Featured Food Blogger Friday: What's Gaby Cooking

If you’re ever yearning for a sunny California vacation but don’t have the vacation time or financial resources, all you have to do is read Gaby Dalkin’s blog. You’ll get sunshine, gourmet cooking with a comfortable twist….and probably more than one margarita.

What’s Gaby Cooking is easily one of my favorite blogs and a go-to when I’m cooking for friends or family. I know that whatever I get will be a fresh, simple recipe that’s easy to prepare but impressive enough that I won’t wish I’d ordered out.

I met Gaby at BlogHer Food and worked with her on the National Food Blogger Bake Sale this past April, so I can tell you firsthand that her genuineness is palpable and her cheerful attitude infectious.  Read on for a glimpse into What’s Gaby Cooking.

MC: What prompted you to start a food blog?
GD: I started What’s Gaby Cooking just over 1 1/2 years ago. I hadn’t really known anything about the blog community, but wanted to share my recipes with my friends and family. All of a sudden I started getting comments from strangers who were reading my blog and everything just grew organically from there.

MC: How would you describe your cooking style?
GD: What’s Gaby Cooking is all about home cooking with a gourmet twist. I just recently graduated culinary school and work as a personal chef in Malibu, CA so I love making food that nourishes my clients, friends and family…while adding a bit of a gourmet twist to make my food unique and memorable.

MC: What is your favorite cookbook? Why?
GD: One of my current favorite cookbooks is Relaxed Cooking by Curtis Stone. Not only are his recipes delicious, simple and satisfying… but he is beautiful!

MC:What is the first meal you ever prepared?
GD: Chicken Parmesan. I made it for my whole family one night when I was home sometime during my Freshman year of college and its been my go-to dish ever since.

MC: Where do you get the inspiration for the recipes you create?
GD: Living in Los Angeles I have access to some of the best farmers markets all year round so I get a lot of my inspiration from whatever the farmers have available at any given week. I’ve made friends with a few farmers in particular who always share their tip and tricks on preparing different produce so I love going home with my fresh fruits and veggies and experimenting with their suggestions.

MC: If you could have dinner with one famous/celeb/well-known chef, who would it be?
GD: Susan Feniger. I think she has such a passion for food, life and a sparkling personality. I know we would have a fabulous and fun evening together filled with delicious food a lots of perfectly juiced margaritas!

MC: What is one thing you still want to learn how to do in the kitchen?
GD: I would love to learn how to make really beautiful sushi – like the kind you get at a great sushi spot. I can make ugly sushi – but I really would like it to be tight and perfect like the skilled sushi chefs we all love.

MC: What is one piece of advice that you would offer a brand new blogger?
GD: Get involved! Go to conferences. Participate in different events. Make friends with other food bloggers. I have made some of my best friends through the food blogging world. Its great to spend time with like-minded people who love taking pictures of food, talking about food and eating obscene amounts of food. In my opinion, it’s one of the best parts of having a food blog.