When one thinks about all the famous chefs they know, a few names come to mind; Gordon Ramsay, that French chef from The Little Mermaid who spent his entire on-screen time trying to make crab cakes out of Sebastian, uh… the rat from Ratatouille, etc. You know, the big names. But if you didn’t follow the big shots in the cooking world before reading this article, I’m about to serve up a few excellent, four-legged reasons for why you should start. (And that reason is their cats. They have cats.) That’s right everyone, today we’re gonna learn about those furry friends who’ve inspired some of the world’s greatest chefs.
Bobby Flay + Nacho Flay
World-famous chef and reality TV host Bobby Flay may be famous for his steaks and burgers, but the real crème de la crème is his nachos. Well, one Nacho, in particular – his cat. That’s right, Flay’s aptly named cat Nacho is a stunning orange Maine Coon who loves helping his dad in the kitchen. He even appeared in a cooking short called Nachos With Nacho where Nacho helps his dad to make… you guessed it: nachos! But even though this sweet baby does enjoy the food of his namesake, his favorite food is fish. Les poissons, les poissons, hon hon hon, les poissons! Dad might be a big famous chef, but Nacho has his own following as well. You can check out what this sweet cheeser is up to by following his Instagram.
Anne Burrell + Marcia, Nancy
Like Bobby Flay, Anne Burrell is not only a chef but a TV personality as well. She’s run the gambit of cooking shows including The Next Iron Chef and Chopped All-Stars Tournament. But when she’s not cooking, Burrell loves to spend time with her two Maine Coons, Marcia and Nancy. In fact, she loves her sweet precious babies so much, she started the Instagram hashtag imaddictedtomykitties which is filled to the BRIM with adorable pictures and videos of her two precious kitty daughter babies. BLESS.
Giada De Laurentiis + Bella
Laurentiis is another famous chef who’s joined the ranks of television hosts, winning a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lifestyle Host. Though her career as a chef and tv personality are remarkable, the real star of Laurentiis’ life is her adorable cat, Bella. Bella is the sweetest little Ragdoll baby you ever did see, and although she’s not on social media, you can still catch a glimpse of her in her and Nacho’s Food Network short. And, just like Nacho, Bella is a big fan of fish. Her absolute fave? Salmon, of course!
Sunny Anderson + Truffle Tycoon
Alright, before we get into the amazing beastie that is Truffle Tycoon, I feel like we need to take a moment to appreciate how epic his name is. When you see a cat and you go, “oh! Is this your kitty? What’s his name?” you do not expect to get smacked in the face with the pure glory of freaking “Truffle Tycoon”. It’s like getting hit with a full solar flare when all you were expecting was a sliver of sunlight. But to whomst does this outstandingly named honey baby belong? None other than Sunny Anderson, guest chef and Food Network host. Like all of Anderson’s other pets, Mr. Tycoon is a rescue, which only adds to his awesomeness. And if you thought Truffle Tycoon was a next level name, get ready to meet his other cat siblings Milky Mouth and Sea Salt Hitchcock. Lord preserve me, and bless you, Sunny Anderson.
Marcela Luz Valladolid + Hazel
Marcela Luz Valladolid is a celebrity chef and host of the television show Mexican Made Easy. She’s also the mom of one very sweet, very fluffy girl named Hazel. According to Valladolid, Hazel is a street kitty who wandered into her house one day and just went, “I live here meow?” You know, like how cats do. Of course, the Valladolid family became enamored with her, and she’s been part of the family ever since. To see a behind-the-scenes pic of Miss Hazel’s first photoshoot, check out Valladolid’s Instagram.
Damaris Phillips + Cleopatra
Last but certainly not least, for those of you out there who love black cats, meet Damaris Phillips’ baby, Cleopatra. Cleo is your average kitty – she prefers to lounge in shoeboxes rather than the very expensive cat beds her mommy buys her, enjoys showing off how beauteous she is, and loves playing with her toys. Yes indeedy, it’s clear to see that this charming little pumpkin is enjoying all the luxuries of having a famous chef for a mommy. Just like Phillips’ co-host of The Bobby And Damaris Show and fellow cat parent Bobby Flay, Damaris is a cat lover who enjoys lavishing her baby with all sorts of treats and toys. Of Cleopatra, Damaris says, “for Christmas 2013 we made Cleopatra a yellow pom pom bird with blue wings. We attached it by a string to a long dowel rod. Cleo named him Mr. Peeps and has decided the house is not big enough for the both of them.” Ahh, classic Cleo.
There now, I bet you didn’t know there were so many famous chefs out there with little kitty counterparts, eh? It just goes to show that when it comes to food, cats know where to go to get the best of the best. Genius recognizes genius, as they say!
Don’t Forget Alton Brown!
He has two cats that he adopted. Stir Fry and Shrimp Toast.