What does it mean?

Gourmet: someone who is an expert of good food.

Gourmande: someone who enjoys eating, and sometimes eats too much.

By no means do I call myself a food expert. I’m more of a food enthusiast, I guess you could call it… Ever since I was young, I have always loved watching the the FoodNetwork, specifically Iron Chef America. I was amazed by the way the Iron Chefs manipulated simple ingredients into becoming gastronomical masterpieces. Cooking is more than just something useful for survival – It is a skill and an art. Learning how to chop uniformly at lightening speed takes years to master, and I’m not even there yet even though it’s been about a decade since I really got into the kitchen.

I use the word gourmet because I care about good food. I care about the process that ingredients go through from being simple ingredients to becoming a symphony of flavors, textures, and colors. On food competition shows, the final dishes are critiqued based on presentation, taste, and creativity. To achieve all three criteria and execute them perfectly – that is the goal of every chef. We eat with our eyes first, then there needs to be a harmonious balance of all the flavors, and finally, in order for a dish to really stand out, there needs to be some aspect of originality. When I go to restaurants, I love to see how other chefs choose to pair ingredients and flavors. I use the word gourmet because I am fascinated by the art and science of gastronomy.

I am most definitely a gourmande. I eat too much. I eat too fast. And I can never resist food that is sitting in front of me…Even if I’ve already entered into a food coma. Give me a couple minutes, and I’ll be picking away at whatever’s left in front of me. It annoys me when people start questioning me about how I can eat so much, or if I even eat all just because I’m petite. Just to give you an idea, I eat as much (or more) than some of my athlete friends. I call myself a gourmande because I love to eat good food, even if that means a minor stomach ache or falling into a food coma for a couple hours. I am, however, working on that whole eating-too-fast thing… It’s really not the best way to appreciate the food I’m eating, I guess…

I wanted to call my blog Gourmet & Gourmande because I want to review both new and old-favorite restaurants, share my own recipes and kitchen exploits, and be able to talk about my love for food. Here’s to the gourmande in all of us… Thanks for reading!