Hugo Ortega

[1] When he was 10, the family moved to Puebla, Mexico to live with Ortega's grandmother on her rancho located near the border of Oaxaca.

[9]  Vaught helped enroll Ortega in the Culinary Arts program at Houston Community College, from which he graduated in November 1992.

[11] Under the umbrella of H Town Restaurant Group,[12] which he co-owns with his wife and fellow restaurateur Tracy Vaught,[13] Ortega is executive chef of Backstreet Cafe, Hugo's, Caracol, Xochi and URBE.

[15] Ortega also helped create a menu for Mi Almita,[16] a concept opened by Chef Michael Mina in Honolulu in 2018 (now closed).

In 2002, Ortega and Vaught opened Hugo's restaurant in the Montrose area of Houston, serving Authentic Regional Mexican Cuisine.

[27] In October 2023, Ortega was highlighted on Qué Delicia: El Sabor de América on ViX.