Andrew Gruel facts for kids
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Gruel in 2016
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| Born | July 12, 1980 Bridgewater, New Jersey |
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| Cooking style | Seafood, chicken, vegan |
| Education | Bates College Johnson & Wales University |
| Spouse |
Lauren Gruel
(m. 2013) |
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Current restaurant(s)
Big Parm
Two Birds Butterleaf Calico Fish House |
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Andrew Gruel (born July 12, 1980) is an American chef, a person who appears on television, and a politician. He lives in Orange County, California. He was a judge on Food Network's Food Truck Face Off and hosted Say It to My Face! on FYI. Andrew Gruel started Slapfish, a seafood restaurant chain, in 2012. He sold it in 2022. He is also the founder, CEO, and head chef of Calico Fish House, a seafood restaurant in Huntington Beach, California. He became a member of the Huntington Beach City Council on March 18, 2025, when he was chosen to fill an empty spot.
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Early Life and School
Andrew Gruel was born and grew up in Bridgewater, New Jersey. He finished high school at the Pingry School in 1998. He has said that he loved cooking from a young age. He would pretend to be sick to stay home from school and watch cooking shows on TV.
While he was a student at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, he worked in lobster restaurants nearby. He later earned his cooking degree from Johnson & Wales University's College of Culinary Arts.
Career Highlights
Cooking Adventures
Gruel started his cooking career working in fancy restaurants, hotels, and diners in New Jersey. He also worked as a cook at the Ritz Carlton in Boston. In 2009, he moved from the East Coast to California. There, he became the director of Seafood for the Future. This was a non-profit program at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. It focused on helping people choose seafood that is good for the ocean.
When the COVID-19 pandemic caused many restaurants to close, Gruel decided to help. In December 2020, he started a fund to raise money for restaurant workers who had lost their jobs. This fund, called 86 Restaurant Struggle, is a charity that helps struggling and unemployed restaurant employees. In its first three weeks, it raised over $230,000!
Television Appearances
Andrew Gruel first appeared on TV in 2007 on the BBC show The Endless Feast. He was a judge on the Food Channel's Food Truck Face Off and Chopped Junior. He also appeared on shows like Eat St. on the Cooking Channel and Today on NBC.
In 2015, Gruel was a host on the reality TV show Say It To My Face!. He hosted it with Chef Anthony Dispensa. Since 2020, he has often been a guest on different national news programs. He has appeared on shows like Food Paradise, Justice with Judge Jeanine, The Ingraham Angle, Fox & Friends, and Tucker Carlson Tonight. He has also been a guest on NBC Nightly News and Jesse Watters Primetime.
Radio Shows
In 2015, Gruel hosted his own cooking radio show called Cooking with Gruel. He also co-hosts a weekly show called The SoCal Restaurant Show on KLAA. This show started in 2012 and talks about restaurants in Southern California.
Joining the City Council
On March 18, 2025, Andrew Gruel was chosen to join the Huntington Beach City Council. He filled a vacant spot that was previously held by Tony Strickland. Strickland had been elected to the California State Senate.
Personal Life
Andrew Gruel is married to Lauren Gruel. They have four children together.
