A Recipe Rooted in Heritage: Food, Family & Giving Back

Some recipes carry more than flavor. They hold memories of family, a sense of place, and the traditions passed from one generation to the next. For Executive Sous Chef Hugo Perez at 1 Hotel West Hollywood, cooking has always been rooted in sharing. Growing up, his mother’s hearty, rustic cooking and use of fresh, natural ingredients shaped his culinary foundation, while family meals showed him how food can bring people together and create lasting memories.

For Hispanic Heritage Month, Chef Hugo drew on those memories to create his take on huevos rancheros in support of No Us Without You LA, an organization supporting immigrant workers in the hospitality industry. A staple in Los Angeles with deep roots in Mexican culture, the dish is also deeply personal to Hugo. Warm tortillas, molcajete-style salsa, and cheese recall the meals he shared with his parents and the familiar flavors of his childhood.

Through the recipe, Chef Hugo celebrates the generations who brought their traditions and culinary heritage to Los Angeles, while giving back to the community that continues to shape the city’s hospitality culture. We spoke with him about the family traditions behind his cooking, the story this dish tells, and why food remains one of his most meaningful ways to create connection and show appreciation. Bring a taste of Chef Hugo’s kitchen home with his ranchero salsa recipe, a smoky, vibrant staple inspired by the flavors at the heart of his huevos rancheros.

From Heritage to the Plate with Chef Hugo Perez,  Executive Sous Chef at 1 Hotel West Hollywood

How has your Hispanic heritage influenced the way you cook, gather, and connect with others through food? Are there any traditions or flavors that continue to inspire your work today?

Growing up, my mom’s hearty, rustic cooking and her use of fresh, natural ingredients shaped my culinary foundation. From an early age, I was also exposed to different cuisines and learned how food has the power to bring people together. Those family traditions continue to inspire me today. For me, food has always been about sharing, creating memories, and bringing people together through a collective love of cooking and eating.

For Hispanic Heritage Month, you created a special dish in support of No Us Without You LA. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the recipe and the story it tells?

Huevos rancheros are a staple in Los Angeles and a dish deeply rooted in Mexican culture. To me, it represents the generations before us who brought their traditions, flavors, and culinary heritage to this city, paving the way for Mexican Americans today. I wanted to honor that history while celebrating a dish that continues to connect people to their roots and to one another.

Every ingredient has a purpose. Were there any specific flavors, family recipes, or cultural influences that helped shape this dish?

Ingredients like warm tortillas, molcajete-style salsa, and cheese bring me right back to my childhood. These are familiar flavors that carry so many memories of my parents and the meals we shared as a family. They represent comfort, warmth, and love. Incorporating these elements into the dish allowed me to share a little piece of my personal story and the food that helped shape who I am as a chef.

This collaboration brought together chefs, team members, and a community-focused organization. What was it like working alongside the team to bring the concept to life?

Seeing the dish recognized and become such a popular item throughout the month has brought me a lot of joy. It was rewarding to work alongside the team to bring this concept to life and share a recipe that means so much to me personally. Knowing that guests are enjoying something connected to my heritage and my childhood makes the experience even more meaningful.

Hospitality is about caring for people, both in front of and behind the scenes. Why was it important for you to support a cause like No Us Without You LA through your cooking?

It was important to me to support No Us Without You LA because their mission connects directly to the community that makes Los Angeles what it is. Through this dish, I wanted to share with our local community, as well as guests visiting from around the world, that 1 Hotels holds the people and culture of Los Angeles close to its heart. Food is one of the most powerful ways to show appreciation, create connection, and give back, and I’m proud to be part of an initiative that uses hospitality to support those who make our community stronger.

Chef Hugo Perez's Recipe for Ranchero Salsa

6 ripe Roma tomatoes
2 serrano chiles (adjust to taste)
2 garlic cloves, unpeeled
¼ white onion
¼ cup fresh cilantro
Salt, to taste
1–2 tsp neutral oil, if needed
1. Roast the salsa ingredients

Heat a cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add the tomatoes, serranos, garlic, and onion. Char them on all sides until softened and blistered, about 10–15 minutes. The char adds the deep, smoky flavor that makes this salsa taste homemade.