SLAPFISH GOES BRICK & MORTAR IN HUNTINGTON BEACH

Yes, I admit it – I am a Gourmet Food Truck-aholic. I am in awe of these guys & gals who manage to serve high-end restaurant-quality food out of a teeny-tiny kitchen-on-wheels outta’ the side of a truck. I have a hard enough time making toast in the morning and not burning it – so, these chefs’ abilities never cease to amaze me.

I am also a seafood-aholic. So, naturally, one of my all-time favorite Gourmet Food Trucks is the SlapFish Truck. (Some of you may recall a previous blog post I dedicated to them back in November: http://annewatsonphotoblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/farm-to-food-truck-challenge-ii-meet_14.html.) Needless to say, when rumors started flying several months ago that these guys might be ‘Going Brick & Mortar’ (aka, opening up their own non-mobile restaurant) in OC, I was thrilled. This week, the dream is a reality – SlapFish is opening their first location, a fast, casual, sustainable seafood restaurant, in Huntington Beach this Friday, April 20th. Yahoo!

Left: SlapFish Chef / Owner, Andrew Gruel; Right: Serving-up Mouth-Watering Creamy Clam Chowder

On Monday night, I had the special opportunity to attend a ‘VIP Menu Tasting’ at the new location – all I can say is, “WOW.” This is some seriously amazing cuisine. I attended the event with my English husband, author Tim Watson, who grew up on the coast of England… he is a SERIOUS seafood connoisseur. If it’s been swimming &/or attached to a rock in saltwater, my husband will be able to tell you what it is & whether it tastes good or not. So, when even his mind was blown by how delicious everything coming out of the SlapFish kitchen was, I took that as an excellent sign.

Delicious, fresh local Carlsbad Oysters with SlapFish‘s amazing, uber-hot Red Habanero Hot Sauce – My husband, Tim Watson, went nuts for these & said they were some of the best oysters he’s ever tasted in his life.

And, even if you’re not a seafood fanatic, there are still plenty of items to keep you comin’ back for more — They have two non-seafood dishes on the menu: A Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese Sandwich AND a Double-Smoked Bacon and Brie Melt with Mango Mustard. (Mmmm… bacon.) And, their desserts are fantastic — provided by the always-amazing Brooke of Simply Sweet Cakery, her cakes & cookies are to-die-for.

Delicious desserts at SlapFish provided by Brooke of Simply Sweet Cakery.

So, below you can feast your eyes on a small sneak-peek through photos of the SlapFish restaurant menu – prepare to salivate. And, then prepare to attend the SlapFish Grand Opening when they open their doors to the public this Friday, April 20th (19696 Beach Blvd. in the Newland Center).

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