Inspiration can come from anywhere, yes, even from dreams. A talented Huston chef, Alex Padilla fell asleep on his flight home in 2011 and had a dream about eating a burger with fajitas. Intrigued by the concept, he decided to experiment with it as he got home and the result was a one-of-a-kind burger that remains a top seller in Ninfa’s restaurant.

The Famous Fajita Burger

The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation is a staple in Houston and both the natives and visitors go there to indulge in amazing Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisine. The, now famous, fajita burger was placed on the menu in 2011 and is still a very popular dish. Inside of a ground fajita patty is smoky, grilled, and chopped outside skirt meat. With these two textures combined, the patty is seasoned with salt and pepper. It’s topped with two kinds of cheese – queso Oaxaca and Monterey Jack. The burger is finished with grilled red onion rings, avocado wedges, and chopped poblanos. The bun is dressed with chipotle mayo and the dish comes with sides of black-pepper ketchup and pickled carrots.

The Inspiration

It’s surprising that a dish so well put-together was conceptualized in a dream! As he skipped lunch trying to catch his flight back to Houston from Los Angeles, chef Alex Padilla dozed off on the flight, which is when this dream and the innovative idea came to him. After some experimentation in Ninfa’s kitchen, he came up with this remarkable burger that remains a popular item on their menu even after 9 years. Padilla received a prize for this dish at a New York City competition and the burger was praised by Alison Cook of the Houston Chronicle. The menu of this classic restaurant continues to impress diners with a rotating series of specials and innovative dishes thought up by the talented chef Padilla.

Just when you think there are enough food-related competition shows out there, it turns out there was one you had been missing all along. Fox and Gordon Ramsay are once again heading to the kitchen for a brand new TV show called Next Level Chef. The famed chef with a well-known abrasive personality and near-unattainable drive for perfection promises a truly next-level competition and excitement both for viewers and participants.

Gordon Ramsay Will Serve as Jury and Mentor

Gordon won’t be alone in the upcoming show. He will be joined by Gino D’Acampo and Nyesha Arrington, who will all serve as judges and mentors. Each chef will recruit a group of chefs, which they will have to mentor and help to reach the finals. The winner will walk away with the tempting prize of $250,000.

Next Level Chef: The Format

Fox officials say that the new television show will have a unique format that only a brilliant culinary mind like Gordon Ramsay can come up with. The set of Next Level Chef will have a multi-level culinary area where each floor will be stocked with equipment and ingredients different from the other levels. Ramsay himself shared his excitement about the new project saying that “it’s big and bold,” and it will allow viewers to witness the next evolution of cooking competitions.

Competitors will be divided into three groups which Ramsay, D’Acampo, and Arrington will head and mentor. The participants will include home cooks, social media influencers, as well as restaurant and food truck owners. That way professionals, semi-professionals, and amateurs will get to show off their skills and experience in the kitchen.

If Gordon Ramsay’s previous shows like Hell’s Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares have taught us anything, it is that he will be brutally blunt and demanding toward competitors and incredibly entertaining to watch as a viewer.