This week, Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish launched a campaign entitled “Summer of Sustainability” which runs for six weeks and features a new item each week. Andrew has always been a leader in using sustainable seafood, first on his gourmet food truck, and now, in his restaurant. We were invited in to try all six items all you seafood lovers will be treated to in the next month and a half. (photo courtesy of Mona Shah-Anderson)
Week One (June 3-June 9) going on right now until Sunday features Wild Pacific Albacore Tuna Melt ($9.50) a richly flavored flaked albacore sandwiched between rustic sourdough filled with spinach, cucumber, tomato, and “awesome sauce”.
Week Two (June 10-June 16) which starts on Monday is a BBQ Yellowtail Banh Mi Sandwich ($9.50) a play on the traditional banh mi with fresh baked Vietnamese baguette, picked radish, cucumber, carrots, jalapeno and spiced yellowtail topped with grill sauce. The flavors are intense and addicting and was one of my favorites of the featured items.
Week Three (June 17-June 23) will appeal to those who love mild white fish. Alaskan Halibut Po Boy ($11) is fried halibut in a toasted roll packed with lettuce, tomato and pickled peppers and the most delicious tabasco aioli to boot. I loved the spicy kick of this creation!
Week Four (June 24-June 30) will have me rolling back to Huntington Beach again for this stunning Crispy White Seabass Taco ($7). I couldn’t believe how light this fried corn shell was. It wasn’t greasy or viscous at all. Light and crunchy, the pickled red onion and cabbage, with the flaky fish drizzled with rooster dressing is absolutely perfect!!
Week Five’s (July 1-July 7) Copper River Salmon Hand Pie is more a pastry than a pie. The salmon, avocado and chiles and rolled in phyllo dough and gently fried and served with a tomatillo sauce on the side. The piquant flavor of the tomatillo marries perfectly with the flaky pie.
I wasn’t able to taste Week Six’s (July 8-July14) Baked Carlsbad Luna Oysters (market price) because of my oyster allergy, but it looked marvelous. Topped with a wild mushroom and bacon stuffing and baked, you can order these to your liking — one, two, four, or a dozen!
You have only a few days left to enjoy the wild albacore tuna melt and this week’s giveaway won’t make it in time for you to go, but I highly recommend you just DO IT! I have a $35 giftcard to Slapfish, entries end on Sunday, winner announced Monday. Leave me a comment and tell me which of these six items you would most like to try. You have to leave your FULL name in order for your entries to be valid. Good Luck!
Slapfish
19696 Beach Blvd
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Tel: 714-964-3900
So hard to decide but in the end it will be the bahn me because of all the different flavors. I won’t take the time to pull them all together at home . Love pickled vegetables and cilantro which I am sure will enhance the fish yummy!
I am looking forward to the oysters and po boy, actually more like every week, as an avid fan of Slapfish since its food truck days I would love to just come each week during this sustainability month to try.
Those oysters have my name written all over them! Everything looks and sounds really good though!
Ooh, it’s a close call between the tuna melt and the oysters!! I’m a fiend for both; I’d have to try them together 😛
-Stephanie Han
you are the winner!
Hooray! Thank you!! 😀
Defintely the Copper River Salmon Hand Pie, sounds amazing!! Carol Sheridan
It has to be the po boy! No other place in Orange County serves a halibut po boy…..I think. That looks like it has potential to become a permanent menu item.
I’ve been meaning to get out there and try their new restaurant. The po boy and seabass tacos both look outstanding!
I’m allergic to shell fish, so this is pretty much out for me. It looks really good though!
but are you allergic to fish? they have lots of wonderful fish items as well
You saved the best for last! The OYSTERS have my name all over them..I assume they are Carlsbad raised and as fresh as can be.
Keith reeves
They all look good, but the yellowtail bahn mi is calling my name. 🙂
I would like to try the banh mi. Looks yum!
the banh mi or the fish taco. love their fish
#1 would have been the albacore melt; I haven’t seen one quite like that. But……#2 would be that wonderful ( drool) PoBoy. Love Halibut and this looks terrific. I live close to HB and will look forward to going there.
They all look absolutely delicious! Great photos…I would love to try each and every one of the items!
The Baked Carlsbad Luna Oysters looks really really goood! That’s the one I’d try!
There’s something fishy about this restaurant… and I think I’ll like it. What’s crazy is my birthday is June 17th and that’s the day they start serving the meal that most intrigues me, the Alaskan Halibut PO Boy. What’s not to want on this bad boy? It looks amazing, I’m sure tastes the same and last year for my 30th Birthday I went to New Orleans for the first time to experience all their culinary greatness. Trying this Po Boy would be a great mix of Birthday nostalgia and discovery of tasty new spot.
umm. fish in a banh mi? helllllo?! that has to be the one to try. random!
That BBQ yellowtail banh mi sure caught my attention!!!
I want to try the Wild Pacific Albacore Tuna Melt: Why, because it looks messy and delicious!!!
I definitely want to try the banh mi. Traditional banh mi sandwiches are my favorite and the only thing that could make it better would be seafood for me. Deirdre Campagna
The crispy white sea bass taco calls to me, and I mean that literally. I can hear it when I close my eyes, a faint COOING sound, beckoning me to crack it’s delicate, crispy shell with my teeth then suck it’s white, flaky fish and rooster dressing down my throat. I don’t understand this connection I have with tacos. I work from home but when I am in my car I unfailingly search Yelp for nearby taco stands and drive several miles out of the way to taste what glorious taco creations this city has to offer. I’ve done it everywhere – Downtown, Monterrey Park, Bell, Compton. You name it. It’s a strange compulsion that controls me, compels me, drives me and enlightens me. Maybe I am related to tacos in some way. Maybe I’m just a hungry sonofabitch. Whatever is the case, that crispy white sea bass taco is calling me. Win this contest or not, I’ll be there, attacking it with my mouth, savoring it with my tongue — and then releasing, freeing myself up for the next great taco, listening for that call…
OMG! That tuna melt looks fantastic…I would for sure get that!!!