Pandemic Pressures: The Restaurant Struggle

Chef Andrew Gruel, a graduate of Johnson & Wales University, is a food entrepreneur and media personality. He is the CEO and founder of American Gravy Restaurant Group, which includes Calico Fishhouse, Big Parm Pizza, Two Birds Chicken, Butterleaf, Lolo’s Tacos, and 101 Burger. Previously, he founded Slapfish Restaurant Group, an award-winning food truck-turned-international restaurant chain with 27 locations, based in Huntington Beach, CA. Andrew has appeared on numerous television series, most recently as a judge on Food Network’s Chopped Junior alongside Meghan Markle. He hosted FYI’s Say It To My Face and was a judge on Food Network’s Food Truck Face Off. His media presence includes appearances on NBC's TODAY, Fox News, CNN, NBC Nightly News, PBS, and the Cooking Channel, as well as features in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Men’s Health, Food & Wine, USA Today, Entrepreneur, and Nation’s Restaurant News. Recognized as a top industry leader, he was named among the Top 25 Business Executives for Fast Casual magazine and featured in Nation’s Restaurant News’ 2017 Power List. In 2013, he was honored as one of Orange County’s Top 40 Under 40 entrepreneurs. During the pandemic, he and his wife Lauren Gruel were named Pandemic Heroes by Restaurant Business Magazine, alongside Guy Fieri and José Andrés. Andrew currently co-hosts The SoCal Restaurant Show on AM 830 and is a regular contributor on various national news channels.