Recently, I met a culinary operations director who told me his dog enjoyed a top-quality raw diet rich in protein, nutrients and fibre. Meanwhile, his children ate processed chicken nuggets.It’s increasingly common to hear the phrase, “My dog eats better than I do”. “Pawrents” are insistent on giving their “furkids” nothing but the best. You have only to look at the increasing rise of pet-friendly dining venues, staycations and malls to confirm that people are spending more time, money and effort on their pets than ever before.Naturally, I looked at my sad grab-and-go sandwich and wondered: What about dogs whose humans are chefs? Wouldn’t they eat like proverbial kings? Here’s a glimpse into the lifestyles of Singapore chefs’ pampered pooches.NADINE TAY, HEAD CHEF AT HABIBI-SAN AND LI'L HABIBI
Nadine Tay and Jonas (Photos: Nadine Tay)
Nadine Tay’s five-year-old Singapore Special, Jonas, was underweight for the first three years of his life as food wasn’t all that interesting compared to long walks and digging up gardens. After a lot of experimentation, she figured out a menu he wouldn’t turn his nose up at: Cooked minced beef or chicken with sweet potatoes for lunch, and salmon with rice for dinner.At the same time, he’s also developed a gourmand’s palate. "He loves beef the most and knows when it’s of good quality. He will not eat cheap beef and would rather starve. If it’s wagyu, he gobbles it up in an instant.”
