Galley Girl – She's in Your Kitchen

Unless you are a contortionist, or stockholder in Murphy Bed-style ranges that can fold into the wall, one hundred square feet is barely enough room for a wine locker, let alone a restaurant. Le Cordon Bleu, Pasadena-trained chef Pete Stavros and his girlfriend Antoinette are neither, yet they have been thriving in their one hundred square foot restaurant, Peter’s Gourmade Grill for over a year now.

ABC Burger

Is it even legal? Do elbows get in the way? Do tempers flare like fryer grease? I don’t know. Because, like surly teens, it’s nearly impossible to get a hold of them on the phone to ask. But cut them some slack: they don’t have a land line, just a machine that spews out your text order. The other number on the site is Stavros’s cell, and he’s slaving over the grill just now. What I do know is the food and menu are steadily improving and the staff serves the line of customers quickly and efficiently.

Lunch Bunch

The pastrami is popular, but it lacked flavor. Better the ABC Burger with its lacy-edged hand formed Angus beef patty dripping with juices and topped with thick cut bacon, grated cheddar cheese and sweet, spicy pickles chips. It’s served on a  soft, malleable potato bun wrapped neatly in paper.

Gas station hummus.

 Hummus at a Valero station? Yes. Peter’s mom Maria makes the rustic, grainy textured garlic-infused version served with warm pita, little pools of olive oil and Kalamata olives. My other faves are sited in my first post on Peter’s Gourmade Grill categorized under ‘truckstop’. Why truckstop? Help! I’m not sure what else to call this little stand. Suggestions?

Peter’s Gourmade Grill 16851 McFadden Ave. Tustin. 92780 gourmadegrill.com text your order to: 714 273 7922.

Update: Peter’s Gourmade Grill has closed in the Valero gas station and is slated to reopen soon right down the street on the corner of  McFadden and Newport in Tustin. Will keep you posted!