Nulo ambassador and chef Valerio Braschi has built his career around the conviction that what something is made of determines everything that comes out of it. Growing up in Italy, he learned that principle in his grandmother's kitchen long before any formal training. It followed him through MasterChef Italy, which he won in 2017, through kitchens in Rome and New Delhi, and into his role as executive chef at The View in Milan — a restaurant on Piazza del Duomo included in the Michelin Guide in October 2025.
At home, that same standard applies to his cats, Somy and Carla. Somy is a European shorthair, three years old, and the one Valerio calls his rock. Carla is a tortoiseshell, not yet a year old, who arrived as a birthday surprise and has since made herself completely at home. Both are family members in every sense of the word.
For a chef who reads an ingredient the way others read a map, feeding Somy and Carla was never going to be an afterthought. Valerio found Nulo by chance at a store near his house, but what kept him there was the quality — real meat, real vegetables, real fish, and the kind of ingredients he'd put on his own plate. With Mix-It-Meals, he builds a personalized bowl for each cat based on what they need and what they love, which is the same intentionality he brings to every plate that leaves his kitchen.
How are Somy and Carla part of your daily life?
They live alongside us — always with us, they sleep with us, they're on the sofa with us. If one of them isn't on the bed when we go to sleep, we go and get them and bring them to bed, though usually they come on their own. And they're also the ones who wake us up, sometimes a bit too early. The bond is absolutely fundamental to us.
How do your cats support you after long days in the kitchen?
I've always been a huge believer in pet therapy. Some people escape into other habits; for me, it's the best way to switch off from work. In the evenings when I get home, we settle on the sofa to watch TV with the cats, and they jump on us, they climb all over us. They're always at home waiting for me. When they hear the sound of my motorbike pulling up, they go to the door. I open it, and they jump up onto the table to be picked up. The first twenty minutes are entirely dedicated to the cats.
What does Somy mean to you personally?
I got Somy when I came out of a relationship, and I always say he was my salvation. Having him beside me as my support. I want Somy and Carla to be by my side for as long as possible, and I have to do everything it takes to keep them well for as long as possible.
As a chef, why do premium ingredients matter, for your kitchen and for your cats?
For ourselves, we always watch what we eat, we're always careful about what's on our plate. I think it's right to do the same for every other member of our family. If I eat well, I want my partner to eat well too — just as I want that for my cats. So knowing what you're giving them, knowing you're giving them real meat, real vegetables, proper protein — that matters.
Why did you choose Nulo?
I found it by chance at a store near my house. When I decide to work with brands, I always try to partner with companies I'm genuinely proud to be associated with — companies I'm happy to put my name to, because I can't promote a product I don't like, or one that doesn't align with my values. I will always stand behind what I promote and only promote products I personally use and genuinely enjoy, like Nulo.
What do you love about Nulo specifically?
The freeze-dried meat morsels — I'd never seen anything like them anywhere else. The moment I discovered them, I gave them to Somy straight away, and he went absolutely wild. Nulo gives you quality. They use real ingredients, and the nutrition is 100% there.
Why do you love building bowls with Mix-It-Meals?
Partly because it's fun — a bit like cooking: playing with different textures, mixing things based on what they enjoy. We go from kibble to freeze-dried meat bites to wetter ingredients, including pieces with fish. There are some fish fillets in there that look just like the ones we'd eat ourselves. I get to create a personalized meal for each cat based on their needs and what they actually enjoy. If they need to grow, I build a bowl with a certain protein load. If they need to slim down — like Somy recently — I adjust accordingly.
