What Is Gourmet?

What is gourmet? And what is organic gourmet food?

When you think of the word “gourmet” what comes to mind for you? Something chi-chi? A fancy restaurant? Expensive?

Maybe it can be those things, but basically gourmet foods are just plain good food, well prepared and presented.

Here is the dictionary definition of gourmet:

“A connoisseur of fine food and drink, a person devoted to sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink); a person with discriminating taste in food and wine.”

What we’re talking about here is someone who enjoys the pleasure of eating well -- the aromas, the flavors, the enjoyment of fine food (and perhaps drink) -- as opposed, say, to someone who grabs the first thing handy and gulps it down without even tasting it or caring about what it is. (That would be, in my opinion, the opposite of a gourmet! I don't think you would classify "fast food" as gourmet, under any stretch of imagination. . .but if you ARE in a hurry, you can now buy organic fast food. )

If you are a person like me who truly enjoys the way good food tastes, and likes your meals and dining experiences to be pleasurable and memorable, then you will appreciate what this site is about.

Epicure, gourmand, "foodie" ~ someone who truly finds pleasure from eating well ~ this site is for you!

We focus here on how to find great organic gourmet food -- in all the ways it’s possible.

Now, to my way of thinking (and maybe this is not everyone, maybe it’s a personal bias) the absolute best food is going to be organic. When you start with fresh, wholesome ingredients, prepare it well and with care, and present it attractively -- maybe even imaginatively -- then you delight more than just one sense.

First, the nose. You can smell the delicious aromas cooking. That experience is tantalizing and gets your digestive system prepared for the experience. You saliva starts to flow, which will allow the food to be digested well, and you start to feel hungry.

Next, your eyes. As the food arrives, and the way it is arranged on the plate provokes you to anticipate pleasure, you increase your desire for the dining experience. The art of presenting food attractively and even artistically is one of the great secrets of gourmet chefs -- and adds to the pleasure of dining well.

Next, the tongue, the taste buds, as you allow each morsel to delight in your mouth as you dine. Bite by delicious bite, your senses thrill to the flavors and tastes you experience.

Next, the sense of being able to easily digest and USE the food you eat; it’s my humble opinion that when I eat organic gourmet food I feel better from start to finish, digest and assimilate the food and nutrients better, and have more clean clear energy as a result.

And finally, the sense of overall pleasure in dining well -- perhaps among friends or family, at home or in a restaurant, where jovial and stimulating conversation creates an atmosphere of relaxation and pleasant times -- that forms often lasting memories of both the occasion and the meal. Maybe that’s not a physical sensation but an emotional one -- certainly it's important to most people.

So to sum up what organic gourmet foods are, one thing you can say for sure is that they give you pleasure and memorable experiences. Who doesn’t want that?

A gourmet does not have to be a rich person -- the whole world would be more healthy if we could all eat organically grown, gourmet food. We will share some information further on this site about how to "eat on the cheap" -- gourmet dining on a budget.

And remember by gourmet we mean food that pleases and delights you, that creates a happy experience. You can have as much pleasure eating something simple from your own kitchen as you could dining from the most complicated menu you might find in a fancy restaurant.

Here at our site we will help you achieve just that! Let us know about all your favorite places to eat, shop, cook, and buy -- if it’s organic (and gourmet we’ll pass it along to our other guests with our appreciation.)

Here are some pages where you can find some special gourmet items for your table (or for awesome gifts):

Gourmet and Artisanal Cheeses

Organic Poultry

Organic Turkeys

We'll be adding more links to specific sources for all kinds of organic gourmet foods as soon as we can.

And, if you've been looking for a magazine that speaks to your taste, then you will love Eating Well Magazine -- it's written just for you. Get it here:

So then, bon appetit! May all your food experiences be healthy ones -- and filled with extraordinary pleasure.