Gourmet
Fine dining devotee
Gourmet describes food, cooking, or tastes of high quality and refined preparation: a gourmet meal, gourmet coffee.
As a noun, a gourmet is someone with discerning taste in food and drink—a connoisseur of fine cuisine.
The word carries associations of expense and sophistication, sometimes used loosely for anything marketed as premium: gourmet popcorn.
Elegant restaurant experience
- haute cuisineElevated culinary artistry
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
- gastronomyScience of fine dining
- tasting menuCurated sequence of small courses
prix fixe · amuse-bouche · degustation · molecular gastronomy · omakase · kaiseki · nouvelle cuisine · farm-to-table
Prized subterranean edible
- foie grasFattened waterfowl liver
- caviarCured fish eggs
- saffronCrocus-derived golden spice
- wagyuPremium Japanese-style beef
lobster · black garlic · aged balsamic · porcini · chanterelle · Iberico ham · burrata · uni
Lover of fine food
- foodieCasual term for epicure
- aficionadoKnowledgeable, passionate follower
- bon vivantConnoisseur of life's pleasures
- palateOral cavity ceiling
discerning · sommelier · cicerone · expert · critic · judge · appreciator · enthusiast
Added cost for better
- artisanSkilled manual tradesperson
- handcraftedMade manually, not machined
- small-batchProduced in limited quantities
- importedObtained from overseas
exclusive · luxury · exquisite · superior · select · rare · aged · vintage
Retailer with limited focus
- delicatessenPrepared foods shop
- cheese counterShop area selling dairy wedges
- wine merchantSeller of bottled vintages
- patisserieFrench pastry shop
chocolatier · charcuterie · fromagerie · food hall · farmers market · importers · subscription box · tasting room
fine dining
Elegant restaurant experience
- haute cuisineElevated culinary artistry
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
- gastronomyScience of fine dining
tasting menu · prix fixe · amuse-bouche · degustation · molecular gastronomy · omakase · kaiseki · nouvelle cuisine · farm-to-table · Michelin star
truffle
Prized subterranean edible
wagyu · lobster · black garlic · aged balsamic · porcini · chanterelle · Iberico ham · burrata · uni · matsutake
epicure
Lover of fine food
- foodieCasual term for epicure
- aficionadoKnowledgeable, passionate follower
- bon vivantConnoisseur of life's pleasures
palate · discerning · sommelier · cicerone · expert · critic · judge · appreciator · enthusiast · savant
premium
Added cost for better
- artisanSkilled manual tradesperson
- handcraftedMade manually, not machined
- small-batchProduced in limited quantities
imported · exclusive · luxury · exquisite · superior · select · rare · aged · vintage · organic
specialty shop
Retailer with limited focus
- delicatessenPrepared foods shop
- cheese counterShop area selling dairy wedges
- wine merchantSeller of bottled vintages
patisserie · chocolatier · charcuterie · fromagerie · food hall · farmers market · importers · subscription box · tasting room
Gourmetfast food
Speedy prepared meals
junk food · greasy spoon · processed food · slop · convenience food
Gourmetphilistine
Art-dismissing ignoramus
picky eater · gourmand · glutton · tasteless · unsophisticated
- gourmet foodPremium culinary preparations
- gourmet chefExpert in fine cuisine
- gourmet mealExpertly crafted fine food
- gourmet cookingRefined culinary art
- gourmet diningSophisticated culinary experience
- gourmet treatRefined culinary indulgence