Palengke Pride

a market experience worth providing

I recently was introduced to FANHS (The Filipino American National Historical Society), to help with their upcoming conference in DC. Most conferences have a marketplace component, and this one will include a palengke (tagalog for market), however it will not sell all of the things one should expect to see at a wet market in the Philippines. Farmers Markets are my thing. I go out of my way to visit them because they show me so much more about a town than any grocery store could.

But the more you visit, and the more you see, there are elements that make some feel way more exceptional than others. Its not about the size of the market, but more so the vendors, what they sell, and how they present their offerings. If I could create my own palengke, here is what I would include:

SEAFOOD

I was spoiled when I lived in San Diego because there were markets dedicated entirely to seafood, (see crab image on the bottom right). Local seafood is all about access, which requires proximity to the sea. If a town is sea adjacent, then it is almost mandatory to check out the seafood. The first top images are from the Salcedo Weekend Market in Makati, Manila and feature smoked fish. The milkfish image on the top right was taken in Taipei, Taiwan. I write about the relationship between the Philippines and Taiwan in ISLANDS. Despite their cultural differences, there is the shared seafood culture between the Philippines and Taiwan, which includes milkfish.

The bottom left image was taken near our current home in Washington, D.C. at the Wharf, meaning the Chesapeake Bay is currently our largest adjacent body of water. The “Wild Sea Moss” image was taken at the Ocean Beach Farmers Market in San Diego, one of my absolute favorite markets.

PLANTS & FLOWERS

Plants and flowers make markets come alive, even more than produce. The top left image is of my daughter Hina touching the local flowers at the Salcedo Weekend Market in Manila. It was raining that day so the plants appeared even more vibrant and lush. The next image on the top right was taken in Kalk Bay, a fishing village and suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. Protea is the national flower of South Africa, and to see it in all of its varieties, casually at the market, was an occasion in itself. On the bottom left are bundles of eucalyptus for sale at a San Diego market, in Little Italy. The vendor included “smell me” with the price tag. Fresh eucalyptus can engage the senses and fill the room with a healing aroma. Lastly, on the bottom right, is me being photographed by my dear friend Sarita while visiting UC Davis, my alma mater.

FRUIT

Fresh fruit creates excitement and is universally prized for its seasonality and diversity. In Taipei, on the top left, fresh stone fruit, lychees and bananas are presented on top of tropical leaves. In Tahiti, on the top right, aisles of tropical fruit are packaged at the Papeete Market. On the streets of Papeete, on the bottom left, fresh pineapples dominate the fruit stand’s offerings. In San Diego, fresh sapote, a fruit originating from the Amazon, fills green baskets.

VEGETABLES

Vegetables should represent the foundation of the market experience, and the more varieties the better. Located by the oceanfront in Cape Town, South Africa, Oranjezicht City Farm Market might be one of the most impressive markets I’ve seen. Farm-fresh produce, gourmet street food, and craft shopping make the experience feel both hip and worldly. In the top image, you’ll see a variety of vegetables presented in baskets. In Taipei on the top right, I love how a basket of fresh gourds are being sold. In Raleigh, North Carolina on the bottom left, you’ll find an Asian leafy green, tatsoi, among traditional American lettuces. Lastly, at the Davis Farmers Market in Northern California, you’ll see a Southeast Asian vendor selling their produce. Central California has attracted Hmong farmers to grow Asian vegetables otherwise not readily available. Californians throughout the state now benefit from their work.

CRAFTS

Craft is everything in my mind, especially at the market. I want to see as many as possible. In Hermanus, a seaside town in the Western Cape of South Africa, I was floored by the basket vendors, photographed in the top left image. In Tahiti, permanent lei were being sold. Mercado Segrado, a wellness lifestyle market, is known for being a celebration of the canyon spirit. The year I drove from San Diego, it took place at the Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills. I love the spirit of craftsmanship found throughout the market. Even the packaging felt like art.

SWEETS

Ice Cream at the market should be essential. At the Salcedo Weekend Market in Manila, the kids order fresh mango ice cream. In Reston, Virginia, a Filipino vendor sells doughnuts featuring flavors like calamansi and salted egg yolk.

HERBS

Herbs are irresistible, and growing them ourselves is so easy. Even if we don’t intend on putting them in the soil when we get home, having fresh herbs sit in a cup or small plate in our kitchen automatically livens up the home. There can never be enough herbs at the market.

PREPARED FOOD

I want to be wowed by the prepared food at the market. Years ago, I worked on the Boulevard Market in San Diego. My job was to produce the monthly market and find special vendors. A takoyaki vendor was one of my favorites. Sometimes it’s not just about the food, but watching the food being made, which is a part of the entertainment. In San Diego recently, my sweet friend Melva took me to the Mission Valley Farmers Market. The onigiri I ordered took awhile to make, but the fresh rice, combined with the quality of nori seaweed and the rice vinegar seasoning, made the wait totally worth it. In Ocean Beach, San Diego, I love the presence of Hawaiian food, which sometimes includes Filipino fare.

The Mercado Segrado, when hosted near Topanga Canyon, had the most stylish food vendors that made the experience memorable with batik textiles, wooden cutting boards, and baskets. All of this reflection makes me want to produce a serious market.

Until then!

x Vanessa