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Have you ever cracked open a tin of cat food and thought; ‘I wonder what it tastes like?’ OK, this might just be my crazy cat lady era kicking in, but when an invitation landed in my inbox to experience dining through my cat’s eyes, you didn't need to ask me twice.
Anyone who knows me knows I’m utterly obsessed with my kitten, Lord Herbert Johns (Herbie for short). He’s my one true love, my pride and joy, my son and frankly, the only man in my life whose dinner I care more about than my own. So when the opportunity arose to preview a 12-course degustation inspired by Fancy Feast’s new Gems range, you can imagine my intrigue.
Enter NEL Restaurant, the wildly inventive Sydney dining destination helmed by culinary innovator Chef Nelly Robinson, where the usual rules of dining are very much open to interpretation. And on this particular evening, table manners were officially off the menu.
Our first course, The Golden Paw, arrived looking as though a cat’s paw had just stepped in kitty litter. I never thought I’d find myself licking a plate in public, but there I was, shamelessly lapping up the silky cauliflower cheese custard laden with brioche crumbs in front of my fellow diners. Was it bizarre? Absolutely. Was it liberating? Yes, indeed. There’s something deeply freeing about abandoning your inhibitions and embracing your inner feline. And after all, if Herbie can bury his face in his cat bowl, why shouldn’t I see what all the fuss is about?
This was only the beginning of the most adventurous degustation menu of my life. Chef Nelly and his team had dreamed up a 12-course experience that was as playful as it was thoughtfully executed. Salmon rillettes arrived in ceramic vessels inspired by cat food tins, followed by pâté tarts dramatically unveiled beneath a cloud of smoke straight out of Alice in Wonderland – the Cheshire Cat would surely approve. Every course had its own theatrical moment, leaving me wondering how on Earth so much creativity could be packed into a dining experience running for such a limited time.
The penultimate course was my favourite of the evening; a silky vanilla panna cotta that we were invited to unbox at the table, mirroring the ritual of opening a fresh pack of Gems for our furry overlords. The wine pairings were equally impressive, and by the final course of raspberry and chocolate hearts, I was ready for a well-earned cat nap.
Beyond the theatrics, the evening tapped into something every cat owner knows all too well: when it comes to food, our cats are the ones calling the shots. Fancy Feast uncovered that 60 per cent of Australian cat owners say their feline is the toughest food critic in the household. And with my own furry Michelin inspector at home, I can certainly relate.
With its new GEMs range, Fancy Feast is leaning into the idea that cats deserve a dining experience worthy of their famously discerning palates. While I can’t claim to have acquired feline taste buds after one evening, I can confirm that the human interpretation of cat dining is a riotously good time.
As Chef Nelly and his team made clear, there were no rules at this feast. No conventional table manners, no worrying about looking dignified and absolutely no shame in leaning a little closer to your plate. For one evening, we weren’t just indulging our inner cats; we were being encouraged to dine like the feline overlords we serve at home.
To celebrate the launch of GEMs, Fancy Feast is hosting a Feline Feast at NEL Restaurant on Monday, November 2, with two sessions: lunch and dinner. Time Out has scored some exclusive spots for you to win through our competition here, so you’ll want to get your paws tapping.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt, it’s that life is too short not to lick the occasional plate. But don’t worry Herbie – I promise I won’t eat yours.