I have to admit—there’s just something about the cooking Palico cutscenes in older Monster Hunter titles, and I kind of miss them now that they’re basically gone from Wilds’ release. While I understand that cooking in this game is far more streamlined and community-driven, I can’t help but feel that it needed those little fuzzballs preparing our meals instead of us doing it ourselves.
I Miss Them
I especially miss the protein-packed goodness of the Meowscular Chef’s cooking from the base version of Monster Hunter: World. The sheer exaggeration of those food portions could bring even the mightiest hunters to their knees. At least our Hunter could handle it.
Then came Iceborne, where the Grammeowster Chef took center stage. As Meowscular Chef’s mentor, she was the OG of the culinary cats. The way she handled soup and raw meat in Seliana was truly *chef’s kiss*. This might seem trivial to non-Worldborne players, but back then, it was a huge deal.
There was something uniquely satisfying about watching them prepare meals for us.
Where Are They?
There’s actually a lore reason why Meowscular Chef and the Grammeowster Chef aren’t here. The obvious answer? They’re from different parts of the world—our old friends from Monster Hunter: World and Iceborne.
But in Monster Hunter Wilds? Surely someone in the Base Camp knows how to cook, right? And no, the cook in the provisions canteen doesn’t count.
At Least We Got Village Meal Cutscenes
The best part about Wilds’ cooking is how incredibly good the food looks. Capcom has done an amazing job animating how meals move and behave in the cutscenes for each of the game’s villages. Even in Kunafa, where cheese is the main delicacy, the attention to detail is impressive. It even led to a Japanese restaurant running out of cheese naan after Monster Hunter Wilds players ordered all of it.
While the absence of Palico chefs is disappointing, these new meal scenes add another layer of immersion to the game’s globe-trotting experience. We’re no longer cooped up in one base like Astera or Seliana. The Forbidden Lands are uncharted territory, and relocating isn’t easy. And yes, while food is essential, it’s hard to prioritize it when monsters like Arkveld and Rey Dau are lurking around.
Future Title Update
Many fans speculate that Capcom is saving this feature for Title Update 1, which promises the return of Gathering Hubs and introduces new monsters. Could this update finally bring back the Palico chefs? Or perhaps something entirely new?
Who knows? Monster Hunter Wilds is barely a month old, and players are already hungry for more content. With Title Update 1 dropping in early April, we’re in for more than just Felyne chefs and new monsters—maybe even a tougher endgame?