lokokitchen

@lokokitchenhusband and I should be melting in 75-degree weather right now but we’ve been iced in! 🥶 One bazillion flights, including ours, have been canceled so we’ll be cozyfying in Washington for the holidays. Santi sends snuggles to everyone also living in a frozen winterscape. ❄️

One last lil plug before I log off for the year. In need of a last-minute present? Give the gift of pie (class)! Let’s bake together in 2023! 💛

[Pictured: a cranberry raspberry curd tart with a geometric surface design of dragon fruit and kiwi triangle tiles. The tart is set against a black background.]

December 23, 2022

We’ve passed my guaranteed shipping by Christmas deadline but if you still have some holiday shopping to do, I’ll be at the Last Minute Market @wyldwoodcreative [822 S 3rd St 98057] this Saturday, December 17 from 12-6pm!

Please come grab the final @aplatsf sets and @murbyayca tangram bandanas! I’ll have signed books for sale as well and am bringing embroidered pie patch trios to include with every purchase! 🥧

[Pictured: a peanut butter apple tart with apple cubes arranged in a red, white, and green ombre. The tart is set against a black background.]

December 14, 2022

GIVEAWAY! I’m sending two lil year-end gift packages out into the world! Not sponsored; just a bit of gratitude for sticking with me for another year. 🥰

Two winners will receive an @aplatsf pie cover & tote set, my favorite @usa_pan pie tin, a signed copy of PIEOMETRY, a zippy pastry wheel, and a set of geometric shape cutters. To enter, simply make sure you’re following me and tell me the best way to eat a potato (extra crispy fries dipped in garlic aioli or stuffed in a California burrito, thanks)! Tag a fellow potato pal (spuddy?) for bonus entries. 🥔

Giveaway closes at midnight PST on 12/15 and is only open to mailing addresses in the U.S. and Canada. Winners will be randomly chosen. Giveaway is not endorsed, administered, or associated with Instagram.

[Pictured: an unbaked apple pie with a blue, white, and black sesame speckled geometric pie top. The pie is set against a black background.]

December 11, 2022

Hi! 👋🏽 Quantities on both the @aplat pie cover & tote sets and @murbyayca bandanas are running low so grab yours while you can! Place your orders by 12/10 for arrival by Christmas!

And a friendly reminder that I’m doing a pickup day this Saturday @thechickensupply (hello, one of @eater’s 2022 Best New Restaurants IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY!!)! If you are local and make a purchase and want to skip the shipping cost, swing through to grab the goods on 12/10 between 9am and 12pm. I’ll be hanging out and throwing in a free embroidered pie patch trio with every pickup order purchase! 🥳

[Pictured: an unbaked shortrib tomatillo pie with a beet-dyed pie top staircase weave. The pie is set against a black background.]

December 6, 2022

My winter 2023 workshop schedule is now live! 🥧✨

Coming up first, I’ll be teaching my Complete Pie class, where I demo how to make dough by hand and two of my signature designs. Then participants have hands-on time to craft their own masterpiece! Everyone goes home with a ready-to-bake pie and a belly full of baked creations I bring for sampling!

To start the year off crust right, I’ll be in Renton @wyldwoodcreative on 1/8 and then Portland(!) @viviennepdx on 1/21! Spaces are limited because I like to keep these classes small and intimate. Lokokitchen dot com slash lkkcalendar for direct links to each workshop! 💛

[Pictured: a fruit tart crowned with sliced strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and cherries arranged in a design I call organized chaos. The tart is set against a black background.]

December 4, 2022

After an exceedingly slow summer (minus all my existential crises 🤪), this fall has been a complete whirlwind!

I’m teaching @theworks.seattle tomorrow (there’s still room in the December workshop!), and then I’ll be at the @seattlefarmersmkts Magnolia Harvest Fest this Saturday (11/19) from 10am-2pm. I’ll have signed books for sale and I’ll be demoing tarts all the freezing day long! Come say hi!

Pssst. This is a prime time to sign up for my newsletter updates on my website because a limited @aplatsf pie tote and cover set restock is coming soooon, and the email listserv eats first! 🥧

[Pictured: a hand-sliced apple tart with peanut butter mousse and a shortbread crust. The round tart is set against a black background.]

November 26, 2022

After an exceedingly slow summer (minus all my existential crises 🤪), this fall has been a complete whirlwind!

I’m teaching @theworks.seattle tomorrow (there’s still room in the December workshop!), and then I’ll be at the @seattlefarmersmkts Magnolia Harvest Fest this Saturday (11/19) from 10am-2pm. I’ll have signed books for sale and I’ll be demoing tarts all the freezing day long! Come say hi!

Pssst. This is a prime time to sign up for my newsletter updates on my website because a limited @aplatsf pie tote and cover set restock is coming soooon, and the email listserv eats first! 🥧

[Pictured: a hand-sliced apple tart with peanut butter mousse and a shortbread crust. The round tart is set against a black background.]

November 16, 2022

Announcing An Evening with @mocelmezcal and Lokokitchen: A Mezcal and Pie Tasting Experience! This will be a small gathering @thepastryproject_ on November 11 at 6:30pm.

Rosalinda Mendoza, Co-founder of Mocel, will lead an engaging mezcal tasting featuring two small-batch mezcals from Michoacán, Mexico, where her family is from. Enjoy these artisanal mezcals paired with the Tomatillo Short Rib pie and the Butternut Mac n Cheese pie from PIEOMETRY. I will also share some signature design techniques and guests will have the opportunity to decorate their own mini tart masterpiece.

Tickets go live tomorrow (11/2) at 9am PDT on my website!

November 1, 2022

Just three more spots in my Complete Pie workshop @wyldwoodcreative on 11/6 [edit: sold out, tysm! 😭] This is the only full pie class I’m offering this season! I’ll walk you through making pie dough by hand, demo a couple designs, and then you get to craft your own creation. Every participant goes home with a ready-to-bake masterpiece! Come bake with me! 🥧

[Pictured: a baked grilled cinnamon pineapple pie with a surface design of abstract dough squiggles baked to a golden brown. The pie is set against a black background.]

October 26, 2022

Fall schedule drop!! 🥧 Pie workshops, book signings, and collaborations galore! Pie season is keeping me busy for the rest of the year, and I hope you’ll join for some (or all!) of the festivities! Swipe through for dates to save in your calendar and ticket purchasing details!

Bonus event: @littlefatboyfrankie’s Author Talk @booklarder on 10/27! Bring tissues! 😭

[Pictured: passion fruit tart with a geometric surface design of white and pink dragon fruit and kiwi right triangles. The tart is set against a black background.]

October 19, 2022

PIEOMETRY is 2! 🤯 What. A. Journey! I had so many panic attacks while developing the manuscript, got my first author copies the day RBG died, and then watched the book release into precarious peak pandemic times. Revisit some of these BTS moments with me…

It’s been a completely wild ride and it’s still surreal to walk into a bookstore and see PIEOMETRY on shelves in the flesh. A big buttery thank you to everyone who has purchased, shared, baked from, and/or celebrated this book with me. Sending a virtual slice to everyone today.

October 13, 2022

Pie season is officially upon us! Are you looking to finally get in the baking game? Or hoping to elevate your craft this year? I’ll be doing a full pie demo and book signing next week at The Graduate Seattle! Hope you’ll join me on October 20 at 6pm for a slice and a chat. Tickets include a copy of PIEOMETRY and can be purchased on the @graduatehotels website or through the calendar on mine! Let’s bake! 🥧

October 7, 2022

Fall has landed full force here in Seattle but I’m not ready to relinquish my death grip on summer quite yet. So here’s a little throwback to a sliced stone fruit medley I assembled earlier in the season with an assortment of peaches, plums, and nectarines. 🍑✨

BUT! Psst. Since autumn is here, whether I agree or not, I have a huge fall schedule of events including workshops, new merch, and some really special events with friends you might know!! Sign up for my mailing list at lokokitchen.com to be the first to get the scoop! 🔍

[Pictured: a round cinnamon cream tart with a surface design of sliced peaches, plums, and nectarines tightly fitted together. The fresh tart is set against a black background.]

September 17, 2022

If you missed the news last week, my collaboration cookie with @thepastryproject_ is out in the world and flying off the @thetakeandbakery shelves! The Loko Cookie–a pink and teal lemon sugar cookie filled with chunks of raspberry chocolate–is inspired by the Livin’ on a Pair tart from PIEOMETRY. 🍋 And in a wild dream come true, we are running a soft serve cookie sundae special this Friday, September 9 to celebrate!! 🥳

Vanilla soft serve + raspberry lemon curd + The Loko Cookie! I’ll be slinging books and soft serve and cookie dough at 165 South Main St. from 1pm until sell out! To know me is to know that I LOVE soft serve so I am STOKED. Swing through and say hi! (It’s also the last weekend of Soft Serve Summer so don’t miss out!) 🍦

September 7, 2022

Birthday backlog post from the East Coast. We’re across the country this week to celebrate a family wedding and I’m also ✨old✨ years old today! 👵🏼 Celebratory pie slices for everyone! 💛

[First image: an unbaked apple miso caramel pie with a Signature Spoke surface design. Second image: a baked apple miso caramel pie with a Signature Spoke surface design. Both pies are set against black backgrounds.]

July 20, 2022

Birthday backlog post from the East Coast. We’re across the country this week to celebrate a family wedding and I’m also ✨old✨ years old today! 👵🏼 Celebratory pie slices for everyone! 💛

[First image: an unbaked apple miso caramel pie with a Signature Spoke surface design. Second image: a baked apple miso caramel pie with a Signature Spoke surface design. Both pies are set against black backgrounds.]

July 20, 2022

Elite summer berry tart with marionberries, loganberries, tayberries, and raspbers. 💅🏽✨

[Pictured: a round tart with berries arranged in ombré columns. The tart is set against a black background.]

July 8, 2022

Reporting live from quarantine. 😓 COVID finally captured us after 2+ years of diligent evasion.

I’ve been *quite* ill so glad to be on what I hope is the upswing of recovery now. But still feeling terrible about the awful timing and all the cancellations that have occurred as a result—@thepastryproject_ soft serve opening week, career day with local third graders 🥺, book signings, and my whole @cherrybombe pie workshop @acehotelbrooklyn. 😭 So sorry to everyone in NYC who snagged a ticket to this event. Hoping we can find another time later this year to reschedule.

Stay safe and vigilant out there!! 😩

[Pictured: a round sweet cream tart with red plum slices layered like fish scales across the surface. The tart is set against a black background.]

June 6, 2022

I recently celebrated my not-so-baby cousin’s graduation with family, including my Popo who flew in from Honduras. 🥺 But it’s back to work now and I have some fun stuff to announce!

This will be the summer of glorious fruit tarts and I have two workshops to offer coming up in June.

☀️June 19 at 10:30am: Summer Fruit Tart class @wyldwoodcreative.

☀️June 29 at 6:00pm: Summer Fruit Tart class @tougocoffee.

Two wonderful small businesses with beautiful spaces I’m excited to share with you. Tickets are live now (links in my bio! And yes, we are still wearing masks. Thanks for your support and understanding.

[Pictured: a round, unbaked blueberry rhubarb pie with an abstract surface design of magenta, green, and orange foliage-like shapes. The pie is set against a black background.]

May 14, 2022

Is anyone still posting static photos? 😅

[Pictured: a round blue spirulina lime curd tart with a coconut pecan crust and a multi-fruit grid surface design of mango, kiwi, papaya, and dragon fruit. The tart is set against a black background.]

May 6, 2022

Gluten for punishment. 😈I This design–of hand-cutting each dough piece and then meticulously placing each one individually–nearly did me in. 😩 When I set out to make a new pie or tart, I usually pick a general design direction and then see where the creative session takes me. This one took me to a colorful tapestry of right angles, abstract color patterns, and a major neck cramp. Send heat packs. ♨️

[Pictured: a round, unbaked apple miso caramel pie with a tiled top crust design of red, purple, blue, green, and orange right triangles. The top crust has four triangle cutouts, and the pie is set against a black background.]

March 31, 2022

Verified

I’m headed to San Diego this week to see my family and I’m squeezing in two work events! ☀️

April 2: I’m returning to my high school town and doing a pie demo and book signing at @cjgiftshoppe at 10:30am! It’s free and open to all! Reserve your spot by emailing info@cjgiftshoppe.com.

April 9: I’m teaching an Easy as Pie workshop with Johnson&Johnson Vision. If you’re a young optometrist in the area (or know one!), reach out to @dr.chinnchinn for details!

I hope to schedule a few more workshops in Seattle in the coming months so stay tuned! In the meantime, there are still tangram bandanas and tart patches in my shop with 10% of proceeds this month going to @rescueorg. 💛

[Pictured: a round cinnamon cream tart with a surface design of thinly sliced yellow Flavor Queen pluots. The tart is set against a black background.]

March 28, 2022

One of my greatest windfalls is getting to do work that occupies a unique intersection of art, design, food, and community. 💥 It’s the confluence of these multitudes that brings meaning and impact to this work for me. It’s a double thrill when this also creates opportunities to connect with others with similarly multi-faceted pursuits. ⁣

Mixed is a NYC-based printwear brand inspiring you to be seen in full color, and I’ve been closely following Nasrin’s journey ever since I laid eyes on her ultra-vibrant @mixed_bynasrin designs last year. I mean, there are Bananas! Mangos! Dragon fruit! And POCKETS! I’ve also really appreciated her thoughtfulness and intentionality when it comes to community-building (she writes a great newsletter!). It was only a matter of time before I smothered myself and my pies in Mixed-inspired prints.⁣

So when Nasrin reached out, I literally squealed and immediately texted all my friends about it. It was a thrill and an honor to collaborate with her on this pie (and more to come!).

I had a hard time replicating the beautiful intricate detail of her Harvest print so I went with a color-palette-inspired piece. I dyed doughs with a wild array of carrot, spinach, dragon fruit, strawberry, beet, turmeric, and chocolate, and wove them all together to form this 🌈full color🌈 tapestry. Apt, no?⁣

Check out more of her dynamic work @mixed_bynasrin, and if you’re in Seattle, keep an eye out for @lokokitchenhusband gallivanting around in my Ruby Button Up Shirt that he pulls off better than me! ⁣🤩

[First picture: a photo of an unbaked pie with a colorful, tightly woven top crust. The pie is set against a black background. Second picture: a photo of Lauren wearing a black beanie and a colorful @mixed_bynasrin jumpsuit and holding the (frozen) pie from the first photo.]⁣

March 23, 2022

Retropolitan Museum of Tart. ⚡️ Throwback to a cranberry mango tart I made last summer that’s got the vibe of a different era.🕺🏻

[Pictured: a round cranberry tart with a retro surface design constructed of mango and kiwi. The tart is set against a black background.]

March 18, 2022

Pi(e) Day is coming up and I have a few fun things for you:⁣

I’m teaching two in-person workshops on Monday with @theworks.seattle and there are still some spots remaining in the afternoon class! We’re cutting off sign-ups tomorrow night, so get those tickets while they’re hot!⁣

The ultra lively tangram bandanas from my collab with @murbyayca went so fast the last round (they sold out in minutes!) that they’re making a small batch comeback. They will be available for sale on 3/14 at 9am PT. And as an additional Pi Day bonus, I’ll also have colorful embroidered tart patches in the merch section, ready to be ironed onto your aprons, denim jackets, and fanny packs.⁣

Finally, I’ll be running a giveaway next week in celebration of this pastry co-opted holiday, so check back in soon to join in on the delight. ⁣

Pi Day has clearly become my biggest day of the year. Thank you for coming along with me so I have the opportunity to do this and share. ⁣

***Forever navigating the tension that is a public social platform tied to my livelihood while also grappling with the reality of unjust and terrible things happening everywhere. How is anyone striking this balance? Is there one? Taking a moment to acknowledge this community and the ways it has enabled generosity in the past. Lokokitchen gives monthly to @wckitchen but an additional 10% of proceeds from the scarves and patches this month will go to @rescueorg. It’s a drop in the bucket but collective community care adds up and I hope even small gestures can serve as an antidote to despair. ⁣

⁣March 11, 2022

I took a little break from posting for the holidays and then…found it really hard to come back. It could be my annual winter malaise or year three of an unending pandemic or *flails arms.* 🤷🏻‍♀️

In any case, I’ve been dabbling in new hobbies and planning some fun pie stuff for the coming few months that I can’t wait to share! If you’ve stuck around through this spontaneous hiatus, thank you. 💛

[Pictured: a round unbaked apple pie with a surface design of purple crescent shaped dough cutouts scattered across the surface. The pie is set against a black background.]

February 19, 2021