The culinary genius behind Hugo's and Backstreet Cafe took a serious spill while riding his bike at Terry Hershey Park. Chef Hugo Ortega broke two ribs and his clavicle (collarbone) and had surgery on Friday.
Ortega is no stranger to cycling having rode in multiple MS 150 events. Ortega owns both a mountain bike and a road bike.
A native of Mexico City, Ortega is the oldest of eight siblings and that big family is stepping in during his recovery. His pastry chef brother Ruben Ortega will watch over everything at the restaurants while Hugo is in recovery. Once Hugo feels better, he will be back in the kitchen doing what he loves.
"His pain level was very high during the first couple of days after his surgery."
"His pain level was very high during the first couple of days after his surgery," his sister Sandra Ortega tells CultureMap. "I saw him over the weekend and he is doing a lot better. He is able to walk and can get around now."
A Umami dinner scheduled for Sunday was postponed — and will be rescheduled when Hugo Ortega is well enough. Ortega and Kata Robata chef Manabu "Hori" Horiuchi were set to join forces in the much-anticipated, sold-out dinner.
The bike accident comes at a busy time for Ortega. The chef is working to get his 8,000-square-foot Mexican seafood restaurant called Caracol open and running in the new BBVA Compass Plaza by September. He's also promoting his own cookbook featuring recipes from the streets of his homeland in Mexico.
But by the look of Hugo's Facebook page, the chef's fans are willing to wait. Tons of posters are leaving their best wishes for the biking chef.
Chef Hugo Ortega of Hugo's and Backstreet Cafe.
