| The number of companies selling items labeled | | | | typical fast food stop. |
| "gourmet" is increasing rapidly, particularly | | | | |
| gourmet food items. At one time, getting | | | | Actually, gourmet foods are all around us, |
| gourmet food meant going to an expensive, | | | | and they give us great and simple gift giving |
| upscale restaurant and giving over a week's | | | | opportunities! People often bring food to |
| worth of pay for your dinner! Now, you can | | | | house warming parties, or to give the host |
| get gourmet foods from your local grocery | | | | when invited to dinner. Grab a gift basket of |
| store and from countless online retailers, | | | | gourmet goodies and your host will be |
| and even through several direct sales | | | | extremely appreciative of the gesture. If you |
| companies who come into your home to give | | | | bring dessert items, you may even get to |
| taste testing parties for you and your | | | | taste them after dinner is served! |
| friends. Home taste testing parties are | | | | |
| extremely fun and you get to try the foods | | | | Packaged gourmet foods, like nuts, snacks and |
| before you buy, which makes it easier to | | | | cheese make great gifts for all types of |
| decide what you want. | | | | occasions. They typically come pre-packaged |
| | | | in attractive packaging, and many can be |
| What exactly is "gourmet" food, and how is it | | | | found in gift baskets which saves you time |
| that everything from soup to nuts to brownies | | | | since you don't have to wrap them before |
| have been given the label "gourmet"? The | | | | giving. |
| actual definition of the word gourmet isn't | | | | |
| food at all; it's: a person who is devoted to | | | | Some foods labeled gourmet are actually boxed |
| refined sensuous enjoyment, especially good | | | | mixes that you then add other ingredients to, |
| food and drink. We typically refer to foods | | | | or cook with, in order to create the finished |
| themselves as gourmet now, rather than the | | | | product. You can find gourmet brownie mixes, |
| people who enjoy these good edibles! | | | | sauces and marinades, and even soups. A |
| | | | popular cooking show on the food network |
| "Gourmet" seems to have become the catch-all | | | | often uses these packaged items to make |
| phrase used to describe foods that taste | | | | "almost homemade" meals- but the use of these |
| good, and that are considered to be of higher | | | | gourmet packaged goods make it much faster to |
| than average quality. We also might label | | | | bring the dinner to the table- giving you |
| foods gourmet if they are hard to find. | | | | more time to enjoy with your family and less |
| | | | time standing in the kitchen. |
| Does your grocery store offer gourmet-to-go? | | | | |
| These are dinners you can take home and serve | | | | From coffee to dessert- and everything in |
| instantly- that are designed to taste like | | | | between, you can now enjoy gourmet versions |
| you made it yourself. Roasted chicken and | | | | of all your favorite foods simply by looking |
| seafood dinners are commonly offered through | | | | up gourmet foods online or making a quick |
| the grocery gourmet food section. Gourmet in | | | | stop to your local grocery store's gourmet |
| this case simply means it's going to taste | | | | section. |
| good- and the idea is it's better than your | | | | |