The color purple symbolizes wealth and royalty and it is the lucky color for the year 2022. And for most Filipinos, this color doesn’t only bring prosperity but reminds them of a sweet creamy dessert—the ube halaya or purple yam.
In California, some foodies gather to celebrate the Long Beach Ube Festival featuring this Filipino staple dessert. According to its founders, James Oreste, Paul Romey, and Shella Garcia, what seems to be a side-hustle for some Pinoy blossomed into a fully realized pop-up business.
In an interview with GMA Pinoy TV’s Global Pinoy Unlimited, James said, “During the pandemic, I was just walking around all times and out of nowhere I just said, “Hey, let's do an Ube Fest!” Paul clearly recalled answering “My eyes just widened and I was like let's do it.”
“I'm just happy to see that it was awesome. We just love bringing the community out here; bring culture back here into this neighborhood,” Sheila described her excitement about this food event.
Instantly, the locals in the area fell in love with the eye-catching Filipino dessert. Thanks to the bakers showcasing the different varieties of ube goodies.
“We are bringing out our Filipino culture for everyone to experience. We're fortunate enough to have this,” said Paul.
Meanwhile, Ginger Lim-Dimapasok, a Filipina-American pastry chef, is surprised that her ube pie recipe is published in “The Essential New York Times Cookbook: The Recipes of Record,” an award-winning best-selling compendium of best recipes around the world.
“I've always been referencing this cookbook for many years and then it came with a bookmark. [The author] wrote a personal note which is kind of nice and it just said “Ginger, this is so you can always find the ube Pie recipe. I'm like “[What is] she talking about?” And then when we opened it. The recipe was in there!”
Already famous as the champion of Food Network’s “Chopped Sweets,” Ginger is the owner of the ube-centric bakery, Café 86 Ube Nerd. For her, it is a privilege that her ube pie recipe is listed among those of the Philippines' greatest culinary icons.
“Growing up in the Philippines, I only had Sylvia Reynoso Gala (and) Nora Daza to look up to. To be side by side with them, it's just something you never imagined to be. I was just telling my kids, it's a legacy that I can be proud of,” said Ginger.
Who would have known that the classic dessert native to the Philippines will be a hit in America? As cliché as it may sound, food truly unites family, forms a friendship, and makes a community #StrongerTogether.
Watch more inspiring stories of Filipinos abroad on “Global Pinoy Unlimited”! Subscribe now to watch this overseas! Visit www.gmapinoytv.com/subscribe for more details.