Kitchen on Fire: Celebrating Filipino Comfort Food: Chef Charleen (Oakland)

Celebrating Filipino Comfort Food: Chef Charleen (Oakland)

Menu:
Vegetable Pancit - Sauteed Rice Noodles with Seasonal Vegetables
Ginataang Gulay - Vegetables stewed in Coconut Milk
Chicken Afritada - Chicken, Potatoes, Red Bell Peppers, Carrots, stewed in a Tomato Base
Vegetable Lumpia - Vegetables wrapped and fried
Turon - Saba Banana and Jackfruit,  wrapped and fried

Class Description:
Filipino food is always a celebration. Whether it is a birthday party, a holiday, a blessing, or simply a group gathering, there is always family, friends, and an abundance of good food. Join Chef Charleen for a lesson in Filipino Cuisine's favorite celebratory dishes.

Chef Charleen started her culinary adventure on the streets of the Bay Area. Setting up a makeshift kitchen wherever she could, she cooked in the streets, at local festivals, inside clubs, bars and in private kitchens for private clients, building a solid following of both local and regional foodies throughout the Bay Area and beyond. She opened her first brick and mortar eatery in Oakland. Kainbigan Filipino Comfort Food, opened its doors in August of 2013.

In December of 2016, Chef Charleen was the first Filipino American woman to win Food Network's cooking show, Chopped. She also competed on Farmer’s Market Flip which aired on the Cooking Channel. In June 2017, Charleen pursued opening up her second restaurant, Craft & Spoon, also in Oakland which served hints of Filipino food, along with a diverse mix of quick service lunch bites.  As an entrepreneur, Charleen continues to pursue her passions in food, retail, and working on projects in the cannabis industry. A go-getter, and self motivator, Charleen strives for community growth.