Yellowstone has captivated a nation starring one of America’s most popular actors Kevin Costner, Hollywood royalty with Cole Hauser, and British actress Kelly Reilly, but one character who has made appearances in Taylor Sheridan’s hit show has connections to Louisiana. Chef Gabriel Guilbeau is better known to the Yellowstone nation as “Gator.”  Although he grew up in southern California, Guilbeau started visiting his grandparents in South Louisiana every summer.

Guilbeau’s dad ran a hotel in Colorado, but his visits to south Louisiana as a kid were, as he calls it, the beginning of his education in cuisine. After making a name for himself on the sets of productions around New Orleans, a late-night call from Sheridan had Gator on the road to meet the Yellowstone cast and crew. He also did the catering on 1883 production, He says he experiments, but when in a pinch, a chicken and sausage gumbo has never disappointed.