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Chapulines
Chef Hugo
Beverages
Hugo's Brother: Ruben
Hugo with the Sante Award
Viento
NEWS
This summer, Hugo and I recently traveled to Mexico City to eat at some new and old favorite restaurants there.
Our Dining adventure included :
- Pujol, a small and very special fine dining restaurant with creations of Chef Enrique Olvera
- Fonda El Refugio, a petite and traditional restaurant with great Flan de Mamay
- Hosteria Santa Domingo, a very old restaurant that is well known for their specialty, Chile en Nogada
- Restaurante Arroyo, a popular and fun restaurant that is attached to a historic bull fighting ring.
- They are known for their Barbacoa cooked in pits, live music and folkloric dancers.
- A recommended eatery on the side of the road that was well known for their Chorizo Verde
- The town market, there were many vendors selling their produce and tasty treats such as squash blossom quesadillas
Hugo also visited his family at a ranch near Puebla to attend a wedding. He participated in preparing the mole for all the guests. There they cook outside on an open fire. Several of the town’s best cooks get together to prepare the food for any weddings that take place in the town. Hugo’s grandmother holds the honor of being one of those women so Hugo got a refresher course in the traditional methods to prepare all the traditional wedding foods.
Hugo has added and exciting new dish to the menu- Chapulines! (Pan sautéed grasshoppers) They are considered a delicacy by many Mexicans. They are collected only at certain times of year. They are thoroughly cleaned and washed out, then fried with chiles, garlic and lemon juice, to create a sour-spicy-salty taste that is a good complement for beer. The taste is unique, but not especially strange. Chapulines are most popular in the state and city of Oaxaca. They are available in varying sizes, small to large and have been used as food for over 3000 years!
Pomegaranates have come into season and we have Chiles en Nogada. Ask your server about Chef Hugo’s exciting specials!
Is it time to book space for your parties and events? Hugo's has several dining areas that can be reserved for groups or you can book the whole restaurant for larger groups.
Our architect, Rudy Colby, has met the challenge to create a private party room for Hugo’s, and we couldn't be more excited. To book the room, contact Marvin Rodriguez our Banquet Coordinator. You may reach him by calling 832-213-7418. You can download party menus and contact him online from our website here
Speaking of private parties, all four of our sister restaurants have private party spaces available. Please call the individual restaurants to make arrangements.
Yahoo™ is featuring notable Hispanics on their webpage and Hugo has been selected from Houston.
We are excited to announce that both Chef Hugo Ortega and Sommelier Sean Beck received Certificates of Appreciation in recognition of their culinary excellence and outstanding service provided to the Houston Branch of The International Wine & Food Society on April 12, 2007.
Hugo’s has won a Sante award for excellence in the Traditional menu category. Sante is a national magazine for food and wine professionals and winning such award is a great honor! Hugo and I traveled to the Napa Valley in November to receive the award. Backstreet Cafe also won an award for excellence in Innovative Menu Development. Our two restaurants were the only two Houston restaurants that won awards. Backstreet has won several Sante awards but this will be the first for Hugo’s!
Located at our family of restaurants
Hugo’s – Viento for Sunday Brunch Buffet
Backstreet – Bob Chadwick Trio on Sunday Brunch
Prego – Mickey Mosely and Ray Wilson Sunday evenings