LA-based chef and culinary goddess Gaby Dalkin released her third cookbook, What’s Gaby Cooking: Eat What You Want: 125 Recipes for Real Life and just recently started a food podcast. As self-professed foodies ourselves, we are all about Gaby’s delicious cooking. Gaby’s book reflects her approach to eating with balancing moderation and indulgence, encouraging people to let go of rules and restrictions and enjoy eating without guilt. This is whole-heartedly the philosophy we also commit to.

Her new book is broken into easy-to-navigate sections peppered with Gaby’s relatable anecdotes and cooking tips, including: “The Most Important Meal of the Day” featuring instant breakfast classics such as Avocado Migas and Double Chocolate Chip Muffins; “Eat Your Greens” highlighting salads and vegetable-centric plates such as Raw Corn, Zucchini and Snap Pea Salad; “Soul Mate: Carbs” with carb-forward recipes such as Chipotle Chorizo Mac ‘n’ Cheese and Garlic Kale Pizza; and “Throw an Outdoor Bash” with entertaining ideas such as a Smashed Burger Bar. Sweets including Every Damn Day Chocolate Chip Cookies and Caramel, Marshmallow, Chocolate Chunk Brownies are on display in “If At First You Don’t Succeed, Have Dessert.”

Alongside her book, her blog, WhatsGabyCooking.com, features original recipes and images along with highlights from Gaby's life and travels, as well as a new podcast called What's Gaby Cooking in Quarantine.

What’s Gaby Cooking // WhatsGabyCooking.com

Name:

Gaby Dalkin

Nickname:

Gaby

Profession:

Cookbook author, chef, entrepreneur

Where did you grow up:

Tucson, AZ

Where do you live:

Los Angeles, CA

When you're eating healthy, what is typical...

BREAKFAST: Chocolate Covered Strawberry Smoothie from my new cookbook, Eat What You Want
LUNCH: Avocado Toast
DINNER: Some sort of salad with pasta and vegetables, maybe a piece of fish here and there
SNACK: Castelvetrano olives and/or cherries

What are your favorite spots/restaurants to eat healthy?

I love Mizlala in West Adams! Kismet, Kismet Rotisserie, Freaking All Time, and Dune!

What is your favorite indulgence?

Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies

What are your favorite spots/restaurants to indulge?

Bestia, Bavel, Jon and Vinny’s, Pizzana, Milo and Olive, Home State, Jitlada

What would be your last meal on earth?

A glass of Brunello and a giant piece of lasagna

What is the best dish you cook / your favorite recipe?

My husband would say my chicken parmesan is his favorite thing on earth!! I on the other hand, LOVE my Vegan Kale Caesar salad

Where do you grocery shop?

Eataly, Gelson’s, Trader Joe’s, local CSA’s and the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market

Top 3 items you always have in your kitchen?

1. Lemons
2. Olive Oil
3. Some form of cheese!!

What is your fitness regimen? (how often & what you do)

I work out 5-6 times a week and usually it’s a few sessions with my personal trainer, a few classes at Rise Nation and Pilates by Amanda!

What is your skincare routine? (Products, facials, etc.)

I’m pretty low key with my skin care! I wash my face every night in the shower, use a few different serums and moisturizers before I go to bed and live for an eye mask every morning when I wake up!!

What are your favorite makeup/natural beauty products?

I’m obsessed with the entire Osea line and use that for pretty much everything. And I love the Saie mascara and Super Glowy Gel for my daily makeup if I wear any!

If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 products would you take with you?

1. Skyn Eye Masks
2. Lune and Aster tinted CC cream with SPF
3. SunBum Sunscreen

What professional beauty/health/fitness/spiritual gurus do you swear by?

Geri Hirsch is one of my best friends and my go to for all things beauty and home!!

Most-watched movie?

Harry Potter

Most life-changing book?

Random, but I never loved any book like Kite Runner

Favorite shops/boutiques?

Natalie Martin

Coolest place you've ever visited?

Patagonia!

Favorite hotels?

Londolozi Private Reserve in South Africa + any of the Aman properties. Also LOVE a Rosewood.

What is the best gift you've ever received?

A safari for my birthday with my husband and my parents and sister.

What is the biggest learning experience you've had to face and what did you take away from it?

I learned early on that no one is going to give you anything. If you want something you have to go get it and make it happen yourself. It’s been crucial in me building my business. On another note, I learned that it’s okay to grow apart from friends. If someone isn’t adding joy into your life, it’s okay to move on. That’s been huge for me!

Describe your perfect day.

Vacation with my husband, sister and parents, somewhere adventurous with incredible food and sunshine!

What is your most valuable glow tip/secret?

You wake up every morning and get to choose how you want to live your day. So, I always choose to be happy, bring my own sunshine, and don’t let anything get me down for an extended period of time.