Show 512, February 11, 2023: Chef Andrew Gruel, Co-Host, with “Ask the Chef”

SoCal Restaurant Show

Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behindtherecently launched, full-service Calico Fish House (in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) and also the founder of Big Parm (New Jersey-style pizza) in the Mess Hall in Tustin provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where Chef Andrew responds to listeners thoughtful inquiries.

Plant based-foods at the center of the plate are here to stay but there are genuine concerns about highly processed meat substitutes. Detractors refer to these menu items as fake meat. Can a professional chef create a plant-based dish that tastes great but is also composed of ingredients that are not highly processed? Chef Andrew has past experience perfecting this to please both discriminating vegetarians and omnivores with Butterleaf in Irvine. To satisfy the cravings of his vegetarian guests he even created a burger substitute using unprocessed, fresh ingredients that was popular. We’ll ask the chef.

Chef Andrew and Lauren Gruel have a new fast casual concept, Burger 101, coming soon to the 2-level, Kitchen United complex on the 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica. It’s Chef Andrew’s version of a value-priced, honest burger (and loaded fries) using quality ingredients including a premium burger patty sourced from West Coast Prime Meats. He’ll also launch a casual Mexican concept there, Lolo’s Tacos, specializing in clean and simple tacos, burritos and standout specialty sauces.

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