Pat’s Pick
November 16, 2021
Superstar Chef Hugo Ortega’s New Restaurant Is His Most Personal Venture Yet
At his latest restaurant, Texas’s most celebrated Mexican chef teams up with close relations to revisit the street food of his youth.
Hugo Ortega
Tacos
February 11, 2021
How Texas Chefs Are Blending Cuisines in Ways That Are Respectful–and Delicious
Thanks to thoughtful experimentation and carefully crafted hybrid dishes, cultural appreciation has become the hallmark of contemporary Texas food.
Food & Drink
March 27, 2019
Four of the Five James Beard Finalists for the Best Southwest Chef Are Texans
And yet, after the state’s even more stellar showing in the semifinals, the announcement feels disappointing.
Pat’s Pick
March 22, 2017
The Apprentice
How a few formative years out in the middle of nowhere led Hugo Ortega to places he never imagined.
Food & Drink
November 23, 2016
Knives Out
There are certain dishes that every good Texan knows and loves. But do you really know how to grill a flawless ribeye? Season that cast-iron skillet in your cupboard? Make sure your dough rises? We asked experts around the state to share some how-tos and a few recipes that will
Eat My Words
April 27, 2015
Where Does Hugo Ortega Eat When He Visits Austin?
Hugo Ortega of Hugo’s, Backstreet Café and Caracol, in Houston discusses his love for traveling, his James Beard Foundation Award nomination, and his favorite Austin restaurants.
Eat My Words
April 24, 2014
Hugo Ortega on Austin’s Food & Wine Festival
Ortega discusses his personal culinary evolution and seeing the Houston culinary scene transform before his eyes.
Eat My Words
March 18, 2014
Texas Represents Among the James Beard Award Finalists
Four of the five chefs nominated for Best Chef Southwest hail from Texas.
Food & Drink
February 11, 2014
Sea Change
Hugo Ortega’s new restaurant puts a sophisticated spin on interior-Mexican seafood.
Food & Drink
February 26, 2013
Hugo Ortega on Being a James Beard Semifinalist
Last Tuesday, the James Beard Foundation announced its list of semifinalists for the 2013 James Beard Awards, a yearly awards ceremony that honors outstanding restaurants, bars, restaurateurs, chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists, sommeliers, and food journalists across the nation.Texas sealed an impressive 25 nominations on the preliminary list, featuring such
Recipes
January 21, 2013
Tacos de Pescado
Fish tacos, the way Houston chef Hugo Ortega makes them.
Eat My Words
October 22, 2012
Softened Pork Skins Stew from ‘Hugo Ortega’s Street Food of Mexico’
On Friday, Pat Sharpe wrote about Hugo Ortega’s new cookbook “Hugo Ortega’s Street Food of Mexico,” which will be featured at the Texas Book Festival this Saturday and Sunday (October 27-28) in Austin. To give
Eat My Words
October 19, 2012
‘Where the Chefs Eat’ Culinary Tours Feature Top Houston Chefs, Diverse Cuisines
Exciting news for all the Houston foodies out there: the city is hosting a myriad of chef-organized, chef-led culinary tours in 2013. The “Where the Chefs Eat” Houston Culinary Tours started in 2010 as a means of teaching diners about the Houston food scene and all its intricacies and diversities. Proceeds from the tours benefit
Eat My Words
October 19, 2012
Houston Chef Hugo Ortega Shows How It’s Done, Mexico City-Style, at the Texas Book Festival
When Hugo Ortega was a small boy shining shoes and selling freshly made flan in the marketplace in Mexico City, no doubt it never crossed his mind that one day he would be teaching Americans to cook the foods of his homeland. But that was a long time ago, and
Eat My Words
October 16, 2012
Texas Book Festival Lineup Includes World-Renowned Culinary Author Naomi Duguid
From October 27-28, the Texas Book Festival will take place at the State Capitol in Austin. A number of talented, award-winning culinary authors will be attending the literary gathering, including Naomi Duguid – contributing editor of Saveur magazine and author of
Food & Drink
July 31, 2012
Paletas
Cool off with this recipe from Hugo Ortega’s Street Food of Mexico cookbook.
Food & Drink
July 31, 2012
Home Is Where the Cart Is
In this exclusive excerpt from his forthcoming cookbook, Hugo Ortega shares the secrets of the humble dishes of his homeland.
Eat My Words
May 7, 2012
Foodie Alert: James Beard Awards Are Tonight at 5 p.m. and Will Be Live-Streamed and Blogged
The James Beard Awards—which are “the Oscars of the culinary industry,” as has been said ad infinitum but which also happens to be true—happen tonight in New York starting at 5 Central time (6 Eastern). The best restaurants and chefs in the country—determined by a vote of chefs and
Eat My Words
March 19, 2012
Texas Captures Four of Six Slots in the James Beard Awards’ Southwest Finals, and a Houston Columnist Gets a Nod, Too
Well, finally! For once, Texas didn’t get skunked by Las Vegas in the finals for the James Beard Awards. Our chefs captured four of the six finalist slots in the category Best Chef: Southwest. And in addition, Houston Chronicle columnist and blogger Alison Cook, who writes Cook’s Tour, made the