I've been following the thread about KRAFT Cheese Noodles.
I notice the word "gourmet" being tossed aound.

What IS "gourmet" ?
A state of mind ? ingredients ? someones pronunciation ?

The French eat pate ( goose liver ), fungus ( truffles ),
snails, etc. etc..... and folks swoon over the "gourmet" meals.

So why can't KRAFT cheese noodles be "gourmet" ?
What about "Moms Apple Pie"?

In a cooking group like this, surely someone
can define the boundries of "gourmet".....

"<RJ>" > wrote:

> What IS "gourmet" ?

Ever hear of a dictionary?
<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=define%3Agourmet&btnG=Google+Search &aq=f&oq=>

Armed with that information, maybe you would post something
constructive.

-sw

On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:45:22 -0700, "<RJ>" >
shouted from the highest rooftop:

>The French eat pate ( goose liver ), fungus ( truffles ),
>snails, etc. etc..... and folks swoon over the "gourmet" meals.
>
>So why can't KRAFT cheese noodles be "gourmet" ?
>What about "Moms Apple Pie"?

If you have to ask why "KRAFT cheese noodles" isn't considered to be
gourmet cuisine then I'm afraid that even a dictionary won't help you.


--

The difference between stupidity and genius
is that genius has its limits.
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~
Wax-up and drop-in of Surfing's Golden Years: <http://www.surfwriter.net>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~

"" wrote:
>
> I've been following the thread about KRAFT Cheese Noodles.
> I notice the word "gourmet" being tossed aound.
>
> What IS "gourmet" ?
> A state of mind ? ingredients ? someones pronunciation ?

And what is "artisan". When panini was recently introduced
under the Hot Pockets brand, they claimed it was wrapped
in artisan bread.

I'd dispute whether it's even bread. It's more like a
giant risen ravioli. It is only "bread" in the chemical
sense of being mostly starch. I wasn't expecting much,
but I wasn't expecting it to be this horrible.

If you want a microwave panini, get Trader Joe's. That's
made with actual sliced bread, with authentic grill marks.
It's really pretty good, considering what it is. It isn't
at all like the Hot Pockets abomination.

On Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:59:30 +1300, bob >
wrote:

>On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:45:22 -0700, "<RJ>" >
>shouted from the highest rooftop:
>
>>The French eat pate ( goose liver ), fungus ( truffles ),
>>snails, etc. etc..... and folks swoon over the "gourmet" meals.
>>
>>So why can't KRAFT cheese noodles be "gourmet" ?
>>What about "Moms Apple Pie"?
>
>If you have to ask why "KRAFT cheese noodles" isn't considered to be
>gourmet cuisine then I'm afraid that even a dictionary won't help you.

Thank you so much for that thoughtful response.
I've pasted the dictionary def below.

Apparently, if we annoint one person "a Gourmet"
and if he pronounces KRAFT noodles to be "gourmet"
then.... they are !

If you had UNDERSTOOD my original posting, I was curious
as to WHO gets to define what is gourmet eating.

Because, no matter how good Moms Apple Pie,
it is just kitchen fare until blessed by a GOURMET !

gour·met



gour·met (g¢r-m¹, g¢r¹m´) noun
A connoisseur of fine food and drink.

noun, attributive
Often used to modify another noun: gourmet cooking; gourmet
restaurants.

[French, from Old French, alteration (influenced by gourmand,
glutton). See gourmand, of groumet, servant, valet in charge of wines,
from Middle English grom, boy, valet.]
Usage Note: A gourmet is a person with discriminating taste in food
and wine, as is a gourmand. Gourmand can also mean one who enjoys food
in great quantities. An epicure is much the same as a gourmet, but the
word may sometimes carry overtones of excessive refinement.


The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third
Edition is licensed from Houghton Mifflin Company. Copyright © 1992 by
Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Selected Illustrations from the Concise Columbia Encyclopedia.
Copyright © 1991 by Columbia University Press.

"Sqwertz" > wrote in message
...

> Armed with that information, maybe you would post something
> constructive.
>
OK, fine:

Definitions of gourmet on the Web:

1. "epicu a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good
food and drink)"

Precisely what food is "good". Is it food I like, is it food you like, or
is there a committee (perhaps the editors of Gourmet magazine) that decides
precisely what food is "gourmet" and what food isn't. Case #1 where a
dictionary doesn't really answer anything.

2. "Gourmet magazine is a monthly publication of Condé Nast Publications
(which also produces its sister publication Bon Appétit). First published in
1941, Gourmet is a magazine which focuses on good living, travel,
entertaining, and culture. The magazine bestows the "America's Top Tables
Award"."

There is a magazine with that title. Unfortunately, that was not the
question. Do the editors of this magazine get to decide who is a "gourmet"
and who is not. Do they get to decide exactly what food is and is not
"gourmet." May be the do, but if so, I would like to know why they are the
committee and not someone else. Case #2 where a dictionary doesn't really
answer anything.

3. "Gourmet is a cultural ideal associated with the culinary arts of fine
food and drink, or haute cuisine. The term and its associated practices may
have negative connotations of elitism or snobbery, but is often used
positively to describe people of refined taste and passion."

What precisely is "refined taste and passion?" Who gets to decide this?
Where precisely is the line between "elitism or snobbery" and "refined taste
and passion?" Who gets to decide that?" Case #3 wher a dictionary doesn't
really answer anything.

4. "A connoisseur in eating and drinking. Also called a foodie, a gourmet is
someone who takes their food considerably more seriously than most."

What precisely does it mean to "take your food considerably more seriously
than most". Case #4 where a dictionary doesn't really answer anything.

5. "One who appreciates the fine art of cooking." Does "appreciate" merely
mean that you enjoy it, that you are good at it, that you like eating at
"gourmet" restaurants, that you make certain dishes, that you use certain
ingredients, what? Oh and by the way, I looked up the word "appreciate"
just to make you happy (long my goal in life), and that doesn't really
answer anything eiter. Case #5 and #6 where a dictionary doesn't really
answer anything.

A dictionary has its uses, but it has more limitations. One of those
limitations is that it does nothing to answer the OP's original question. I
am at a loss exactly what you expect him to use a dictionary for.

Brian Christiansen

On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:59:57 -0700, "<RJ>" > wrote:

>A connoisseur of fine food and drink.

in the south we call them a "sun tanned nostril buffoon".


And I meant that in the nicest way, darlin'.

Brian Christiansen > wrote:

> "Sqwertz" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>> Armed with that information, maybe you would post something
>> constructive.
>>
> OK, fine:

Oh, you again. You just post here to get into fights and flame
wars.

[snip]

And your arguments are lame. You're nothing but a sissy whiner.

ObFood: I made my best batch of sausage today. Half pork, half
beef, and little bit of a lot of other things. No recipe, no
measurements, and I even got the salt content right on he first try
just by eyeballing it.

-sw

"Sqwertz" > wrote in message
...
> Brian Christiansen > wrote:
>
>> "Sqwertz" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>> Armed with that information, maybe you would post something
>>> constructive.
>>>
>> OK, fine:
>
> Oh, you again. You just post here to get into fights and flame
> wars.
>

No I don't. The OP has a perfectly legitimate question. What is a
"gourmet?" Who is a "gourmet?" Who gets to decide this? How on earth is a
dictionary of any use whatsoever in answering these questions. The
definitions that you cited certainly aren't. Is there a dictionary
somewhere that actually answers these questions?

> And your arguments are lame. You're nothing but a sissy whiner.
>
The definitions you cited are useless, at least in terms of actually
answering the OP's question. Hmm..no real arguments again, so you resort to
childish insults.

Brian Christiansen

"<RJ>" > wrote in message
...

> If you had UNDERSTOOD my original posting, I was curious
> as to WHO gets to define what is gourmet eating.
>
For whatever it is worth, I think I understood that is what you were getting
at, or at least that you were not asking for the dictionary definition of
the word "gourmet.". I also agree with you that a dictionary is somewhat
useless in answering your question.

Brian Christiansen

Brian Christiansen > wrote:

> "Sqwertz" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Brian Christiansen > wrote:
>>
>>> "Sqwertz" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>
>>>> Armed with that information, maybe you would post something
>>>> constructive.
>>>>
>>> OK, fine:
>>
>> Oh, you again. You just post here to get into fights and flame
>> wars.
>
> No I don't. The OP has a perfectly legitimate question. What is a
> "gourmet?" Who is a "gourmet?" Who gets to decide this? How on earth is a
> dictionary of any use whatsoever in answering these questions. The
> definitions that you cited certainly aren't. Is there a dictionary
> somewhere that actually answers these questions?

Oh, stop your pathetic whining. You just proved my point perfectly.
(Can I call them or what? Sheesh)

-sw

On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:59:57 -0700, "<RJ>" > wrote:
>
>gour·met
>
>
>
>gour·met (g¢r-m¹, g¢r¹m´) noun
>A connoisseur of fine food and drink.
>
>noun, attributive
>Often used to modify another noun: gourmet cooking; gourmet
>restaurants.
>
>[French, from Old French, alteration (influenced by gourmand,
>glutton). See gourmand, of groumet, servant, valet in charge of wines,
>from Middle English grom, boy, valet.]
>Usage Note: A gourmet is a person with discriminating taste in food
>and wine, as is a gourmand. Gourmand can also mean one who enjoys food
>in great quantities. An epicure is much the same as a gourmet, but the
>word may sometimes carry overtones of excessive refinement.
>
>
I think most of us here are gourmands, not gourmets.

http://www.merriam-webster.com

gourmet

Function:
noun
Etymology: French, from Middle French, alteration of gromet boy
servant, vintner's assistant, probably ultimately from Middle English
grom groom
Date: 1820

: a connoisseur of food and drink; broadly: connoisseur
2 <a film gourmet>
synonyms see epicure
— gourmet adjective

So, a gourmet is a connoisseur. We are not connoisseurs. We just
like food (a lot).

connoisseur

Function: noun
Etymology: obsolete French (now connoisseur), from Old French
connoisseur, from connoistre to know, from Latin cognoscere — more at
cognition
Date: 1714

1: expert; especially: one who understands the details, technique, or
principles of an art and is competent to act as a critical judge
2: one who enjoys with discrimination and appreciation of subtleties
<a connoisseur of fine wines>

Now look up gourmand... all you need to see here are the synonyms.

synonyms epicure, gourmet, gourmand, gastronome mean one who takes
pleasure in eating and drinking. epicure implies fastidiousness and
voluptuousness of taste. gourmet implies being a connoisseur in food
and drink and the discriminating enjoyment of them. gourmand implies
a hearty appetite for good food and drink, not without discernment,
but with less than a gourmet's. gastronome implies that one has
studied extensively the history and rituals of haute cuisine.



--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

"Sqwertz" > wrote in message
...

> Oh, stop your pathetic whining. You just proved my point perfectly.
> (Can I call them or what? Sheesh)
>
Again, you prove that you have no real answer to the OP's original question,
so you resort to the only thing you apparantly know how to do, throwing
around childish insullts.

Brian Christiansen

On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:01:13 -0700, "Brian Christiansen"
> wrote:
>
>"<RJ>" > wrote in message
.. .
>
>> If you had UNDERSTOOD my original posting, I was curious
>> as to WHO gets to define what is gourmet eating.
>>
>For whatever it is worth, I think I understood that is what you were getting
>at, or at least that you were not asking for the dictionary definition of
>the word "gourmet.". I also agree with you that a dictionary is somewhat
>useless in answering your question.
>
I think it's pretty clear. Connoisseurs and gastronomes call the
shots. My question is "Who cares?" Word meanings have always been
stretched by advertisers. It's not a new trend.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:53:13 -0700, "Brian Christiansen"
> wrote:

>Brian Christiansen

Brian, are you related to Bert C?


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

Brian Christiansen > wrote:

> "Sqwertz" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>> Oh, stop your pathetic whining. You just proved my point perfectly.
>> (Can I call them or what? Sheesh)
>>
> Again, you prove that you have no real answer to the OP's original question,
> so you resort to the only thing you apparantly know how to do, throwing
> around childish insullts.

And again <yawn>

-sw

On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:59:57 -0700, <RJ> wrote:
>
> Because, no matter how good Moms Apple Pie,
> it is just kitchen fare until blessed by a GOURMET !
>

if you eat it with a slice of fine artisanal cheddar it becomes gourmet.
but i don't think that is enough to help spam.

your pal,
blaked

In article >,
"<RJ>" > wrote:

> I've been following the thread about KRAFT Cheese Noodles.
> I notice the word "gourmet" being tossed aound.
>
> What IS "gourmet" ?
> A state of mind ? ingredients ? someones pronunciation ?
>
> The French eat pate ( goose liver ), fungus ( truffles ),
> snails, etc. etc..... and folks swoon over the "gourmet" meals.
>
> So why can't KRAFT cheese noodles be "gourmet" ?
> What about "Moms Apple Pie"?
>
> In a cooking group like this, surely someone
> can define the boundries of "gourmet".....

Some 35 years ago I had a conversation with the then-editor of the
Minneapolis Star's Taste section editor, Judith Bell. Don't remember
how the subject came up but I remember her saying that a meatloaf could
be gourmet food if it was made with high quality ingredients and "made
well." It could be simple food. To her, gourmet did not have to
include fancy and fancy did not necessarily mean gourmet. Being tasty
was a given. :-)
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller
"What you say about someone else says more
about you than it does about the other person."