When Michelangelo worked on a block of marble or stone he chiselled off the extra pieces and ended up with his famous masterpieces.

When Andrew Farrugia is given a giant block of chocolate, ice or butter he quickly gets to work to uncover the shape which lies deep within the slab and the end result is astonishing. Andrew,  who is a full time lecturer at ITS,  has sculpted away at all these materials to create a variety of shapes, sculptures and memorable items that have become world hits. He might not be a Michelangelo yet but he is a master chocolatier who has made a name for himself not just in Malta but all over the globe.

A few weeks ago Andrew hit the international news in a big way—he was featured in endless TV shows, newspapers and magazines. From the BBC to Belgian TV and even as far away as China and Mexico, people flocked to interview him and learn more about his amazing feats with chocolate. He was catapulted into the limelight by being chosen by a leading Belgian chocolate firm—Becolade—to design, sculpt and exhibit a train made out of chocolate.

Dreams of Roald Dahl and his amazing chocolate factory come to mind and with Andrew’s  attention to detail and painstaking patience and craftsmanship he made it a truly impressive train which sparkled and attracted everyone’s attention.

Andrew put in a few weeks of arduous work and meticulous attention to detail for his train to be accepted and lauded as a world record. The previous world record was for a chocolate sculpture of 15 metres, while this Maltese train was more than doubleat 34 metres. And more than the sheer size it is the unbelievable detail that impressed all the onlookers.

The train was assembled in Malta and shipped in its entirety to Brussels where it became an immediate media hit, with a multitude of journalists thronging to get a glimpse of the train and a clip of the Maltese chocolatier. The Maltese ambassador to Belgium HE Madame Vanessa Frasier jokingly told Andrew that both Dr Gonzi and Dr Tonio Borg dream of being accorded such media attention when in Brussels but it seems people are much more excited by chocolate than politics!

Whenever Andrew exhibits abroad he is naturally proud of his work and even prouder of Malta. When he is back home he enjoys imparting his craftsmanship to his young but passionate ITS students.