Grovite wins grand prize in Fancy Feast contest

Joan Spector, of Coconut Grove won the national Fancy Feast TasteMakers Contest. Her "Purrrfect Sushi" entrance won her the Grand Prize. Her recipe will help inspire the next variety of Fancy Feast® Elegant Medleys® Gourmet Cat Food.

In May, the Fancy Feast brand and chef Carla Hall – co-host of ABC’s “The Chew,” a finalist on Bravo’s “Top Chef” and proud owner of an adopted cat, Alchemy – challenged cat enthusiasts to express their inner culinary voices by entering the contest. Along with a photo of them with their cats, entrants were invited to share stories about the special relationships they share with their cats, and how their recipes were inspired by their cats’ personalities and preferences. Five finalists were selected in July, and the public was asked to vote for their favorite to help determine the Grand Prize Winner.

“Joan’s entry, ‘Purrrfect Sushi’, included a recipe with a delightful combination of ingredients with flavors that cats are going to love,” said Carla, who judged the finalists’ entries. “Her story behind her recipe really expressed the devotion she has for her cats. Now, her entry will help inspire a delectable new Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys entrée for all cats to enjoy.”

Joan is the proud owner of two rescued cats – named Ginger and Wasabi – and was moved to create a recipe that reflected her cats’ “love of all things fish.” Her recipe is a combination of two of her cats’ favorites – tuna and shrimp – accented with wild rice, in gravy. Joan's cats’ names are fitting for “Purrrfect Sushi,” though she claims, “Wasabi is a kisser, not a biter like his hot, hot namesake.” As the Grand Prize winner, Joan has won $10,000 plus a one-year supply of Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys Gourmet Cat Food. In addition, her entry will help inspire the next Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys entrée.

Four remaining Contest finalists each will receive a one-year supply of Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys Gourmet Cat Food and $1,000. To read each finalist’s entry, visit www.FancyFeast.com/TasteMakers and click on “View Finalist Gallery.”

The newly created Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys entrée inspired by Spector’s entry will be created and delivered to store shelves in June 2012.