Why has Spanish food (from Spain) never really caught on in the U.S?

Question

It's become trendy but most people are still not very familiar with it. In fact many people assume that Mexican food is the same as Spanish food and Vice Versa. Why?

Answer 1

Most of the cuisine favoured in the US comes from the large groups of immigrants that settled in that country.

The basis is obviously English, with some Scandinavian influences, follows Italian,  Mexican is another, Cuban particularly in the South East, Chinese and German and Russian Jewish.

Spanish people tended to emigrate to south American countries, where they spoke the same language or European countries, so there never were big communities that could leave their mark in a culinary sense.

And let me tell you, in spite of  what somebody said, Spanish gastronomy is very rich and varied, much more than rice and beans.

Answer 2

Probably because Spanish people have never immigrated directly to the US in large numbers. Spanish colonization many years ago was mainly in South/ Central America/ Caribbean areas. When people from those areas have immigrated to the US, their foods have been termed "Spanish" many times because of the Spanish language and not because of any association with the country of Spain.

Answer 3

I   B  Y  P

Ibegyourpardon

You assume  Spain has NO influence in Mexico..????

Sorry but I have made many mistakes like to ask what part of Mexico your family is from to BE blasted " I am Spanish"

tsk tsk

Judgmental...

Answer 4

I don't know - but I wish it would - i've gone as far and internet research and cookbooks and found wonderful recipes......Catalan region is my favorite..........and they eat lots of seafood in spain too.   Oh yeah, spanish ham....kinda like a parma ham or proscuitto.......love it.

Answer 5

THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO WITH RICE AND BEANS

Answer 6

psssst!..............watch the old movie "For When the Bell Tolls"....there's dozens of clues throughout the movie on the subject.......

Answer 7

People think Spanish language equals Mexican food but some foods like Criadillas (bull's balls) are never gonna catch on in the USA.