Paella: A Cultural History

We invite all food lovers to join this event that will explore the origins, mythology, and visual history of paella—a dish that has come to represent an entire nation while remaining fiercely regional.

This talk, presented by food writer Blanca Valencia, traces paella from the rice fields of Valencia to modern TV advertising campaigns and to viral comedian critiques. Blanca will examine how a peasant dish cooked over an open fire, and eaten communally, became Spain's most photographed, most debated, and most misunderstood export.

One of the highlights of the event will be the exploration of paella in popular arts like ceramic tiles and tourism. The content of the talk will unravel the question of the original recipe, the war over chorizo, when to eat it, and why Valencians say that what most of the world eats is not the real dish at all. Blanca will also include information about the restaurants and chefs who shaped the dish's image, and will examine what paella reveals about Spanish identity, regionalism, and pride.

The evening will culminate with a tasting of an authentic Valencian recipe —paella valenciana— with its rabbit, chicken, beans, and the all-important socarrat, the caramelised crust of rice at the bottom of the pan that separates the masters from the rest.

Blanca Valencia is a food writer and event curator whose work explores the crossroads of food, culture, and art. Born in Spain and raised in Central America, she has cooked and worked across three continents before settling in Dublin.