About Chef Gruel
Andrew Gruel is an American chef, food entrepreneur, media personality, and now, a politician based in Huntington Beach, California.
A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, Gruel founded Slapfish Restaurant Group, starting as an award-winning food truck in 2012 and expanding to 27 international brick-and-mortar locations before his successful sale and exit in 2022.
He is currently the CEO and founder of American Gravy Restaurant Group, overseeing Calico Fish House (seafood) in Huntington Beach, Big Parm (pizza) in Tustin, Two Birds (chicken) and Butterleaf (plant-based) in Irvine, Lolo’s Tacos, and 101 Burger.
Read MoreHis work has been featured in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Men’s Health, Food & Wine, USA Today, Entrepreneur, and Nation’s Restaurant News. Gruel was named one of the Top 25 Business Executives by Fast Casual magazine, featured in Nation’s Restaurant News’ 2017 Power List, and recognized as a top 40 under 40 entrepreneur in Orange County in 2013. Alongside his wife, Lauren Gruel, he was honored as a Pandemic Hero by Restaurant Business Magazine, joining the ranks of Guy Fieri and José Andrés.
During the Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025, Gruel and his wife transformed their Calico Fish House into a relief hub, coordinating donations of clothing, toiletries, diapers, pet food, and water to support displaced residents and first responders. They provided free meals and parking lot spaces for evacuees, delivered truckloads of supplies to community centers like the Dream Center and Pasadena Convention Center, and cooked meals for firefighters, with support from local volunteers and Huntington Beach’s public works department. Gruel’s efforts were praised by community leaders and highlighted on social media for their impact.
On March 18, 2025, Gruel was unanimously appointed to the Huntington Beach City Council to fill the vacant seat of Tony Strickland, who was elected to the California State Senate, where he will serve through December 2026.
Chef Gruel resides in Huntington Beach with his wife, Lauren, and their four children. He continues to influence the culinary, media, and political landscapes through his restaurants, media presence, philanthropy, and city council role.
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