AUTHOR’S NOTE: This experience was at a different location.
This post documents my experience on August 4, 2012.
********************
Growing up in Lorain, I had the privilege of often enjoying the pleasures of Puerto Rican cuisine, including the rather decadent pastelillos (fried meat pies) and rellenos de papas (stuffed potato balls).
Meanwhile, when I lived in New York City…
…I was introduced to the mozzarepa (corn pancake sandwich with mozzarella cheese) at street fairs…
…which I eventually learned to make at home.
(You can find my recipe here.)The reason I even bring up these dishes is because they re-entered my life recently when I went to Cleveland….
…for the Puerto Rican Parade and Latino Fest.
Located in the Municipal Stadium parking lot…
…food was one thing this festival didn’t lack.
Booths primarily advertised the Puerto Rican palate…
…and all that red, white and blue…
…was nearly as inviting as the great-looking dishes they offered…
…just as long as you didn’t order too quickly.
I say this because a few booths had no posted menus with prices. Being that some items were (in my opinion) overpriced ($5 for 1 potato ball or 1 meat pie at one vendor), it was important to ask prices before ordering.
Also, some items I did buy weren’t that great.
This mozzarepa was too thick for the little cheese it had, so I pitched it after a few bites.
I also had a pastelillo (meat pie) with practically no filling that also made it to the trash.
Fortunately, I did find some great food that came from here…
…via an alcapurria and some sweet plantains…
…and it may have helped me at the Cleveland Clinic booth…
…where I found it actually lowered my alarmingly high blood pressure.
(Don’t worry…I have a doctor’s appointment next week!)
Beyond the food…
…the festival offered plenty of Latino shopping possibilities…
…grocery destinations (Dave’s Mercado)…
…touches of politics (Latinos for Obama)…
…and various attractions that included art (Tim Willis)…
…music…
…a Home Depot workshop for the kids…
…and a large carnival area with games, rides…
…and fair food.
Also, on this particularly hot day….
…it was perfect thinking to have a large shaded beer pavilion…
…and a few piña colada booths…
…I just felt bad for the person in the Home Depot outfit…
…even if he did look like he was having fun.