The San Diego Tourism Authorities Tourism
Accelerator program provides resources
for businesses owned by people of color,
women and veterans,
as well as those in the LGBTQ plus community.
For the second year, they have selected
10 local businesses to assist,
one of which is joining us today.
John Hoglund, the owner of Ortegas,
along with Chef Rojas here
to talk about the program,
how it helped them and we're also getting
a little taste of the cuisine as well.
Good morning to both of you gentlemen.
Thanks for being with us.
Good morning, Evan.
Love the food that you brought this morning.
We are just getting the aromas.
Of Ortega's here in studio want to start
off by you telling us about how this
program has has benefited you guys.
You were saying you applied,
when did you apply and and
what was that process
like applied sometime at the end
of last year again they selected
us the beginning of this year,
I think they had about 60 applicants
and they picked 10 people.
I mean the purpose of the program
obviously to help me boost that
tourism in the area to help get
you guys the funding that you need.
So So what is that money help with?
Yeah. So for people who don't know,
the Tourism Authority
has a $50 million budget.
They're responsible for bringing businesses
into San Diego to fill up hotel rooms,
convention centers with meetings.
And so they selected 10 businesses throughout
the community and I was our business.
Ortegas was one of them that was selected.
And so they provide us with
opportunities for networking, marketing.
They got us this opportunity to
be here this morning.
Let's see what else?
They provide classes for us different
training and they just kind of
help to inspire us to do better
and move our business forward.
Ortega's
has a history not just in San Diego,
but you were saying down in Mexico, right?
So tell us about about Ortega's
story. Yes, Ortega's started the Ortega
family in the 1950s in Porta Nuevo's,
a small lobster village.
It used to be a fishing
village with sports fishing.
So the lobster on hand, right?
Yeah, exactly.
The tourists would come down,
they take them out sport fishing,
and then they'd eventually served it
out of their patio of their house.
And then lobsters to the tourist.
And then 18 years ago,
you guys moved it up here.
18 years ago, we took that
concept here to San Diego.
We're located in Hillcrest,
the corner of 3rd and University. Can't
miss it, right?
Great corner, very busy corner.
So it's a popular place for people to
come enjoy Mexican food in the area.
Chef Rojas. You are the master
of the guac here, right? Yes.
So tell us what goes into your menu items.
I mean, you can First off, if you want,
tell us what we have on here and
then you're going to demonstrate how
to put together that perfect box.
Absolutely,
yes. So we have our chillery in right here.
It's a very traditional Mexican dish.
And then next to the steak and lobster,
our famous turf, and then our
famous port and over lobster,
it looks amazing.
Like I said, it smells great too.
What goes? Is there a secret?
Way to make the perfect wok.
How do you do it?
I mean, you gotta have the, you know,
all the ingredients in here,
The right ingredients.
We have tomato, cilantro,
onions and of course,
the little spice of jalapeno.
There we go. And, you know,
just like the Mexican flag.
I like it. Yeah, I didn't even
realize that. It totally is.
And then you just start throwing in the.
So we have the avocados,
fresh avocados here.
And while he's demonstrating this for us,
tell us you guys have a special
going on this weekend, right?
For Father's Day. We do.
Father's Day is this Sunday
for everyone who has forgotten
or not remember. Yeah, right.
Exactly. The reminder to get
those gifts if you haven't yet, or
take them out. Take dad out
for Porto Nova style lobster.
Or steak and lobster.
We're doing $5 off.
All of our lobster dishes this Sunday,
we're open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
I love it. It looks so good.
Oh, and we Can we try the flan?
You were saying?
Absolutely. Please do it.
This our homemade coconut flan.
It's nice and creamy.
More like a creme brulee.
We only have about 30 seconds left.
But while I try,
I want you to remind people
where they can go to find
out more about you guys. Your website.
Absolutely. It's just all that
ortegas.com is where you could find us.
How's that flying?
It's awesome, right?
It's the best time in San Diego.
That's right. Thank you, Ross.
And then we have homemade
flour tortillas as well.
We make them all in house.
We're going to be trying to
squawk in the commercial break
too. Thank you both
gentlemen for being with us.
San Diego Tourism Authority
providing those resources.
So awesome to see. Thank you, gentlemen.
Thank you, Sir. Thank you.
We're taking a quick break.
We'll be right back after this.
Stay with us. More news,
weather and headlines after this.