Chef Gabriel Silva

The executive chef of Malio’s Prime Steakhouse picks Sho Gud Barbecue

Hot plate: Barbecue ribs

By: Trina Nguyen

Why is this the best BBQ in town?

The ribs are fabulous. [Jay, the owner] cooks at home nightly. The ribs, pork, brisket, everything—he cooks it 10 to 12 hours, brings it early the next morning, and it’s fresh throughout the whole day.

You really know the whole plan… Did you know him before, or how did you find out about it?

I used to work for the Palm restaurant for over 10 years. Jay used to deliver my meat and lobsters, so I’ve been here from the beginning.

How did you get into culinary?

I started cooking with my father when I was very young. He’s actually passed away now, but the reason I start cooking was because of him… making marinara, making sauces, gravies, everything from scratch. He’d say, ‘Hey you need to learn how to cook. If you want to get a good woman, you need to learn how to cook.’

What’s your guilty food pleasure?

Pork… I have to have pork, I have to have BBQ, and here we are! It all comes back to cooking your own food—I love it, eat it, and I enjoy people that are involved with the food because food is a form of life.

We are what we eat…

Exactly, and we all try to help each other out, so to speak. I go to “mom and pop” establishments, independents, family-owned… and that’s why I work for Malio’s.

How did you get involved with Malio’s?

It just came to be. They’re a prime steak establishment and I wanted to bring [that] cuisine there. It’s a great, Italian restaurant… family-owned and operated. I want to help the family at Malio’s. It’s all about family.

What’s a dish I have to try there?

The bison… we have a Bison Tomahawk. It is 28 ounces.

If you could cook a meal for anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?

Eddie Vedder – Pearl Jam (shows tattoo of Pearl Jam logo in red ink on left bicep).

Ok, if you weren’t cooking, what would you be doing?

Surfing. When I lived in South Florida, I was a surfer all the way. I love it, I surfed Hurricane Andrew, 10-foot waves, 12-foot waves, I almost died- my cousin pulled me out. I was down 3 or 4 minutes, I could’ve been dead. He pulled me out.

Sho Gud is located at 506 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL 33609. For more information, call (813) 876-7625.