Katherine (Kat) Trego is the head pastry chef and general manager of Devil’s Dozen, a trendy doughnut and coffee shop in Little Italy. Kat was first exposed to working with dough at Pizza Hut, which ignited a passion for baking that grew through watching YouTube video tutorials.
By Erin Jackson
September 10, 2024
In 2023, Kat leveraged her experience working with craft coffee and managing staff to land the lead barista job at Devil’s Dozen, which in turn led to an opportunity to receive training from former pastry chef/GM Vanessa Oceguera to learn the ins and outs of doughnut production and take over as the new pastry chef.
The base doughnut recipes were developed by SDCM Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski but the glazes, which change daily, are made by Kat. During summer, light and airy berry flavors dominate the menu. In fall, things get more warm and spicy, with options like hot chocolate, apple cider, and sticky toffee pudding — Kat’s favorite.
The shop also gets creative with boxes of limited edition flavors every month or so. Past boxes have included doughnuts inspired by Girl Scout cookies and major holidays (Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas). These doughnuts are available via pre-order in limited quantities and tend to sell out fast.
Image credit: Devil’s Dozen Donuts via Instagram
Kat says she loves working with doughnuts because of the endless possibilities to be creative, from coming up with new flavors to decorating the finished product. “It’s just very soothing,” she says. Adding that the production process “helps me relax and intentionally make doughnuts with my whole heart.” Looking forward, she hopes to add more vegetarian and vegan options to the daily menu, as well as new savory items to the weekend menu.
Most days, you can find Kat working the window at Devil’s Dozen. It’s something she loves because it gives her an opportunity to see customers’ reactions. “Those little interactions make me so happy”, she says. “I just love giving people joy.”
Katherine Trego is a featured chef at the Pop-Up Doughnut Shop on Sunday, September 22 at Cardellino. Click here to learn more.