Ruben Ortega

Executive Pastry Chef

Pastry Chef Ruben Ortega, raised in Mexico City and Puebla, discovered his love for baking from his aunt, who taught him to knead dough by hand in a hollow tree trunk. At 17, he moved to the U.S. and later joined his brother Hugo in Houston, becoming Executive Pastry Chef for H Town Restaurant Group. He leads the pastry programs at Backstreet, Hugo’s, Caracol, Xochi, URBE, and Zaranda, earning acclaim for his imaginative desserts and handcrafted Mexican chocolate. A 2022 James Beard Finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef, Ruben also enjoys watching football with his son, Mateo, and painting.