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Lights, camera, eat

Gabriel Guilbeau’s cookbook shares recipes inspired by the show Yellowstone

by DAN JONES

As his title might suggest, cooking is not a problem for chef Gabriel “Gator” Guilbeau. But two other recent additions to his résumé— actor and author—proved equal parts challenging and rewarding.

The 32-year-old Costco member was hand-picked to cook and lead craft services for the television hit Yellowstone since filming began in 2017. No sweat there, as he’s been in kitchens since he was a teenager. But Guilbeau found himself in a whole new ballgame when his real-life role developed into a minor character as a cook in the modern-day Western series, which portrays the saga of the Dutton family and the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. “It was unexpected and terrifying at first,” he says of his initial reaction to acting.

An equally formidable test for Guilbeau was squeezing out recipes he’s been storing in his head to create Yellowstone: The Official Dutton Ranch Family Cookbook. But after many requests from friends, family and fans for him to share his culinary creations, Guilbeau says he knew it was time to write.

“For me it was super hard,” he recalls. “Because for the better part of my life I just wasn’t a recipe guy. I cooked by feel and by sense. It was a big change for me to actually put pen to paper.”

The book features Guilbeau’s Western-style “cowboy” cuisine, with recipes that include Kickin’ Chicken Tenders with Pickled Jalapeño Sauce, Glazed Venison Meatballs, Golden Squash Casserole and Sweet Potato Bourbon Pie. The recipes reflect foods Guilbeau is known for, meals he’s made for the cast and crew, and even dishes featured in the series.

With three generations of Louisiana chefs in his lineage, Guilbeau honed his craft growing up in Los Angeles, and eventually built a reputation in Hollywood as a go-to for food. And though he’s done more than just cooking since receiving a call from a Yellowstone spokesperson asking for his immediate services, Guilbeau says making people happy with his food brings him the greatest joy.

“Seeing people truly enjoy a dish I made,” he says. “That’s everything to me.”

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