Houston Chef of the Month for February: Hugo Ortega

Hugo Ortega

HOUSTON – Hugo Ortega was raised in Mexico City and Puebla, Mexico, and learned his love of cooking from his mother and grandmother, a revered mole maker.

At age 17, he left Mexico for Houston and began his career in the restaurant industry as a dishwasher and busboy at Backstreet Cafe before graduating from culinary school and later becoming its executive chef and owner, along with wife Tracy Vaught.

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His American Dream continued when they opened Hugo's in 2002. In 2013 they opened Caracol, a Mexican coastal kitchen, in Houston's Galleria area.

Hugo has published two cookbooks: Hugo Ortega's Street Food of Mexico (2012) and Backstreet Kitchen: Seasonal Recipes from Our Neighborhood Cafe (2013).

He was a five-time finalist for Best Chef: Southwest at the prestigious James Beard Awards (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016). 

Hugo is one of Houston's most acclaimed chefs and believes that a chef is only as good as the last meal he cooked. He remains a fixture in his three restaurant kitchens, is an avid bicyclist, and enjoys spending time at the beach with his family.

Click here to see Hugo's recipe of red snapper ceviche.