Tortilla Flats Pays Tribute to Frida Kahlo

She's mostly known for for her explicit paintings and tumultuous marriage to Diego Rivera, but it turns out that Frida Kahlo was also quite the cook.

In a life punctuated by pain (as a child she survived both polio and a bus crash that would lead to 35 operations and the amputation of one leg), Kahlo was known for throwing good parties, and skimp on the comida, she did not. 

For over ten years, in Soquel has honored the artist in her birthday month (Kahlo was born on July 6, 104 years ago), with their own weekend-long fiesta and a special menu of culinary nostalgia: "Frida's Favorites." 

"I've always loved Frida. She was a person who loved to entertain and loved to cook, so this menu is a collection of some of the dishes she prepared for friends and family," said Cheryl Marquez, owner of

Frida's Favorites were 13 exotic dishes, including Squash Blossom Crepas, Prickly Prawns, and Scallops and Pescado in Scallop Shells. Heavenly, yes. And for the Frida fans among us, goosebump inducing.

The buttery flavor of the squash blossoms and the deep magenta sauce of the Prickly Prawns (the juice of the prickly pears gives it that color) stole the show. Although the Mole Manchemanteles (literally "tablecloth stainer," a mole made with mangoes, pineapple, and chipotle chiles) was sold out by Sunday evening, it was the top choice for anyone who had ever tasted it before.

"Normally when we do specials, we get more people coming in, plus all of our regulars. And by regulars I can think of a good 80 people who come in at least twice a month," said Courtney Romero, who has worked at Tortilla Flats for six years. 

Sitting by the kitchen doors at Tortilla Flats meant an endless parade of colorful plates that never got tiring. Chef Guillermo Sanchez said that every single dish was ordered all weekend long. His favorite? "Todo."

Marquez first got her culinary inspiration for Frida's Favorites from a cookbook called Frida's Fiestas, a collection of dozens of Kahlo's culinary creations, from peanut moles to poached guavas and oyster soup. She is also friends with artist Catalina Delgado Trunk, who used to go to Frida's house as a child, so Marquez's connection and admiration for Frida is very present.

Culinary events at Tortilla Flats keep Marquez's creative passions alive, like the Day of the Dead alter and special menu which lasts the entire month of October, or the December Olé Mole week, which features 18 different kinds of mole.

"It takes about four months to get all of the mole together," said Marquez, who travels to Santa Fe and Mexico to get the different chili peppers to make the varieties of mole. 

Aside from the events, every Monday and Tuesday evening feature a tapas menu, a fun way to try many different small dishes while also keeping the tequila from going straight to your head. 

"It's just a really fun atmosphere. You'll hear different tables interacting with each other just because they're so close. If we're singing 'Happy Birthday' to one table, everybody in the restaurant starts singing 'Happy Birthday,'" said Romero.

The next special menu at is Food of the Yucatan, from Aug. 18-22.

Tortilla Flats is located at 4616 Soquel Drive, Soquel. 831-476-1754.