As part of Eat Spain Drink Spain join food writer Blanca Valencia in exploring how Spanish culinary heritage comes alive through unique design. This workshop examines the marriage of functionality and design in Spain's most well-known food and drink-related objects—from packaging and bottles to utensils that tell stories of regional identity, use and culture.
The workshop explores both traditional and contemporary pieces: ancient drinking vessels like the botijo, porrón, and bota; Rafael Marquina's iconic dripless olive oil cruet; Zumex's revolutionary orange juice machines; and the essential paella pan.
We'll discover how Spanish design has elevated everyday items into cultural icons: the legendary Anís del Mono bottle immortalized in works by Juan Gris and Pablo Picasso, the shapes of Spanish cheeses like Manchego and Tetilla and the mythic Chupa Chups lollipop logo created by Salvador Dalí.
We'll examine the pioneering design evolution of Spain's fish tin industry and admire contemporary wine bottle labels like Matsu, Gran Cerdo, and Eustaquio Uzqueda's celebrated label collections from La Rioja.
Experience the intersection of gastronomy, art, and design that defines Spanish culinary culture.
Blanca Valencia is a food writer and event curator whose work explores the crossroads of food, culture, and storytelling. Born in Spain and raised in Central America, she has cooked and worked across four continents before settling in Dublin. A Le Cordon Bleu–trained chef with an MA in Gastronomy, she writes The Gazpacho Chronicles, a Substack with an irreverent take on Spanish food and drink culture, and is the co-founder of Art Plate Ireland, a project linking food and art through events and tours at the National Gallery of Ireland and festivals across Ireland. Formerly she was co-host of the award-winning Spice Bags podcast, which explored international food in Ireland (2019-2023) and co-author of Soup (Blasta Books).
