Mike Hale, aka The Grub Hunter, spent 26 years as a professional journalist, the last 12 with the Monterey Herald in Monterey, Calif. Today he is a blogger, food writer and restaurant reviewer. He lives in Monterey with his wife Melissa and their unusually portly orange tabby Sopa.

Mike’s articles have been published in dozens of national newspapers and magazines. He has appeared as a judge on Food Network’s “Throwdown” with Bobby Flay and was a guest on KGO-AM’s “Dining Around with Gene Burns.”

Aside from cooking and eating, Mike enjoys travel, especially to small villages throughout the Pacific coast of Mexico. Write to him at grubhunter@comcast.net.

Mike Hale announces Phil DiGirolamo of Phil's Fish Market in Moss Landing as the winner of "Throwdown" with Bobby Flay.