Brian Huskey's oceanfront property melds calming waves with casual eats in Corona del Mar. Today's installment focuses on travel, Titan and tennis.
Learn about the chef who said, “No fire, no heat. No heat, no life.” over in part one.
And then find out what he's referring to below.
Tell us something most people don't know about you.
Had a division II tennis scholarship for college to the east coast, but instead attended UCLA.
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Where did you grow up, and what is your cultural background?
Born and raised in Pasadena, California. My cultural background is Korean.
What's your favorite childhood memory?
Playing in the park with my grandmother when she lived with us. Traveling to Korea to see my relatives.
What did you study in school? And what made you change your career path?
Economics. While interning at Merril Lynch every summer in college, and flipping burgers during the school year, I chose becoming the best cook I could possibly be as my career path. Never looked back.
What would you be doing if you weren't in the industry?
Thought about that quite a bit a while back… Easily a fire fighter.
Hardest lesson you've learned:
Can't trust everybody.
When you're not in the restaurant, what are you doing in your free time?
Keep it simple… Relaxing with friends, family, and Titan. Eat at new neighborhood/local spots. Day drinking. Playing tennis. Always looking for new tennis friends. Developing my next concept.
Last song playing on your radio/smart phone:
Pandora Tupac. California Love.
Where was your most recent vacation?
Australia.
Where do you want to travel to next?
South East Asia or Greece.
What did you learn from your experience on Top Chef. Do you keep in touch with any of the cast?
I keep in touch with a few of my cast mates. Especially Shirley, since we're neighbors cooking in OC.
After the Top Chef experience, I'm pretty confident I can handle and execute/cook in any situation. Always have fun while chasing your dream, and never take yourself too seriously. End of day, I'm not a doctor saving lives, a scientist discovering new things, or a solider defending our freedom. I'm just a cook, trying my best every day to execute memorable flavors/dishes. To keep things in perspective, “No fire, no heat. No heat, no life.”
How old is Titan? And what is his personality?
Three. Most gentle, most friendly pit bull ever. Always wants to play.
Do you have any skills that are non-food related? What are they?
Green thumb. Planning on an urban garden at Tackle Box in the future.
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Connecting with like minded people. Friends. As well spending time alone discovering/ exploring/traveling.
Is there anything you'd like readers to know about your restaurant?
Best beach shack in the country. Come check for yourself! Just added 42-inch TV for sports weekend and game day specials. Taco Tuesday from 11 a.m. -4 p.m. Two hour free parking with purchase.
Tackle Box – Local Grub Shack is located at 3029 E Shore Ave, Corona del Mar, (949) 723-0798; www.tackleboxoc.com.
A contributing writer for OC Weekly, Anne Marie freelances for multiple online and print publications, and guest judges for culinary competitions. A Bay Area transplant, she graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Find her on Instagram as brekkiefan.