The mysterious creature lurking in the forest canopy in The Rat Zone's cooking simulator Creature Kitchen is an octopus named Gerald. Inspired by the classic Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus internet hoax, Gerald resides high in the branches outside the cabin. To summon him, you must fish a raw catch out of the cabin's toilet and deliver it to a hanging basket in the woods.
Once Gerald appears, your notebook requires you to feed him four distinct dishes categorized under "meats of sky or sea." Fulfilling his requests rewards you with a key needed to unlock subsequent rooms in the cabin.
How to Find and Summon Gerald the Tree Octopus
Summoning Gerald requires access to the cabin's bathroom, which becomes available after you satisfy Gray the dog with three beef-based meals.
- Enter the Bathroom: Use the key dropped by Gray to open the bathroom door down the main hallway.
- Retrieve the Raw Fish: Locate the plunger near the toilet. Use the plunger on the toilet bowl to pull out a raw fish.
- Locate the Hanging Basket: Head outside into the misty woods along the dirt path until you find a tree with a picnic basket suspended from the branches.
- Deposit the Fish: Place the raw fish directly into the hanging basket.
- Photograph Gerald: As soon as the offering is made, tentacles reach down and Gerald materializes above the basket. Equip your camera, take a snapshot of him, and log his profile in the "Our Family" notebook.
After registering his photo, Gerald's entry notes: "Seems very wise... Always in the same spot! ...how did he get there...?" His feeding request prompt specifies that he wants four meats of sky or sea.
Eligible "Meats of Sky or Sea" Recipes
Gerald will not accept generic snacks, beef dishes, or vegetarian plates. He exclusively eats prepared recipes featuring poultry or seafood. While raw chicken can be found in the bathroom bathtub, Gerald requires fully prepared culinary dishes cooked in the oven.
| Dish Name | Required Ingredients | Preparation Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fish and Chips | Fried fish, 3 Potato slices | Fry raw fish in the stove pan until sizzling stops and flip. Slice potatoes on the cutting board. Bake all items together in the oven. |
| Fish Chowder | Fried fish, Gravy, Milk, Potato slice | Make gravy by mixing butter and flour in the mixing bowl. Fry fish on the stove, slice one potato, and combine with milk in the oven. |
| Chicken Burrito | Fried chicken, Tortilla, Chopped lettuce, Cheese slice | Fry raw chicken on the stove pan. Chop lettuce and slice cheese on the board. Wrap with a tortilla in the oven. |
| Chicken Parmesan | Fried chicken, Pasta, Tomato sauce, Cheese slice | Blend tomato and salt in the bowl for sauce. Fry chicken on the stove. Combine with pasta and cheese slice in the oven. |
| Country Fried Chicken | Fried chicken, Gravy, Potato slice, Milk | Mix butter and flour in the bowl to yield gravy. Fry raw chicken on the stove, slice a potato, and place into the oven with milk. |
| Chicken Noodle Soup | Fried chicken, Broth, Pasta, Carrot slice | Fry chicken on the stove. Slice a carrot (obtained by solving the fuse breaker puzzle outside). Combine with broth and pasta in the oven. |
Cooking Tips for Sky and Sea Dishes
Preparing Gerald's menu relies heavily on the frying pan and mixing bowl mechanics:
- Stove Frying: Raw chicken and raw fish must be cooked in the frying pan on the stove. Watch for the oil popping to settle, then flip the cutlet to cook the opposite side. If you flip too early, slide the food off the edge, or let it burn, you will produce burnt waste or slop.
- Bowl Mixing: Gravy and tomato sauce require manual whisking in the countertop bowl. Stir consistently in one direction until combined, then press the spring-loaded plate underneath to retrieve your finished sauce.
- The Void of Creation: Gather all processed components and place them into the oven. Closing the oven door finalizes the recipe. The game allows you to deliver dishes one by one directly into Gerald's hanging basket.
Rewards for Feeding Gerald
Feeding Gerald any four qualifying chicken or fish meals earns his trust and completes his entry in the "Our Family" album. Upon receiving his fourth meal, Gerald lowers a gift from the canopy:
- Key Reward: Gerald drops either the bowl cabinet key or the crescent moon key (oddities room key). The specific key received depends on your playthrough order and whether you have already satisfied Sass Foot.
- Progression: The oddities room unlocked by the crescent moon key provides access to late-game puzzles, including the clock dial, the fireplace, and the final cryptids necessary for the full photo album.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do you find the raw fish for the tree basket?
Raw fish does not spawn in the kitchen pantry or refrigerator initially. You must unlock the bathroom, pick up the plunger, and plunge the toilet bowl to extract the fish.
Does Gerald eat raw meat or basic mistakes?
No. Offering raw chicken or raw steak will not advance Gerald's meal counter. He only accepts completed recipes that qualify as sky or sea meats.
Can you feed Gerald duplicate meals?
Yes. Gerald's requirement asks for four meals of sky or sea. Players can prepare duplicates, such as making two servings of Fish and Chips alongside two chicken dishes, to fulfill the requirement without crafting all six menu variants.
