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Cuba & China Final Review
Ryan Ferguson and 3 OthersKiki PegueroRafa Riman
Martin Rosewood + Privacy: Public
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CUBA
CHINA
Rafa + Kiki + Martin
POLITICS ON YOUR PLATE II | WINTER 2026
PROJECT STATEMENT
Though Cuba and China diverge in many ways, they share a handful of similarities. In the mid 20th century, both countries formed a communist government. In addition, they share many food and ceramic traditions. In this project we fuse foods from both countries creating fun new tastes. For the cherry on top we are creating a custom ceramic dishes to complement the meal.
CRAFT TRADITION
A large food ritual in China is communal eating/ meals. Large amounts of food served and past around to deepen community and connections within families and groups.
Qing Hua or blue and white porcelain is Chinas most famous and Iconic ceramic tradition. The cobalt blue on white porcelain ceramics are often decorated with traditional Chinese dragons and geometric patterns
CULTURAL RESEARCH
CHINA
FOOD RITUAL
FOOD RITUAL
CRAFT TRADITION
Pasteles are a traditional christmas dinner. Due to the intense process of making this dish, it's quite a treat and there's even a special song to go with it.
Traditional cuban crafts include virbrent fabric and ceramics. More specifically, pots and vases with long flowing necks and radiant floral cutouts.
CULTURAL RESEARCH
CUBA
CUBA
CHINA
- Colorful
- Creative
- Warm
- Smooth
- Glossy
- Patterned
APPETIZER
Yuán Bǎo Jiǎo Zi a la Criolla is a Chinese-Cuban fusion dish that crosses Chinese dumplings and Cuban picadillo. It examines Cuba and China’s shared history of revolts, especially the ones leading up to their development into Communist countries. Each dumpling represents a crowd of people, each colored red to display their desire to re-organize their government into a Communist regime and the spread of Communist ideas throughout the population. Their ingot shape and beef filling both stand for money and economy, foreshadowing the effect communism would have on both countries. The Ingot Dumpling first appeared in the era of the Eastern Han under Zhang Zhongjing, and were originally made to treat frostbitten ears.
APPETIZER
PROTOTYPES
Digital Model
3D Printed Positive
Plaster Mold
APPETIZER
FABRICATION
ENTREE
Sticky Rice con Chicharron is the China-cuba fusion entree which is Cantonese sticky rice, chicharron which is fried pork skin, and a braised pork sauce. The dish strives to combine the textures and flavors of the different foods. All three of these foods are very common and traditional in both cultures. What stands out the most is the Chicharron because it is simple, cheap and efficiently uses the whole pig. This was crucial while they were struggling with food shortages during the fall of the USSR.
FIRST
SECOND
ENTREE
PROTOTYPES
Digital Model
3D Printed Positive
Plaster Mold
ENTREE
FABRICATION
DESSERT
When Italians arrived in Brazil in the late 19th century, they were originally separated from the Brazilians that lived there. Italians were usually placed on coffee plantations as contract laborers. They lived in separate housing on the farms, often separated from native Brazilian workers or landowners. Italians also spoke a different language, which limited social interaction with native Brazilians.
Pao De Queijo originates in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The cheesy bread balls are often served as a street food. Pesto Pao De Queijo is a mix of these bread balls and Italian pesto. This fusion is meant to represent the immigration of Italians to Brazil, where the Italians were separated from the Brazilians and not mixed in. To show this, we made the Pesto Pao De Queijo where the pesto is separated from the bread and not mixed in.
Sketches
DESSERT
PROTOTYPES
Digital Model
3D Printed Positive
DESSERT
FABRICATION
APPETIZER
ENTREE
Part 3
MOLD DIAGRAMS
Plaster
Dish
Dish
Dish
Plaster
Plaster
USE DIAGRAM
ENTREE
Cuba
China
RENDERINGS
APPETIZER
ENTREE
DESSERT
COMPLETE SET
NEXT STEPS
Cast the dishes
Emboss disigns
Glaze
1
2
3
THANK YOU!
In the first Politics On Your Plate studio, students created flavorful fusion dishes between two countries, the food was made to represent how those countries are connected through history. In our studio, we designed custom ceramic dishes that complement and enhance the food as well as the narrative. Using CAD to design our ceramics it allowed us to perfectly cater every aspect of the dish. We cast the 3D printed parts in plaster creating molds to poor slip into and once dry we will have our dishes. In the future our plan is to carefully glaze the dishes further representing the relationship between each country.