Ever wondered what’s in Beth Dutton’s smoothie? This ‘Yellowstone’ cookbook dishes it out

Chef Gabriel “Gator” Guilbeau still remembers the call that told him he got the job to feed the cast and crew on the Montana set of Paramount’s modern western drama “Yellowstone.”

The show’s production was having a hard time finding someone who could cook in such harsh outdoor conditions. Guilbeau, who’s had a decade of experience feeding showbiz folks on the road, is never one to back away from a challenge. He dropped everything, packed up his stuff and headed for Montana.

“Went up there without a clue of what I was fixing to get into,” he said. “All I knew is that they told me that there was a very hungry cowboy there and his name was Taylor [Sheridan].”

Five seasons later and Guilbeau’s “Yellowstone: The Official Dutton Ranch Family Cookbook” hits shelves on Sept. 12.

Nearly every one of the over 55 recipes featured in the book have been served to the “Yellowstone” cast and crew countless times, Guilbeau said. And in some cases the dishes were actually served to the Dutton family onscreen by Guilbeau himself, who appears occasionally on the show as the aptly titled character “Gator,” chef to the famous on-screen ranching family.

The cookbook recipes were crafted to hearken back to homestyle cuisine that many people grew up with, including the fictitious Dutton family, Guilbeau said. People won’t need any outlandish ingredients or kitchen equipment, just the basics.

“I’m not the world’s greatest chef and I don’t expect you guys to be either,” Guilbeau told the Star-Telegram. “I wouldn’t put anything in this recipe that I couldn’t make.”

Feeding showbiz folks is a family business for Guilbeau

Guilbeau’s start in the culinary world is a familial one. Born in California, he was raised in and around Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Both of his parents worked in the film and television industry when he was growing up. His father worked in craft services, which is to say he fed the cast and crew on set. Funny thing was his parents were adamant that he not pursue their line of work.

“Thank God I was always poor at taking instructions,” Guilbeau said.

After bouncing from job to job as a young adult, Guilbeau decided to help his dad on a small production in Louisiana.

Guilbeau admits that the job was “awful, and cold, and wet, and we worked long hours and I made hardly any money.” But the work spoke to him.

It allowed him to travel and cook in strange places, all the while interacting with creative people. So for the next few years, Guilbeau put in the work — soon becoming a burgeoning culinary talent himself.

Guilbeau has been feeding the cast and crew on movie and television productions for more than a dozen years. The projects include “Jurassic World,” “Terminator Genisys” and “The Maze Runner.”

“The work always came first,” he said. “And then bonus, you get to eat real good food tonight.”

Guilbeau crafted a cookbook on memory

Throughout his career, Guilbeau always thought about putting together a cookbook.

It wasn’t until the “Yellowstone” marketing team told Guilbeau that they had plans to craft a cookbook based on the show’s culinary offerings that finally got things moving. The team then asked Guilbeau if he wanted to author the cookbook given his ties to the show.

“Don’t you think it would be weird if I didn’t author the cookbook?” he asked.

Crafting the cookbook was challenging for Guilbeau because most of his recipes are based solely on memory.

He’s been cooking the food for years and was able to touch, taste and smell the food. Now having to put pen to paper on measurements and times was completely different, Guilbeau said.

From dinner to dessert recipes, with some even bearing the name of “Yellowstone” characters — there’s “Rip’s Fry Bread with Scrambled Eggs and Bacon” and “Beth’s Two Scoops of Ice Cream, Three Shots of Vodka smoothie” — the book slowly came together.

Tucked away in the back are a few cocktail recipes inspired by characters on the show..

“I recommend working backwards [in the cookbook],” Guilbeau said. “That’s how we always do it on ‘Yellowstone’.”

Guilbeau is already working on his next cookbook

The response to the cookbook has been overwhelming for Guilbeau.

He’ll be in Dallas on Sept. 13 for a book signing, where he hopes to meet plenty of “Yellowstone” fans. Guilbeau is also busy preparing future cookbooks, some “Yellowstone” related and some not.

As for when he’ll head back to Montana to cook for the “Yellowstone” crew again, that’s up in the air.

Hollywood is in the middle of a Writer’s Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes. Both guilds are pushing for more equitable contracts, with the main focus on residuals and the the use of artificial intelligence in projects.

Guilbeau hopes things will be resolved soon so everyone can get back to work, including himself.

“I mean, I like vacations as much as the next cat, but it’s not as fun when they’re forced,” he said.