Chef Hugo Ortega Celebrates Summer with Squash Blossom Menu

Squash Blossoms from Paula Murphy on Vimeo.

When you think of summer, what tastes immediately come to mind? For some, it’s their favorite ice cream. For Chef Hugo Ortega it’s squash blossoms. 

The Houston-based chef shares a Seasonal Squash Blossom Menu each summer at his award-winning restaurant Hugo’s. Ortega is lucky enough to get the delicious blossoms locally grown by a farmer who plants them just for the restaurant. The Mexican chef has fond, deep-rooted memories of squash blossoms. He recalls picking them from the milpa, or field, when he was growing up in Mexico.

In the video above, Ortega shares his favorite ways to prepare the blossoms and more.