Aromas of Spanish foods wafting through downtown at this weekend's fest

YOUNGSTOWN

Vicki Vicars of Boardman approached the Mami Gina’s Cuchylandia booth with a little uncertainty and admitted she didn’t know much about the food on display.

But Gina Laviena, owner of the booth, helped her pick out rice and beans (arroz con habichuelas), two meat pies called pastelillos and other items for her, her husband, Terry, and their two friends.

Afterward, Vicki proclaimed the rice and beans to be her favorite, and Terry liked the pastelillos, which are fried and look a little like a pastry or taco that is fried and sealed.

The Vicars were enjoying these Spanish foods at the Youngstown Spanish Heritage Festival that began Friday night on East Federal Street downtown.

“We like being downtown and supporting events like this,” Vicki said. “There’s lots of friendly people.”

Meanwhile, Luis Rivera had no trouble picking out a couple of favorites from Mami Gina’s stand — the pinchos, which are chicken, beef or pork shish kebabs. He also especially likes the pastelillos.

Rivera and his wife, Ramona, said much of the food at the festival, including that from Mami Gina’s, has a Puerto Rican flavor because that is the prominent Spanish heritage in Youngstown.

Ramona was born in Brier Hill, where her Puerto Rican father worked for Youngstown Sheet & Tube.

Read more about the festival, which continues through Sunday, in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.