What is the difference between Basic and Gourmet Cooking?

2009-09-15T20:42:00.000-07:00

Basic Cook:
Favorite Recipe Secrets

I think the majority of us are basic cooks. In my opinion, being a basic cook means that the meals are planned, time consuming and tasteful. Basic cooks have tried and tested meals that suit their individual/family’s taste. Basic cooks know what they like to eat and approximately how long it will take to prepare those meals. With our busy life-styles basic cooks want their family’s well feed with healthy well balanced meals. Every family has his/her favorite dishes and will proudly claim that the recipes for those favorites are family secrets. Generally, people will go to restaurant for a gourmet meal. A gourmet restaurant serves the highest quality food. With a sense of adventure you can learn how to cook gourmet meals at home.

Gourmet Cooking:

Epicure is a connoisseur meaning having an acquired refined and discriminating taste in foods and wines. An old French alteration (influenced by gourmand, glutton) of gourmand. Gourmet meals involves high-quality ingredients with skilled preparation. Gourmet cooking involves only high quality and fresh ingredients. Let us compare. In basic cook if a recipe calls for garlic usually powdered garlic is used. With gourmet cooking only fresh chopped garlic is used. Consider if herbs are called for shop locally or consider growing your own. Having your own herbal garden saves money and make a world of difference in the taste of your gourmet experience. Not only do are herbs taste bud delights but they carry health benefits. In basic cooking we may defrost meat or use frozen vegetables. Not in gourmet cooking ONLY fresh. Gourmet chefs consider their meals works of art. There is a balance between colors and texture. Cooking time is important because it effects color and texture.

Compare a Basic Cook Salad to a Gourmet Salad:

Basic salad would consist:

-Iceberg lettuce 1/2 (shredded)
-1 garden tomato
-Shredded carrots (2)
-Green onions (4)
-½ chopped cucumber
-Choose of dressing

Gourmet Salad:

Tropical Fruit Salad with Mint - serves 8
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
2 (10 ounce) packages mixed greens
4 thinly sliced chicken, chopped
2 tomato, chopped
1/4 tsp onion powder
3 dashes garlic powder
1 tspn ground black pepper
1 tspn salt
3 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing

Saute onion and bell pepper until soft; set aside to cool.
In a large salad bowl, combine the onion, pepper, salad greens, deli meat and tomato. Sprinkle with the onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper and salt. Toss to mix.
Pour on enough salad dressing or vinegar to coat, toss again and serve.
I am not suggesting cooking only basic or gourmet. Consider alternating between basis and gourmet cooking. Gourmet cooking is more time consuming and expensive than basic cooking. My comfort level was basic cooking but after my initial trial and error period gourmet cooking became quick and easy. The advantages are greater taste and quality. Compare the costs of dining at a gourmet restaurant and consider the money saved learning how to cook gourmet at home. Your family and friends will take pleasure in in your new gourmet meals.

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Difference between Basic and Gourmet Cooking

What is the difference between Basic and Gourmet Cooking?