Growing up watching cooking shows, L.A.-based Gaby Dalkin decided to pursue her passion beyond the pastime. After completing culinary school, she now runs her own cooking website and has authored over four cookbooks on balanced eating— with her fifth, What’s Gaby Cooking: Grilling, coming out this May. With a love of eating well and feeling great, Dalkin has mastered various cooking styles and, over time, has amassed a plethora of grilling tips and tricks. Here, we learn more about the girl... and the grill.
PHOTO BY MATT ARMENDARIZ
I really don’t believe in any type of restriction. Rather, I listen to my body, and if I eat something that doesn’t sit well, I make notes.
With 100 recipes to cover every part of the meal, there will be super-quick, high-heat recipes to get dinner on the table ASAP and more low and slow “project” recipes, the best steak recipe you’ll ever make, grilled pizzas to wow your dinner party guests, various grilled desserts and everything in between.
1: Size doesn’t matter. 2: These are the essentials: tongs, a digital thermometer, a grill scraper, oven mitts, a grilling spatula and basket, a cast iron skillet, a plancha/flat top and a pizza stone. 3: Season your grill to prevent sticking.
Shop local! We live in California and have access to some of the best produce in the entire world. Make sure your plate is colorful and has a mixture of vegetables, protein and fats! Then you’re in business.
Here, Dalkin let us in on a few of her favorites...
BREAKFAST: Breakfast tacos with eggs, cheese, salsa and avocado
KITCHEN ESSENTIALS: Lemons and salt, always and forever
FAVORITE DISH: Chicken parmesan
INGREDIENT: Avocados
FAVORITE THING TO COOK: Anything that doesn’t make a huge mess
HARDEST RECIPE TO MASTER: Homemade pizza!
BEST COOKING ADVICE: Start small and work your way up to larger format events!
GO-TO MEAL ON THE GRILL: Hanger steak
CURRENTLY WATCHING: Drive to Survive
CURRENTLY LISTENING TO: Podcasts— specifically Heather McMahan and Jackie Schimmel
FAVORITE FOLLOW: Currently obsessed with all things F1, so their corporate account brings me much joy
INSPIRATION: California
UNIFORM: Jeans, a cute T-shirt and a pair of sneakers
GO-TO SNACK: A piece of cheese and crackers if I’m running out the door, or hummus and veg if I’m at home
NEMESIS: Yellow mustard
DINNER: Taco night with all the guacamole
WORKOUT: I go to Rise Movement for personal training. Best trainers in L.A.
WEAKNESS: Chocolate chip cookies
ESCAPE: Santa Ynez
LAST MEAL ON EARTH: Lasagna from Don Angie’s in NYC or a carne asada super burrito from Don Antonio’s here in L.A.
PET: One very bitchy cat named Stella
PHILANTHROPY: All my money goes to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya.
MANTRA: Never hurts to ask
SOULMATE: My husband!
COCKTAIL: Skinny margaritas
FAVORITE L.A. RESTAURANT: Hands down, Don Antonio’s on Pico
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