Humans Can Enjoy Fancy Feast-Inspired Fare At This Pop-Up Trattoria
As famed aphorist Mason Cooley once quipped, "A happy arrangement: many people prefer cats to other people, and many cats prefer people to other cats." It's true — hanging out with your cat is top-tier fun. Maybe you two like to go for walks in the park or watch your favorite shows together. Perhaps you've given your cat some catnip to celebrate a special occasion with you. Pet Winery even sells non-alcoholic "wine" for cats (infused with catnip and salmon oil), so you can have an evening sip of "Purrgundy" or "Meowsling" with your feline friend.
Now, cat food giant Fancy Feast is rolling out a physical restaurant where humans can dine on meals inspired by the gourmet cat food they feed their pets. New York City is no stranger to themed pop-ups, making it the perfect location for "Gatto Bianco by Fancy Feast," an Italian trattoria that will be located in the fashionable area between Manhattan's Far West Village and the Meatpacking District. "Gatto Bianco" is Italian for "white cat." It seems to be a nod to the Fancy Feast mascot, who will reportedly be making an appearance at the pop-up, according to a press release. But its concept is the most intriguing — or perhaps strange — part of the Gatto Bianco trattoria. The tasting menu is intended to emulate the sensory experience cats have while eating.
Dine like a feline
Gatto Bianco's menu was developed by Michelin Star-winning chef and New York restaurateur Cesare Casella alongside Fancy Feast's in-house chef Amanda Hassner. It will feature Italian dishes inspired by Fancy Feast Medleys recipes, via the press release. Chef Hassner explains that "the dishes at Gatto Bianco are prepared in ways that help cat owners understand how their cats experience food — from flavor, to texture, to form."
Last year, Hassner helped develop an official cookbook for the cat food line with recipes for humans with baker Josh Snyder and Jerrelle Guy, a James Beard Award nominee (per FOX News). Fancy Feast released a free online cookbook featuring 12 single-portion meal recipes inspired by its Petite Feast cat food line. The cookbook reads, "Mealtime is a bonding experience. We sit at a dining table with our family, we gather with friends. Now Fancy Feast is asking you to extend the invitation to your cat to join you for mealtime as you cook meals inspired by their favorite dishes but made just for you."
For Fancy Feast foodies, reservations for Gatto Bianco will be available starting at noon on August 4, per the press release, but spots are limited. The pop-up will only accommodate 16 guests. Gatto Bianco by Fancy Feast will open on Thursday, August 11, and Friday, August 12. So cat lovers hungry for a seat at the table should have their phones ready to make the call.