Houston \u2013 Houston foodies, meet Chef Trinidad \u201cMachete\u201d Gonzalez, the self-taught culinary force behind Gordo Ni\u00f1os and a standout on Next Level Chef. Known for his viral Purple Lean Sauce\u2122 and bold Hou-Mex flavors, every week, he takes his Houston hustle all the way to national television.<\/p>\n
Getting 2 Know Chef Machete (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)Chef Machete City of Houston Proclamation (Chef Machete)<\/p>\n
His nickname, \u201cMachete,\u201d comes from a combination of his precision skills and a nod to the popular movie series, reflecting his sharp, fearless approach in the kitchen.<\/p>\n
Born and raised in Galveston, Chef Machete grew up learning from both sides of the kitchen: his mother cooked inside, his father outside. That foundation fueled a lifelong passion for cooking, which he honed while working in a variety of California restaurants and eventually aboard maritime vessels. After eight years at sea, family became his priority, inspiring him to step off the barges and start his own culinary venture. <\/p>\n
Chef Machete volunteering on board maritime vessel (Chef Machete)<\/p>\n
That culinary venture started with selling tacos in front of his father\u2019s mechanic shop for just one dollar! Now, he runs Gordo Ni\u00f1os<\/a> from inside of the Motu Convenience Store in the Clear Lake Area.<\/p>\n Chef Machete selling $1 tacos in front of his dad’s auto shop in Clear Lake (Chef Machete)<\/p>\n Don\u2019t let the location fool you, the restaurant already has a cult following with it\u2019s classic \u201cHou-Mex\u201d fare and over-the-top secret menu.<\/p>\n Chef Machete tells Houston Life\u2019s Derrick Shore and Lauren Kelly that cooking is more than flavor but showing the world who he is. \u201cRight now, I just want people to take away the real me,\u201d he says. And with 10 years of experience and a growing following, Houston\u2019s got his back.<\/p>\n We invited Chef into our kitchen, where he walked Derrick and Lauren through a super simple scallop crudo dish using a Mountain Dew Ponzu sauce. But, it was anything but basic. We can\u2019t wait to have Chef back in Studio B!<\/p>\n Getting 2 Know Chef Machete (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n