Concept in Definition ABC
Miscellanea / / July 04, 2021
By Javier Navarro, in May. 2016
Gourmet is a French word that refers to the pleasure of food and drink of great quality and with a high gastronomic value. Originally the word gourmet in French expressed the idea of gluttony and was used to refer to gluttons, but with the passage of time the term ceased to have a pejorative meaning and adopted its current.
The fact that the term gourmet comes from French reminds us that the gastronomy French has traditionally been considered one of the most exquisite in the world.
The use of the term
In culinary terminology the term gourmet is used in various ways. The person with refined gastronomic tastes is called gourmet and would come to be equivalent to the term sybarite (both words indicate that he is a person who loves good food and has a considerable culture gastronomic).
Some establishments with products and food high-quality, high-value stores are also known as gourmet shops. Along these lines, there is also talk of a experience gourmet, which suggests that what is consumed is more than just food. In this way, a person, a meal or a store can be valued as gourmet. In any of the different contexts in which the word gourmet is used, it refers to quality, exclusivity and high prices.
Among those connoisseurs of gastronomic issues there is usually some controversy in relation to what is gourmet and what is artisan
Some consider that they are opposite ideas and others understand that they express the same concept.
With some frequency the concept of gourmet is used as a strategy marketing to convey an image of luxury and exclusivity. From a commercial point of view, the concept of a gourmet recipe is more attractive than that of an artisan recipe.
What is it to be a gourmet?
In the first place, to be a gourmet you have to enjoy food in a broad sense, that is, as a pleasure for senses, as a personal experience and understanding the action of eating not simply from the nutritional or nutritional point of view.
The gourmet person has a gastronomic culture and knows how to value a dish for its ingredients, for its flavor, for its elaboration and for its history. His knowledge allows him to assess the excellence of a dish or a product (usually the gourmet is interested in delicatessens, new trends from Vanguard and avoid industrial food and fast food establishments).
Photos: iStock - AlexanderPokusay / 101dalmatians
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