Andrew Gruel (born July 12, 1980) is an American chef, television personality, and politician based in Orange County, California. He appeared as a judge on Food Network's Food Truck Face Off and as a host of FYI's Say It to My Face!, and is the founder of Slapfish, a seafood restaurant franchise that he launched in 2012 and sold to Mac Haik Enterprises in 2022. He is the founder, CEO and executive chef of Calico Fish House, a casual seafood restaurant in Huntington Beach, California. He has been a member of the Huntington Beach City Council since March 18, 2025, when he was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the council.

Early life and education Gruel was born and raised in Bridgewater, New Jersey,Anthony Clark Carpio, "Slapfish set to jump into bigger pond," Los Angeles Times, January 8, 2014. and graduated from the Pingry School in 1998."School Achievers; Bridgewater", Courier News, July 21, 1999. Accessed November 22, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Andrew Gruel, a freshman at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, was among 21 students who participated in the college's Steel Pan Ensemble spring performance... Gruel is a 1998 graduate of Pingry School and the son of Frederick and Susan Gruel." He said that his affinity towards cooking started at an early age, when he would fake sick to stay home from school and watch cooking shows on public-access television. While attending Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, he worked in lobster restaurants in the area.Bret Thorn, "Slapfish co-founder: 'Let’s make seafood sexy again'," Nation's Restaurant News, July 23, 2014.Susan Adams, "Started As A Food Truck, Slapfish Is Trying To Be The 'Chipotle Of Seafood'," Forbes, October 27, 2016. He received his culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University's College of Culinary Arts.John Walters, "Jack's of New London: Where (almost) everybody knows your name," Kearsarge Magazine, Summer 2007, pp. 73-74.

Career Cooking Gruel began his career working in fine dining restaurants, hotels and diners in New Jersey, as a cook at the Ritz Carlton in BostonNicole Russin-McFarland, "Food Network Featured Andrew Gruel: His Story and How the Slapfish Chain is Set to Conquer the Globe (Minus the 'Austin Powers' Sharks With Laser Beams," The Comeback, December 3, 2014. and at Jack's of New London in New London, New Hampshire. He left the East Coast in 2009 to work as director of Seafood for the Future, a nonprofit program at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California.

After the COVID-19 pandemic forced many restaurants to shut down, Gruel started a fund in December 2020 to raise money for out-of-work restaurant industry employees, raising over $230,000 in the first three weeks. The fund, called 86 Restaurant Struggle, is a nonprofit charity that helps struggling and unemployed restaurant workers.

Television

Gruel's first television appearance was on the BBC show The Endless Feast in 2007. He served as a judge on the Food Channel's Food Truck Face Off and Chopped Junior, and also appeared on Eat St. on the Cooking Channel,Michelle Woo, "Slapfish To Be Featured On The Cooking Channel's Eat Street Tonight," OC Weekly, August 21, 2012. Today on NBC,"Grill up seafood! Surf 'n' turf burgers and shrimp cubano," Today, July 30, 2014. and On the Rocks on the Food Network. In 2015, Gruel starred as a host on season one of the reality television show Say It To My Face!''' along with Chef Anthony Dispensa."Slapfish execs star in reality TV show," Fast Casual, July 15, 2015. Since 2020, he has been a frequent guest on various national news programs.Radio Gruel hosted a culinary radio show called Cooking with Gruel in 2015. He co-hosts the weekly The SoCal Restaurant Show'' on KLAA, which launched in 2012."About the SoCal Restaurant Show," socalrestaurantshow.com. Accessed June 19, 2016.

City council On March 18, 2025, Gruel was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Huntington Beach City Council that was previously held by Tony Strickland, who was elected to the California State Senate.

Television appearances Year Series Network Notes2007 The Endless Feast BBC Guest2012 Eat St. Cooking Channel Guest2013 On the Rocks Food Network Consulting chef2014 Food Truck Face Off Food Network Judge (season 1, 5 episodes) Today NBC Guest2015 Say It To My Face! FYI Host (season 1, 15 episodes)2016 Chopped Junior Food Network Guest (season 3, episode 3)2016-20 Home & Family Hallmark Channel Guest (8 episodes)2020 Food Paradise Food Network Guest The Issue Is Fox Guest Justice with Judge Jeanine Fox News Guest The Ingraham Angle Fox News Guest2020–21 Fox & Friends Fox News Guest (3 episodes)2020–22 Tucker Carlson Tonight Fox News Guest (3 episodes)2021–present The Chris Salcedo Show Newsmax TV Guest Fox & Friends First Fox News Guest Gutfeld Fox Guest often NBC Nightly News NBC Guest 2022 Jesse Watters Primetime Fox News Guest (8 episodes)

Personal life Gruel and his wife Lauren Gruel have four children.

References

External links Official website Gruel for HB City Council