| Do you remember the first time you had a | | | | needs an opportunity now and then to experience |
| "gourmet" delicacy? I do. I was having dinner in a | | | | a rare bottle of wine, the finest liver pate, or the |
| restaurant of supreme quality and reputation, and | | | | gourmet chocolate of Godiva. That's the |
| I ordered the escargot. It was the most | | | | wonderful thing about gourmet. It's very |
| wonderful entrée I have ever had the | | | | subjective. Your tastes are not mine. |
| pleasure of consuming. The food there was | | | | There are some basics about gourmet that |
| delicious and prepared with individuality. Therein is | | | | remain no matter what the taste of the chef or |
| the chief ingredient for gourmet. The definition of | | | | the customer. It isn't gourmet if it isn't made with |
| gourmet is a person devoted to refined sensuous | | | | quality ingredients, attention to detail, individuality, |
| enjoyment, especially good food and drink. That is | | | | and seasonings and flavors that bring unique |
| the discriminating difference between McDonald's | | | | richness to the food. To simply include the words |
| and Savoy's. Food production for the masses is a | | | | exotic, specialty, or rare does not make food |
| necessity. But it eliminates the wonderful, sensual, | | | | gourmet. The experience of real gourmet is much |
| enjoyment to be had in the consumption of a | | | | bigger than just fancy words. |
| gourmet meal. | | | | Many gourmet chefs and cooks have been |
| Having operated a restaurant for several years, I | | | | apprenticed or educated formally for several |
| can vouch for the truth in the discriminating taste | | | | years. They have degrees in how to uniquely |
| of the public. Everyone would like a gourmet meal | | | | prepare your food. Or maybe the term gourmet |
| on a shoestring budget. It is just not a possibility. | | | | is applied because the preparations and process |
| If you're going to ask for sensual enjoyment, | | | | have been so refined as to be considered expert |
| you're going to have to pay for that privilege. It's | | | | in the field. This is the case with certain wine |
| not cheap food. It was not intended to be. | | | | makers. The wine is considered gourmet because |
| Gourmet food is prepared with the individual | | | | of the unique sensations and taste of the wine on |
| tastes and talents of a trained chef. The use of | | | | the taster's pallet. It is beyond compare. Many |
| only fresh, high, quality ingredients is a must, and | | | | gourmet chefs buy only locally grown foods. In |
| strict adherence to the chef's preferred | | | | doing so, they are adding to the uniqueness of |
| seasonings required. Given all this special attention, | | | | the experience. |
| one must assume the price to be more than | | | | So, as you can see, gourmet is not just a |
| $2.95. But then, I ask you, if it's gourmet, is price | | | | description. It is truly an experience to be enjoyed |
| not irrelevant? | | | | by young and old, rich and poor. Take a moment, |
| Occasionally, we must throw aside our frugal | | | | set aside the budget and allow yourself the |
| tendencies, and simply take a moment to enjoy | | | | extreme pleasure of a gourmet meal. Ah..... the |
| the fruits of our labor. The gourmet inside us all | | | | pleasures of life! |