Latest news with #Gruel
Los Angeles Times
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Celebrity chef appointed to Huntington Beach City Council after police clear council chambers
A chef was appointed to the Huntington Beach City Council Tuesday night, after things reached a boiling point in the pot the council chambers has become. Celebrity chef Andrew Gruel was unanimously appointed to a seat on the council, taking the seat vacated by Tony Strickland after he won the special election to represent state Senate District 36. Gruel was sworn in by council member Gracey Van Der Mark. In his comments after taking his seat, he called Huntington Beach the greatest city in the nation. 'Everything that we do here is obviously emblematic of a movement to be able to focus on local politics, but also represent true American values, family freedom, etc.,' said Gruel, 44. 'A lot of people probably look at my position and say, what the heck does a chef know about all that stuff?' He explained that cutting waste is inherent to chefs. 'That's what I do.' The two-hour meeting did not lack for drama, with police taking the rare step of completely clearing council chambers after escorting out residents on both sides of the political divide for disrupting the meeting. No one was arrested. Mayor Pat Burns called two five-minute recesses before the third recess, in which police cleared the council chambers. Only Gruel's family and media members were allowed to stay. Some members of the audience chanted 'No more MAGA!' as they left the chambers. They held up black-and-white signs, reading 'Tell the Truth' on one side and 'Listen to Us' on the other. The council brought back out the bust of President Donald Trump for the meeting, seating it on the edge of the dais in front of the seat of Mayor Pro Tem Casey McKeon, who was absent. Resident Emily Sharp mentioned the Trump bust during her comments and accused the council of wanting to be part of the 'media circuit.' 'It's clear that you guys don't really give a [expletive] about us,' Sharp said, not the only one to use profanity during her comments. Burns responded. 'Please don't do that again, OK?' he said. 'That's disturbing, that's not in proper decorum. I'll mute you again if you start saying that again.' Some public speakers asked the council to hold a special election to fill Strickland's seat rather than appoint someone, although the city charter gives the council the power to appoint. The last time there was a vacancy, the council appointed Rhonda Bolton in 2021 to replace Tito Ortiz. At the time, conservatives sought either a special election or the appointing of Van Der Mark, who was the first runner-up in the 2020 election. Gruel's new seat is up for reelection in 2026. According to the meeting agenda, Gruel was one of three candidates who council members had suggested to City Manager Travis Hopkins for the open seat, along with Valentina Bankhead and Planning Commissioner Ken Babineau. Bankhead and Babineau both made public comments Tuesday night during which they asked that they be removed from consideration. Gruel was mentioned publicly as a strong choice by former city attorney Michael Gates at his going-away party at the Huntington Club on March 1, with Gates inviting Gruel to join him and the council members. Gruel, who opened his first restaurant in Huntington Beach in 2011, has four children with his wife Lauren. He has been known for his philanthropy. He offered up his restaurant in Sunset Beach as a hub during the Southern California fires earlier this year and delivered supplies. During the pandemic, the then-Slapfish owner started a fund to aid restaurant workers. Gruel also has a large following on social media and sometimes appears on Fox News. He has been largely critical of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. He said he appreciated the passion and charisma from the residents, calling it inspiring and saying he talks to hundreds of restaurant guests every day to hear what they're passionate about. 'We hear about the high level, really media-friendly topics that get everybody worked up,' he said. 'But at the end of the day, a really great city like Huntington Beach is, it comes down to, is the drinking water clean? Did your car get broken into when you went out to your car this morning? Are there potholes in the street? Are the parks safe? Do the kids have a place to play? Are the schools fun?' In an interview after the meeting, he reiterated that working on fundamental topics like those was what excited him about his new role. 'If anyone wants to go through all of my stuff, you'll probably never hear me utter the four letters,' Gruel said, a reference to 'MAGA.' 'Chris Kluwe said something tonight [during public comments] about transparency. I'm really looking at this as I'm representative of the entire city. If anybody wants to know how I distill people's opinions into actionable policy, or whatever you want to call it, I have nothing to hide. I'm a registered Libertarian. I'm very unique.'
Fox News
07-03-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Food fight about butter? Study says subbing in plant-based oils could reduce risk of death
A greater consumption of butter has been linked to increased mortality rates – and replacing it with certain plant-based oils may help reduce the risk of death, according to a new study. The study, published on Thursday in JAMA Internal Medicine, revealed that "substituting butter with plant-based oils, particularly olive, soybean and canola oils, may confer substantial benefits for preventing premature deaths." Researchers analyzed the data of over 200,000 adults over a long period of time and found that replacing butter with plant-based oils was associated with an estimated 17% reduction in total mortality and cancer mortality, according to the study. Using data collected from three cohort studies spanning 33 years, researchers assessed diets from "food frequency questionnaires" done every four years. "Women and men who were free of cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes or neurodegenerative disease at baseline were included," according to the cohort study. The study was done by the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston along with other Boston institutions. The Department of Public Health at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark also took part. Total mortality was the primary outcome, and mortality due to cancer and CVD were secondary outcomes, the study said. "Deaths were identified through systematic searches of state vital records and the National Death Index, supplemented by reports from next of kin and postal authorities," the study noted. "Using these methods, we achieved more than 98% completeness in mortality follow-up for the cohorts." Lauren Manaker, a registered dietitian in South Carolina, told Fox News Digital she's not surprised by the study results. "We are already aware that consuming excessive amounts of saturated fats is not something that supports our health – and butter is a source of saturated fat," said Manaker, who was not involved in the new research. But chef Andrew Gruel, who owns the American Gravy restaurant group in California, recently told Fox News Digital that he believes butter is better than it's perceived. "The idea that butter is inherently bad for you comes from outdated dietary advice rooted in the mid-20th century push against saturated fats," Gruel said. Butter, once "demonized because it is high in saturated fat, which was thought to increase cholesterol levels and directly lead to heart disease," Gruel said, "isn't the villain it was once made out to be." He said that "studies, like those reviewed in a 2014 meta-analysis published in Annals of Internal Medicine, found no clear evidence that higher saturated fat increases the risk of heart disease when you account for the overall diet." Gruel added, "Butter's saturated fat – about 7 grams per tablespoon – does raise LDL ('bad') cholesterol, but it also raises HDL ('good') cholesterol, which can offset some of the risk. Plus, not all LDL is created equal." He said, "Butter increases the more significant, less harmful LDL particles than small, dense ones tied to artery clogging." Dr. Walter C. Willett, a medical doctor and professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, said it's a mistake to think that butter is better than conventional cooking oils. "If you want to have a heart attack, that's the right step to take," Willett, who co-authored the new study, told Fox News Digital. Willett also said the idea that seed oils are bad "is a complete myth." "There's no evidence to support that," he said. Willett pointed out that it's worth noting the new study doesn't mean "somebody should never use butter." "What we're really talking about is what people do on a daily basis," he said. Manaker agreed with that. "This doesn't mean that you have to avoid butter like it's poison," she said.
Fox News
05-03-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Chef says 'horrible stomach problems' led him on MAHA journey
A California chef said "horrible stomach problems" led him to change his diet, find the kitchen and embrace the Make America Healthy Again movement. American Gravy restaurant group owner Andrew Gruel appeared on Saturday's episode of "My View with Lara Trump" to speak about his MAHA journey, sharing a few tips on how to prepare healthy meals and what he thinks needs to change in the food industry. (See the video at the top of this article.) Gruel expanded on those thoughts with Fox News Digital, revealing how he developed stomach issues in his late teenage years that got so bad he "either had to stay in a classroom or an area effectively near a bathroom." "Funny enough, that's what got me into the kitchen," Gruel told Fox News Digital. "I didn't have to go anywhere. I ultimately dropped out of college and just kept working in restaurants. They were my place of safety." Then, 10 to 15 years later, Gruel said, he "started cutting out" all processed foods and seed oils from his diet. "I was healed," he said. "I mean, after medicine and pharmaceuticals and all these different drugs they were trying to put me on, it just never went away. I lived with it. I managed it. Changing my diet ultimately fixed that and changed it altogether." That's when, Gruel said, he started to "believe in the power of MAHA." He told Lara Trump on her show that making healthy meals at home is "pretty easy." He demonstrated that by showing viewers how to prepare fresh scallops with an arugula and green apple salad. During the segment, Trump asked Gruel what he hopes will change with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of Health and Human Services, leading the charge in President Donald Trump's second term. Gruel said he'd like to see the deregulation of the restaurant industry's food supply chain. That would allow, he said, for direct access between restaurants and small farmers and independent fishermen who are "creating all those amazing products that, for some reason, we're shipping overseas, and then we're importing products." "It's very difficult for small- and medium-sized farmers to get their food to restaurants and distributors," Gruel told Fox News Digital. For one thing, he said, there are a limited number of processors and packers within the industry. "We need to break down the consolidation at the top." "This means there's almost a cartel at the top of the food chain that buys all of the products from these small farmers, repackages them, processes them and then sells them to the big distributors," Gruel said. "If the small farmers could bypass the big packers and more easily sell to small- and mid-sized distributors, healthy food would get to the restaurants and wholesale distributors much easier." Gruel said this can be achieved "by making it easier for these businesses to obtain permits, licensing and regulations to cross state lines with their products." He believes that if the infrastructure was expanded to smaller distributors, "we will see a lot healthier food at the right price entering the food service sector." "We need to break down the consolidation at the top." The National Restaurant Association declined to comment on the subject.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New study reveals blue state's fast-food minimum wage hike jeopardized thousands of jobs
Fast-food job losses in California spiked after passage of the $20 minimum wage for some workers, according to a new study. A Berkeley Research Group study discovered not only were there 10,700 jobs lost between June 2023 and June 2024 in the sector, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. But prices at the establishments soared by 14.5% after the new minimum wage became law. "California fast food restaurants also increased automation and technology adoption to offset rising labor costs," the study released Feb. 18 stated. "Therefore, it should not be surprising that the number of employees per restaurant is declining. Blue City Mayor Embraces Government Efficiency In New Memo To City Employees "Californians are bearing the cost of the minimum wage increase through fewer available jobs and higher food cost," it added. The study also debunked notions that the minimum-wage legislation created jobs, according to the California Globe. Read On The Fox News App The study noted that the authors were "retained" by Save Local Restaurants but said the research was conducted independently. Chef Andrew Gruel, a California-based restaurateur, told Fox News Digital he saw early on that there could be negative consequences for the service industry. "I railed about this months ago," he said, adding that while the early economic effects were being touted, he suggested there would be losses. Martina Navratilova Takes Shot At Gavin Newsom Over California's Trans-athlete Policy Gruel also offered advice to businesses struggling to keep up with the minimum wage requirement. "Cut your menu size, outsource a lot of kitchen labor and utilize AI for back office management," Gruel said. Social Media Blasts 'Gaslighting' Gavin Newsom After He Announces New Podcast The minimum wage for workers was $16 before the $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers became law in April 2024. Gov. Gavin Newsom said in September 2023 the increase would help workers earn more as the cost-of-living rises. "Fast food workers in CA will now be paid the highest minimum wage of any state in the country. I just signed a bill that will ensure these workers receive the fair pay they deserve," he tweeted at the time. However, the report also cautioned that it may also result in people getting paid less overall and "accelerate automation." "If large enough, the combination of job eliminations and reductions could leave workers earning less income as a result of (the) $20 minimum wage," the report stated. "For example, even if no jobs are eliminated (a dubious assumption given the BLS data discussed above), a 20% reduction in hours worked with no overtime increases would erase the financial gains from the 25% hourly wage increase, leaving workers with the same or even less total income," it continued. The California Fast Food Council may consider increasing the minimum wage to $20.70, according to Restaurant Business article source: New study reveals blue state's fast-food minimum wage hike jeopardized thousands of jobs
Fox News
28-02-2025
- Business
- Fox News
New study reveals blue state's fast-food minimum wage hike jeopardized thousands of jobs
Fast-food job losses in California spiked after passage of the $20 minimum wage for some workers, according to a new study. A Berkeley Research Group study discovered not only were there 10,700 jobs lost between June 2023 and June 2024 in the sector, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. But prices at the establishments soared by 14.5% after the new minimum wage became law. "California fast food restaurants also increased automation and technology adoption to offset rising labor costs," the study released Feb. 18 stated. "Therefore, it should not be surprising that the number of employees per restaurant is declining. "Californians are bearing the cost of the minimum wage increase through fewer available jobs and higher food cost," it added. The study also debunked notions that the minimum-wage legislation created jobs, according to the California Globe. The study noted that the authors were "retained" by Save Local Restaurants but said the research was conducted independently. Chef Andrew Gruel, a California-based restaurateur, told Fox News Digital he saw early on that there could be negative consequences for the service industry. "I railed about this months ago," he said, adding that while the early economic effects were being touted, he suggested there would be losses. Gruel also offered advice to businesses struggling to keep up with the minimum wage requirement. "Cut your menu size, outsource a lot of kitchen labor and utilize AI for back office management," Gruel said. The minimum wage for workers was $16 before the $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers became law in April 2024. Gov. Gavin Newsom said in September 2023 the increase would help workers earn more as the cost-of-living rises. "Fast food workers in CA will now be paid the highest minimum wage of any state in the country. I just signed a bill that will ensure these workers receive the fair pay they deserve," he tweeted at the time. However, the report also cautioned that it may also result in people getting paid less overall and "accelerate automation." "If large enough, the combination of job eliminations and reductions could leave workers earning less income as a result of (the) $20 minimum wage," the report stated. "For example, even if no jobs are eliminated (a dubious assumption given the BLS data discussed above), a 20% reduction in hours worked with no overtime increases would erase the financial gains from the 25% hourly wage increase, leaving workers with the same or even less total income," it continued. The California Fast Food Council may consider increasing the minimum wage to $20.70, according to Restaurant Business Magazine.
