By Cameron Lee
May 22, 2025
Palengke — the Filipino word for open-air market — is a vital part of the Philippines’ cultural and economic fabric, where fresh, locally sourced goods meet the pulse of community and commerce. This weekend, that vibrant energy comes to Charlotte as three Filipino entrepreneurs bring a two-day culinary and cultural experience to Resident Culture Brewing in Plaza Midwood.
The event — a collaboration between New York-based chef VJ Navarro (So Sarap NYC), café owner Augelyn Francisco (Kabisera Café, Lower East Side), and Winston-Salem food truck operator Joseph Olson (Kuya Bear) — fuses tradition and innovation with events Palengke on Saturday (May 24) and Ubeland on Sunday (May 25), a tribute to ube, the vibrant purple yam that has long been a staple in Filipino desserts and traditional dishes.
Navarro and Francisco launched Philippines Fest in 2022 in New York City, curating pop-up events across Manhattan and Brooklyn before expanding to Miami and Atlanta. Olson, a Filipino-American and former special education teacher, started his food truck Kuya Bear in late 2022 after mastering his mother’s lumpia recipe and successfully selling them at parties and local bars. He began vending at New York City Philippines Fest events in 2023.
“I made more money in eight months with the food truck than I did in five years working in education,” Olson shared.
Since launching Kuya Bear in 2022, Olson has become a fixture in North Carolina’s food truck scene, organizing events in Winston-Salem and participating in fundraisers like Gettin’ Piggy With It — organized by Durham’s Jake Wood of Lawrence Barbecue and Raleigh’s Chris Powers of Trophy Brewing — which raised over $185,000 for Raleigh’s Frankie Lemmon School, a center for early childhood education and development.
Now, Olson joins Navarro and Francisco to bring a little bit of the Philippines to Charlotte with a pair of free community events celebrating Filipino food and culture. Saturday’s Palengke will feature authentic Filipino street foods, including dumplings, lechon, musubi, paella, calamansi fruit drinks (a sweet and tart native citrus), halo-halo (the beloved crushed ice dessert), and more.
Sunday’s Ubeland shifts to more desserts, spotlighting the subtle sweetness and lavender hue of ube. Expect decadent Filipino treats like ube halaya, ube ice cream, flan, cake, turon (fried banana spring rolls), and refreshing kalamansi drinks. Local favorite Dulce Dreams Café will feature their ube cheesecake, while Kuya Bear will serve ube lumpia. Guests can also indulge in mochi, churros, and even ube burgers.
The weekend will showcase the Philippines’ rich and complex culinary heritage, that was shaped by Southeast Asian roots, Spanish colonization, Chinese trade, and even some American influence. Filipino cuisine is an eclectic fusion of flavors that many Charlotteans have yet to experience.
The Filipino American Community of the Carolinas will also host a mini cultural exhibit, and Resident Culture Brewing will pour a variety of craft beers throughout the weekend.
Palengke takes place on Saturday, May 24, followed by Ubeland on Sunday, May 25, both from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Resident Culture Brewing in Plaza Midwood (2101 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205). The events are free and food items range from $7 to $15.
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