments”, ‘Mujeres Argentinas’ profiles 17 women who, like Lorena, have achieved extraordinary things despite the challenges of being female. Split into three parts, and written in both English and Spanish, the book reads as part interview, part story, and part documentary.

“We chose women who inspired us in some way,” explains photo editor Annie-France Charbonneau. From fashion designer Maria Cherñajovsky, to karate teacher Marina Regules, the first section introduces a diverse set of women, not selected for their success, money or power, but for the extraordinary things they have achieved.

Nicole Dunway at the press release panel discussion (Photo: Beatrice Murch)

Creator of the book, Nicole Dunaway, explained how after her earlier project ‘Argentina: Through the Eyes of 25 Women’, it felt natural to make another book about women. “These are real stories. Some might be funny, some might be moving,” she says.

The second section shows a collection of photographs of Argentine women going about their everyday life. This part, as Nicole describes, “is to present the book more like a documentary.” The images give the book an active energy, breaking up an otherwise heavy narrative.

The third part comprises of nine ‘moments’ – small narratives exploring the collision of two female worlds – that of the Argentine and the foreigner. Narrated by the foreigner, these tales observe and recount events and emotions of personal encounters with Argentine women.

The theme of the book, dedicated to the challenges and successes of Argentine women, fits perfectly with its release close to this year’s International Women’s Day – a day created to recognise the achievements of women, whilst at the same time serving as a reminder that changes are still needed for equality.

Equally dedicated to acknowledging “the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security,” the day is partly a party and partly a protest – two things Argentines love to do.

When Nicole Dunaway describes film director and novelist Lucía Puenzo, just one of the women featured in the book, she could well be talking about the book itself. “She deals with subjects that are disturbing and controversial,” she says. “They provoke us in the most meaningful sense of the word – by forcing us to question our beliefs and to re-examine the world around us.”

Cover of 'Mujeres Argentinas'

Susana Trimarco’s story of how, after her daughter was kidnapped and sold into sex slavery, she has gone on to free over 200 girls from trafficking and succeeded in implementing anti-trafficking laws, is both disturbing and inspiring. She’s practically a perfect poster for Women’s Day – the issue of exploitation, being fought by the strength and determination of one woman.

Despite the gritty content, the tone of the book remains quite feminine. Unless very attuned to his female side, a man might find the writing and the stories all a bit sickly sweet, as the book unashamedly channels its womanly flair. And why not, it’s about women, for women after all.

Yet, there is more substance to the project, as shown by the multiple themes that run throughout it. Obvious themes can be guessed by simply reading the title – themes of femininity, women in Argentina, women making their way in a society that is still quite dominantly male.

But there are other themes too: themes of a society still struggling with unacceptable poverty and social problems, themes of mixed Argentine identity, and themes of people overcoming all this to try and make a difference in their lives.

You don’t have to be a woman to understand or enjoy reading this book. It’s a unique insight into a culture and country that, as the book points out, is sometimes hard for an outsider to access.

Proceeds from the book are all donated to the charities mentioned inside, so if you feel, as I did, inspired to contribute something to a cause that matters, just picking up a copy of the book you’re already on your way.

Between Día de la mujer, Día del padre, Día de la madre, Día del amigo, and Día del niño, we certainly don’t fall short of opportunities to spoil the ones we love. But this week’s ‘La Semana de la Dulzura’, provides the perfect week-long excuse for a little self indulgence.

If getting your sweet fix means reaching past the dulce de leche for something more unusual, Argentina has plenty to offer. From homemade marmalades and distinctive chocolate ramas to fruity artisan beers, the south has turned it’s hand to almost everything. But if all this makes you wish the wilds of Patagonia were a little more accessible, don’t worry. You only need to enter the world of Vasalissa chocolatier to see that being in the city this week might just be the best place to be.

Domes of dark chocolate and raspberry housing a whole Amarena cherry (Photo: Kate Bowen)

Named after the female heroine of a Russian fairytale, Vasalissa is a high end, luxury chocolatier founded by mother and daughter Dadi and Federica Marinucci. For Dadi and Federica, the creation of chocolate is something of a family legacy.

Dadi’s father was the original founder of Argentina’s famous Cabsha chocolate, and through the combination of inherited expertise and a pair of discerning palates, they’ve established themselves as a chocolatier of distinction.

With a steady stream of late afternoon customers, Vasalissa’s charms are clearly no secret. Arguably the best in Argentina, what sets their chocolate apart is that it combines the world’s best raw ingredients with the world’s best processing techniques. Cocoa fruit is sourced from origin in countries like New Guinea, Peru and Venezuela, and processed in Belgium before being delivered to Vasalissa in the finest quality slabs. The slabs are then melted down and used as the key ingredient in individual chocolates and covertures here in Argentina.

Since opening their first store in Martínez in 2006, they’ve grown up steadily alongside their reputation and now have shops in the most fitting neighbourhoods of Belgrano, Recoleta, and San Isidro.

Inside the Recoleta boutique (Photo: Kate Bowen)

Dadi and Federica’s artistic eye and attention to detail translates not only into the creation of exquisite chocolates, but also into the design of spectacular boutiques in which to display them. With huge, mirrored panels set in walls painted marzipan green, centrepiece chandeliers, marble countertops and elegant french furnishings, feminine touches are everywhere.

Vasalissa’s impossibly pretty interior captures the attention of anyone who passes, as though the whole shop becomes part of a fantastical window display. But don’t let the immaculate interiors put a dampener on your first time curiosity. Inside the Recoleta boutique we found the manager Jorge welcoming and more than happy to talk about his chocolates with the same knowledge and passion you’d expect to find from the owners themselves.

True to its fairytale name, when you step inside Vasalissa you immediately find yourself far removed from the street outside – somewhere between Hansel and Gretel’s house and the Mad Hatter’s tea party. The centre table displays an impressive selection of truffles and bombones presented on pristine white plates rather than behind glass, inviting you get up close and personal with each individual chocolate before making your selection. Here you can take your time to read the exotic names and ingredients used in each chocolate, inhale the delicious aromas of Madagascan vanilla, dark rum or red fruits, and really admire the care and attention to detail that has gone into making each and every creation unique.

Vasalissa´s raspberry and three pepper bombones (Photo: Kate Bowen)

While dulce de leche remains a favourite ingredient among regular clientele, there’s plenty of more traditional and innovative options on offer for those who like their chocolate a little less sweet. The popular Pirámide de Papúa comes filled with a velvety ganache of 68% New Guinea chocolate, and the 71% cocoa Peruvian truffles come highly recommended.

If you prefer something sweet and fresh, a personal favourite is the Diamante de Menta, or you could try one of the new milk chocolate with lavender bombones, or the more daring raspberry and three peppers.

Aside from individual chocolates, you’ll find imitation cigars dusted with cocoa powder, champagne bottles turned antique bronze by a magical gold ingredient, and magnificent novelty shapes and figures introduced seasonally. Perfect for children and those of us who remain children at heart, the military bear and the lucky frog make fantastic additions to an already excessive 50 chocolate selection box.

While Vasalissa makes a wonderful special occasion chocolatier for weddings, new arrivals and anniversaries, there’s plenty of more modest purchases on offer to take home for every day occasions. An extensive range of presentation gift boxes make it easy to enjoy a sample of eight or twelve without really needing an excuse, and come in sizes small enough to place on someone’s pillow.

Imitation cigars dusted in cocoa powder (Photo: Kate Bowen)

And if truffles and bombones aren’t your preference, you’ll find tubs of ice cream ranging from the usual suspects to the fresher flavours of mandarine and grapefruit, a selection of jarred confitures, turron, orange segments dipped in dark chocolate, Parisian macarons, and pots of drinking chocolates with alluring French names from the milky Chocolat chaud à l’ancienne to Chocolat chaud à la mexicaine, which comes subtly laced with peperoncini.

Rather than specialising in something, Vasalissa specialises in everything with uncompromised quality. Individual truffles and bombones are priced by weight, in accordance with the high levels of quality and craftmanship. $54 will buy you 100g, around six luxurious chocolates, wrapped in toile de jouy paper and set inside beautifully feminine red and white presentation boxes. If you prefer your packaging a little more masculine, you can ask for the new white version, but in taking the red you’d find yourself in good company – with Vasalissa’s signature packaging being something of a mark of luxury, there’s plenty of men proud to carry toile.