Our own Chef Andrew Gruel, the menu-maker behind the full-service Calico Fish House (located in the Sunset Beach area of Huntington Beach) provides another timely and informative “Ask the Chef” segment where he responds to listeners’ thoughtful inquiries.

We return to the irritating subject of the ever-increasing swipe fees that restaurateurs are charged on credit card sales. As menu prices necessarily need to increase the mammoth credit card processing entities automatically gain more income without any extra expense. A Catch-22 for the already squeezed hospitality industry. A new settlement agreement with Visa and MasterCard has perhaps marginally reduced these fees somewhat. Chef Andrew questions if this is a really meaningful development.

Andrew Gruel’s Family Cookbook is available with signed copies at his Calico Fish House on Pacific Coast Highway in Sunset Beach.