Very best day in Austin with Tim Laielli
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Tim Laielli at work. Photo: Claire Mulkey
We caught up recently with Tim Laielli, an Instagram influencer, to describe his ideal Austin day.
State of play: Born in New Jersey and raised in the Midwest, Laielli and his wife moved to Austin in 2020 when she took a job as an attorney at Vinson and Elkins.
- He had been working as a professional photographer and making videos of his food preparations for his family, including two daughters now ages 13 and 16.
- He's now up to 1.2 million followers on Instagram, where he makes short, absorbing cooking videos and earns sponsorship through partnerships with Austin brands like Made In.
- This year he was a contestant on the cooking show "Next Level Chef."
What he's saying: We asked Laielli, who lives near Circle C, to describe his very best Austin day.
This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Tell us about your morning routine:
"I wake up at 6:30, throw on some coffee and start packing lunches for my daughters. They're all gone by 8, and then I get in a workout — ideally, a long bike ride through Austin."
Are you kitted out or do you wear regular clothes?
"If you dress like a normal person, people think you got a DUI and can't drive. No, I throw on my kit. I might go up Southwest Parkway, and through Westlake and Rollingwood, for two to three hours. I might hit a farmers market or lunch for myself. I like the Cabo Bob's in Sunset Valley."
What are you getting?
"Their chicken is better than every other protein, it's like they're using a smoker — the flavor they get is crazy. Always with poblano, always with grilled onions. The sauce for me is lime juice."
Then you're working?
"I'll film from 11 to 2. That's what everyone will get for dinner. And then I take a nap from 2 to 3."
What's next?
"I start my day all over again, with coffee around 3pm. I'm a big fan of Texas Coffee Works and Austin Roasting Company. And in the afternoon and evening I go into full-blown dad mode. Our older daughter is into soccer, my younger daughter into competitive dance, so our evenings I'm basically running the kids around."
What do you do to unwind?
"We'll go on evening walks or do yoga. Right now we're watching "Worst Ex Ever." We'll get to bed by 11:30."