Plugs — Catalina Flores

L.A. food and drink recs from a cake genius

Plugs is The Angel’s recs column. Every Saturday, you’ll get six picks — a restaurant, a bar, a shop, an ingredient, a person, and a treat — from someone in Los Angeles who knows what they’re talking about. (Plugs are for paid subscribers of The Angel only. However, if you’re in the restaurant industry and want a free subscription, hit me up. :))

#8 is Catalina Flores, the wickedly talented soul responsible for Panhead LA and the former head pastry chef at Sqirl. Cat is perhaps most well-known for her seasonal layered cakes, which she schmears with salted buttercream and decorates with puddles of curd or jam, halved fruits, and flower stems. They are some of the best I’ve ever had. She’s also a paleta master, and recently, she’s been honing her creative tablescape chops (see here!). I’ve been a fan of Cat’s since I met her a few years ago, both for her sweets and also because she knows how to have a good time, especially when food and drinks are involved. Without further ado, here are her L.A. plugs.

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Restaurant — Taix

I’m a steak, pommes frites, and martini kind of a gal, so I love hanging out at Taix. I love to spend Thanksgiving there. Steak is still on the menu, but they also have turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, and mashed potatoes. After baking so many pies, the last thing I want is to cook anymore or to spend the holiday with any people. So I like to hide out at Taix. It’s romantic, it’s quiet. They stick to what they know, and you can’t go wrong.

Thanksgiving at Taix. Photo by Catalina Flores.