Critter Kitchen - The Extraordinary Race
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🐸 Una rana saggia sa quando dividere l’ordine… e quando aspettare il salto giusto.
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The FroGames Sheet
The hare runs fast, takes everything, and disappears. The tortoise arrives later but turns the tables. And in the end, no one knows who was winning anymore.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Harriet and Terry shake up Bistro Bay's kitchen
This promo pack for Critter Kitchen introduces Harriet the Hare and Terry the Tortoise, two new zous-chefs that bring asymmetrical mechanics inspired by the classic fable to the table. Published by Cardboard Alchemy in 2026, the pack includes two wooden tokens and their corresponding character cards.
Harriet and Terry function like the other zous-chefs in the base game: they modify the secret placement of chefs and ingredient collection, but they do so in opposite ways. The hare promises speed and priority, the tortoise reverses the order and rewards those who arrive last. If you have the Deluxe Edition of Critter Kitchen, you will find two empty slots dedicated precisely to them.
What they say abroad
"Harriet the Hare and Terry the Tortoise upset the order of things while making sure the best chef wins"
Harriet the Hare and Terry the Tortoise upset the order of things while making sure the best chef wins
— Cardboard Alchemy
This is an initial reading based on official data. The pack has just been released, and there are no full reviews yet. We will update the sheet as soon as we have played with Harriet and Terry at the table.
— FroGames
Critter Kitchen - The Amazing Race Pack
The base game includes a solo mode with dedicated automa decks. Harriet and Terry integrate into the same structure as variants of the opposing zous-chefs.
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · first read: based on rules and official presentation, updated with first gamesThe two zous-chefs
What's in the pack
Harriet the Hare
Wooden token and character card. The mechanic promises speed and priority in ingredient collection; first come, first served.
Terry the Tortoise
Wooden token and character card. The effect reverses the order: those who arrive last gain advantages, subverting the hare's rush.
Deluxe Compatibility
If you own Critter Kitchen Deluxe, you will find two empty slots in the box, specifically designed for Harriet and Terry.
Immediate Integration
They are added to the existing zous-chef pool without changing the basic rules. Random draw or conscious choice during setup.
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How they integrate into the game
The round flow with Harriet and Terry
The sous-chefs modify the phases of the base game without adding new rules.
Choose where to send your three chefs (rat, lizard, boar) as usual. If you have Harriet or Terry, their effect influences your location choice.
Everyone reveals their choices. The hare alters speed priorities, the turtle reverses the order. Whoever arrives first (or last) at the location collects the best ingredients.
Rumor cards and the Critic work as normal. Harriet and Terry do not affect this phase, but the ingredients collected thanks to them make a difference in completing challenges.
New ingredients at locations, new challenge cards. Hare and turtle remain in play (or are drawn) and continue to disrupt everyone's timing.
⏱️Your first gameThe chronicle, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table with Harriet and Terry
Not the rules. The experience.
Setup with the hare
Someone draws Harriet and realizes this game will be a race. The others look at the sous-chef cards and start calculating: if the hare takes priority at the carts, arriving first becomes everything.
The rush begins
First round, secret placement. Whoever has the hare plays aggressively, aiming for the richest locations. The others must choose: compete or avoid confrontation and take substitute ingredients.
The turtle enters
Terry appears at the table. Suddenly, arriving last can be an advantage. Plans change, timing is reversed. Those who were rushing stop, those who were waiting accelerate.
Tactical chaos
Mid-game, hare and turtle in play simultaneously. No one knows anymore whether it's better to be fast or slow. Secret placement becomes a layered bluff: do I pretend to rush or pretend to slow down?
End of game
Last round, everyone counts ingredients and checks challenges. The winner is the one who best read the timing, not the one who rushed the most. The hare smiles, the turtle too.
🐸Good to know beforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
Good to know beforehand
Three things to know
Base game required
This is a promo pack, not a standalone product. You must own Critter Kitchen (standard or Deluxe edition) to use it. The two sous-chefs are added to the existing pool.
High tactical impact
Harriet and Terry are not cosmetic variants. They modify the core of the game (the timing of secret placement). If your group plays casually, they might raise decision-making complexity too much.
Minimal content
Two wooden tokens, two cards. It's a promo designed for those who want more variety in the rotation of sous-chefs, not for those looking for substantial content like a real expansion.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How the effects work
Hare and turtle in summary
We don't have the exact card details yet, but the official description suggests these effects.
Possible advantages
- Harriet (hare): priority in collecting ingredients if you arrive first at the location
- Terry (turtle): bonus if you arrive last, reversing the standard game order
- Both increase table reading and bluffing in secret placement
Risks to consider
- If everyone aims for the hare (or avoids the turtle) their effect becomes predictable
- Those who cannot read the timing of others risk wasting the sous-chef's power
- In 5-player games, chaos increases and it becomes harder to calculate who arrives where
The classic fable becomes an asymmetrical mechanic. Speed versus patience, priority versus reversal. Who wins depends on who can read the table.
💬Frequently Asked QuestionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about Critter Kitchen - The Amazing Race Pack
Can I use Harriet and Terry without the Deluxe Edition?
Yes. The pack works with any version of Critter Kitchen (base or Deluxe). The two empty slots in the Deluxe are an organizational detail, not a game requirement.
What mechanics does Critter Kitchen - The Amazing Race Pack use?
The base game uses simultaneous secret deployment, pick-up and deliver for ingredients, and hand management for challenge cards. Harriet and Terry add asymmetrical powers that modify priorities and timing.
How much does the game change with these sous-chefs?
Secret placement becomes more tactical. You have to anticipate not only where others are going, but also whether they are aiming for speed (hare) or patience (turtle). The effect is similar to adding new restaurateurs, but more focused on timing.
Is it suitable for new Critter Kitchen players?
No. Use this promo after playing the base game at least 3-4 times. Harriet and Terry require you to already understand the game's rhythm, otherwise their powers will seem random rather than tactical.
Is it available in English?
Yes, this is the English edition from Cranio Creations. Cards and rules are translated and compatible with the English version of Critter Kitchen.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
Critter Kitchen - The Amazing Race Pack (originally Critter Kitchen: Amazing Race Pack) is a promo pack for 1-5 players that introduces Harriet the Hare and Terry the Turtle as new sous-chefs. Published by Cardboard Alchemy and localized in Italy by Cranio Creations, the pack includes 2 wooden tokens and 2 character cards compatible with Critter Kitchen base and Deluxe. The hare and turtle modify secret placement and the timing of ingredient collection, adding tactical asymmetry. Recommended age 12+, duration 60 minutes. Available on FroGames.it.
Critter Kitchen - The Extraordinary Race
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
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📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
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