Pan de Muerto
Olive Oil Cake made with verbena custard, lemon curd, figs, and berries
Flan de Muerto made with marigold and vanilla
In early November, my dining companion and I stopped by the Panadería Matilija pop-up at Xochi the Dog, Cafe, a cafe on E. 21st Street and 11th Avenue in East Oakland. A self-described "vagabond bakery by the bay," Panadería Matilija serves beautiful Mexican pastries, cakes, and other baked goods at pop-ups throughout the East Bay as well as takes cake commissions for weddings and other occasions. This was the first time I was able to visit the pop-up and, given the caliber of pop-ups that the cafe has hosted in the past, I knew this would be a treat.
We ordered three items when we stopped by for breakfast: the Pan de Muerto, the Olive Oil Cake, and the Flan de Muerto. The Pan de Muerto was decorated with a criss-cross pattern reminiscent of bones (we visited the same week as Halloween) and a healthy dusting of sugar. It was the freshest, lightest pan dulce I've had and was complemented by the latte I dipped it in well. The Olive Oil Cake was also delicious; made with verbena custard, lemon curd, figs, and berries, it had a brightness from the lemon and freshness from the fruit on top. While olive oil cakes can be too mellow in flavor, that was not an issue with this one. The Flan de Muerto was made with marigold petals and vanilla. Like the pan and cake, this was probably the best flan I've ever had — it was photogenic, decadent, and seeped in flavor.
I will be on the lookout for the next Panadería Matilija pop-up at Xochi the Dog, Cafe. I hope I can try the Peach Tres Leches cake during stone fruit season.
Panadería Matilija
Pop-ups: see Instagram for details
Xochi the Dog, Cafe
1038 E. 21st St., Oakland, CA 94606
Open: Monday - Saturday 8am - 3pm, Sunday 8am - 1pm
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