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Former Top Chef Contestant and Fancy Feast Cat Offer $10,000 To Inspire New Cat Food Flavor

I can't remember a time I didn't love the Fancy Feast cat. It was certainly long before I got a cat of my own, and continued on even long after I did. For a few years, I even collected and traded in cat food can labels, just so I could get the annual Fancy Feast plush holiday ornament (it's worth noting that I don't even celebrate Christmas). "Hootie Hoo!"

So what does this all have to do with anything? Well, in addition to my love for the Persian cats featured in the Fancy Feast commercials, I'm also a huge fan of Bravo TV. So imagine my delight when I found out that Carla Hall, former contestant on Bravo cooking competition shows "Top Chef: New York," and "Top Chef: All-Stars," has made her way from the kitchen to the kitten in becoming the star of the new Fancy Feast TasteMakers campaign! The news is especially exciting since they've allowed the talented chef to retain her quirky, awesome personality while promoting a contest about cooking and cat food. (My favorite moment of the spot above is when Carla quips, "Toodles poodles! Oops..no poodles here! See you cats later!")

The gourmet cat food brand is working with Hall in asking consumers to submit recipes to help inspire the next Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys Entree. Carla will be among one of the judges picking the top five finalists, and the ultimate winner will be determined by a public vote, during which time, a donation for each ballot cast will be made to adoptapet.com.

I'm going to respectfully decline entering, as some of my cat's favorite flavors include "butter" and "olive oil" (good luck leaving your toast unattended), but I wish a hearty good luck to all ye who venture forth in the competition! The lucky winner will receive $10,000, a years supply of Fancy Feast, and the enviable distinction of seeing their kitty culinary creation hit the shelves in about a year. Now if only they could make cats cook the actual food, then maybe we could have the next Bravo hit on our hands! Are you listening, Andy Cohen? On a side note, while visiting the headquarters of Nestlé Purina Petcare in my quest to become the first ever Purina Cat Chow Correspondent, I announced to a member of the Cat Chow team that I wanted to meet the Fancy Feast cat. I was jokingly told that he lives in a "penthouse in the tower," but I actually did get to meet two real-life kitties who live at Purina, and hope to get the chance to share their story with you soon!

Via Fancy Feast 

Posted by Catsparella at 4:36 PM
Tags: bravo, cat advertising, fancy feast, pop culture pussycat 
thanks so much for sharing this with us! I'm all over it!!! Hmmm...I wonder if they would like a flavor featuring plastic bags, dog biscuits and assorted lint from the floor? I think not!! lol...(those were just some of Cody's faves).....

I'm on it!
"Cat"cha later!

May 9, 2011 at 6:26 PM 
I have an obsessive compulsive disorder when it comes to the Fancy Feast Christmas Ornament. Everyone who knows me knows it is the highlight of my tree and my Christmas. No really.That is all you can see on my tree! I have been collecting since 1986, and am only missing one year. I rip off every label and have jars and cans of them "stored". I was VERY UPSET (let me say agitated) to find out they were not offering this gem for 2010! Then my mom calls and says "Your Fancy Feast Ornament is here" (I send them to several relatives so I can have "back up ones"). And I tell her "No it is probably a cat food sample, they aren't having them this year." WELL, come to find out (I tell her to open it to make sure) IT WAS A SECRET SURPRISE ORNAMENT!! If you become the Purina correspondant, can you please tell them that some of us can't let go and THEY MUST CONTINUE the ORNAMENT!!! PLEASE!!!

May 9, 2011 at 6:29 PM 
I love Fancy Feast kitty, too! She's got a lovely coat.
This campaign sounds fun for both humans and kitties :-)

May 9, 2011 at 6:49 PM 
@Caren I LOL'd at your flavor recommendation! That sounds about right!

@Marcia I should have known you would be the biggest Fancy Feast cat fan of all!! How awesome that you got a secret surprise ornament..WOW! I am beyond impressed (and jealous!) I promise you that if I get the position, even though technically it's for Cat Chow, I will find the right person at Purina and pass your message along! :D

May 9, 2011 at 6:59 PM 
Thanks! They sent beautiful Fancy Feast Glass ball ornaments to everyone who participated in the last year. I called and thanked them and they sent me another!!

May 9, 2011 at 9:03 PM 
Sounds like fun for those with a flair for cooking! haha!

Like Caren's Plastic Bag a' la Lint Biscuits.
