Flores is a Filipino American chef acclaimed for elevating Filipino cuisine. Born and raised in the US to Filipino parents, Flores was immersed in Filipino culture and food traditions from a young age. He began his culinary journey working in renowned Chicago kitchens, including the Michelin-starred Oriole.
In 2020, Flores co-founded Kasama with his wife, pastry chef Genie Kwon. Located in Chicago, Kasama is successful with food lovers attracted to the restaurant’s unique approach, blending casual café fare during the day with an innovative Filipino tasting menu in the evening. Flores' culinary vision revolves around honoring his heritage while pushing Filipino cuisine into new, modern directions. His dishes often fuse traditional Filipino flavors with contemporary techniques, resulting in deeply personal and novel creations.
Flores’ cooking style emphasizes a balance between complexity and simplicity, with bold, well-defined flavors. His work at Kasama earned the restaurant a Michelin star in 2022, making it the first Filipino restaurant in the world to receive one.
Restaurant
Kasama is a renowned Filipino-inspired restaurant in Chicago's East Ukrainian Village, run by husband and wife team Flores and Kwon. During the day, Kasama functions as a laid-back bakery and café, serving Filipino staples like longanisa sandwiches, adobo, and inventive pastries. The evening tasting menu showcases Flores culinary skills and vision combining traditional Filipino flavors with modern techniques.
The restaurant's interior reflects its dual nature, offering a warm and welcoming atmosphere during the day, with minimalist decor that includes neutral tones, wooden tables, and natural light. In the evening, the mood shifts to something more intimate and refined, creating an ideal setting for a tasting menu experience.
Kasama has received widespread acclaim for its creative, elevated Filippino food, with the daytime café and evening tasting menu proving hugely popular. The innovative approach to Filipino cuisine continues to represent the best of Filipino culinary culture on the highest global stage.
Recipes and dishes
Flores has won acclaim for his innovative interpretations of traditional Filipino dishes. A standout creation is his mushroom adobo, where he elevates the classic adobo by marinating maitake mushrooms in a blend of soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic, then complementing them with scallop conserva and premium Spanish olive oil.
Another notable dish is the kare-kare, a traditional Filipino stew. Flores' rendition features lamb belly and a bagoong (fermented fish condiment) XO sauce, offering a contemporary twist on a beloved classic.
For breakfast enthusiasts, the Kasama Filipino breakfast combo is a must. This dish includes house-made longaniza sausage and tocino, served alongside garlicky fried rice, a fried egg, and atchara (pickled papaya, carrots, and ginger), providing a hearty start to the day.
For pastry lovers, Flores and Kwon offer an ube and huckleberry Basque cake, among others. This dessert infuses the traditional Basque cake with ube (purple yam) and huckleberry jam, adding a Filipino flair to a European favorite.
Beyond his culinary creations, Flores participates in cooking demonstrations, like the In the Kitchen LIVE! series, where he showcased his signature dishes and shared insights into his cooking techniques. Kasama featured in the TV series The Bear, highlighting its significance in Chicago's dining scene.