Well I'll own up to being the different one here (surprise surprise, not). I'm a white non-Christian 3rd generation American with Russian, German, and Latvian roots. I don't "not notice" differences between races, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds. I actually embrace them, and look forward to them. There are absolutely positively differences, and I learned to appreciate many of these differences when I was "la gringa" on the bicycle who used to ride to her Puerto Rican boyfriend's house in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood, from my predominately Jewish neighborhood 6 miles away. I don't want to "not notice" or pretend that when I see a person of color, that I'm not seeing a person of color. OF COURSE they are people of color. That's one of the many things that makes them interesting. If we were all the same we'd be boring. Our differences are what make us who we are, and that includes physical looks, culture, heritage, language, regional accents, social and romantic preferences, and so on and so forth.
I had to google most of the foods you mentioned, OP. It sounds as though I've probably had the pastelitos a few years ago at a food truck festival, from someone making Salvadorian sandwiches. Very flaky pastry-like turnovers, and mine had some kind of shredded spiced meat in it. Might've been chicken, I don't remember the ingredients, just the overall enjoyment and texture of the thing. I think you'll have to go to Orlando for papusas or other Salvadoran food, or Tampa as someone else mentioned. As for the pork sandwich, there are a couple of Cuban restaurants in Mt. Dora, which isn't very far from the eastern side of Lake Sumter. There's also the Mojo Grill in Belleview, which is north of the Villages.
For paella, my personal opinion is, you will always make it better than you can buy it, unless you go to someone's house in Spain. This is something my Spanish teacher taught her class, back when I was in High School in the 1970's. She also taught us how to make -sweet- fried plaintains with brown sugar and butter. She was from Spain.
As for the helado, the only thing I know of that helado would be, is ice cream. The closest thing to anything *specifically* known as Spanish ice cream that I've ever seen are the paletas (Mexican popsicles) sold at the local taqueria up here in Connecticut.
If you're okay with "just" Mexican food, Ay Jalisco is authentic western Mexican, which is a little different from Central or northern Mexican food. As Western Mexican food in the USA goes, it's pretty good. Not fond of the salsa but Western Mexican salsa really is mostly just slightly tingly ketchup. I prefer pico de gallo, or hot sauce.
|