The journey
How everything started
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It all began with a simple idea—a group of Spanish chefs, far from home, longing to share their love for the cuisine that shaped them. Scattered across Australia, they found connection through a humble Facebook group, a space to exchange stories, flavors, and memories of Spain. What started as virtual conversations—FaceTime calls, messages, and laughter—soon grew into something greater. They called it Eat Spanish.
In 2018, their vision became reality. Javier Pérez González, Quim Hernández, Pepe García, Jon Ingunza, Santiago Fernández, Javier Pérez, and Rubén López came together as the founding fathers of Eat Spanish Australia—the first nonprofit Spanish food and wine association in the country, uniting passionate souls from coast to coast.
But like any great recipe, the magic of Eat Spanish lies in its evolution. What began as a gathering of chefs soon blossomed into a vibrant and diverse community—professionals from all walks of life, Spanish culture lovers from countless backgrounds and nationalities, bound by a single, unwavering passion: a love for Spain, its flavors, its traditions, its soul.
Today, Eat Spanish stands as one of Australia’s greatest ambassadors of Spanish gastronomy. A trailblazer, a storyteller, a bridge between cultures. You’ll find its members championing Spanish cuisine at trade expos, professional events, and in the media, sharing not just food, but the essence of Spain itself—its warmth, its history, its heart.
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Eat Spanish: Where Every Bite Tells a Story.
Our timeline
ct 2018 Creation of Eat Spanish + interview on SBS Spanish about it.
Dec 2018 International news at Agencia EFE syndicated across media in Spain and in America (Google 'canguro con chorizo').
March 2019 1st Public Conference at Instituto Cervantes in Sydney, Australia with Rubén López Mesa.
Dec 2019 'Gastronomic experiences from Spain in Sydney' collaborating with Spanish Embassy in Australia and Cervantes Institute in Sydney by Rubén López Mesa, Victor Moya, Santiago Fernandez & Nacho Castells.
Dec 2019 International news at Agencia EFE syndicated across media in Spain and America (Google 'chefs españoles en Australia').
Jun 2020 'Best Spanish tapa in Australia 2020 contest' collaborating with Spanish Embassy in Australia.
April 2021 'Eat Spanish online' gastronomic event with Spanish Embassy in Australia and Instituto Cervantes Sydney, La Española, The Cordon Blue Melbourne & La Central.
June 2021 Best tapa in Australia online contest 2021
June 2021 Interview 'Esto me suena en la cocina ' by RNE to Rubén López Mesa.
Sept 2021 'Best paella in Australia online contest 2021´celebrating World Paella Day.
Oct 2021 International campaign Facebook Premiere with Tour Spain.
Feb 2022 Radio Interview on SBS Spanish with our President Ana Cortes Garcia
April 2022 Interview on Deep in the Weed to Ana Cortés by Anthony Huckstep.
May 2022 Interview with Diario Jaen to Ana Cortés.
June 2022 Collaboration with Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation
Dec 2022 'Bridging Cultures' by Eat Spanish, ASBA, RMIT & Australian Embassy in Barcelona, Spain. Thanks to our honorary member Javier Perez González.
Feb 2023 Interview at Dirty Linen with Dani Valent for the 5th anniversary of Eat Spanish.
Feb 2023 Interview with SBS Spanish
Feb 2023 Event at Balcon by TapaVino showcasing products from Region of Murcia.
June 2023 Best Tapa in Australia Online Contest
Sept 2023 International Paella Day in Canberra by Pepe & Iker García.
Nov 2023 Taste of Spain at Gure Txoko in Sydney with Instituto Cervantes by Pepe García.
Feb 2024 Spanish Festival at Robertson Hotel NSW by Pepe García.
Feb 2024 Celebration Andalucia Day at BESO in Melbourne by Ana Cortés.
April 2024 Recording episodes 18,19 & 20 of The Cook Up by Adam Liaw showcasing traditional recipes by Rubén López Mesa.
May 2024 Interview with Cadena Ser to Rubén López Mesa about Eat Spanish.
June 2024 Anniversary La Croqueteria in Melbourne, VIC.
July 2024 Open Day by ICEX in Sydney NSW with Ana Cortés & Rubén López Mesa plus many members of the NSW team.
August 2024 Cooking class by Claudia Gonzalez at Robertson, NSW.
Sept 2024 Sofrito pop-up by Ana Cortés in Sydney NSW.
Sept 2024 collaboration for International Paella Day by Pepe García with the of Embassy of Spain in Australia + Instituto Cervantes Sydney + Canberra Institute of Technology.