Gourmet Food & Cooking
We're passionate about food. It's not just something to eat, it's something to be enjoyed. And you don't have to be rich or spend a fortune to enjoy high quality, gourmet food. What makes food delicious isn't the price or the name, but quality ingredients, simplicity, and mindful cooking. You'll find what is typically considered expensive gourmet food here, but you'll also find great recipes, cookbook and cookware reviews, free cooking conversion calculators, and much more.
The food categories above include in depth information on both food groups in general and specific gourmet foods, spices, oils, and more. One of the most important aspects of cooking (and eating!) is quality. Take olive oil for example, used copiously in one of my favorite regional food groups...Italian food. Olive oil made from a single source batch of olives without chemical extraction or treatment is infinitely better than when it's chemically extracted and from different batches of olives.
In Europe, the extra virgin olive oil label cannot legally be used on oil that is chemically extracted. But in the US it can, as the US Department of Agriculture does not adhere to International Olive Council (IOC) standards. Therefore, it's possible to purchase what's labeled as extra virgin olive oil in the US that is not actually extra virgin olive oil! But, if you know what to look for (the extraction process and origin on the label) you can avoid purchasing sub standard olive oil. In the sections above, you'll find a great deal of useful information to help ensure you only purchase quality, delicious ingredients!
Spices: There's a reason the word "spice" is used in the saying "the spice of life". Spices add immeasurable goodness to so many foods, and without fat or sugar! Learn about the most sought after spices including saffron, vanilla, cinnamon, and pepper.
Chocolate: Life without chocolate is barely worth living. Learn about dark, milk, and white chocolate, and what to look for to find only the best quality.
Oil & Vinegar: There's much more to both oil and vinegar than meets the eye. Did you know that a single bottle of real balsamic vinegar can cost upward of 100 euros in Italy? Find interesting information and everything you need to know to choose the best product.
Meat: Prosciutto with Parmigiano or melon... A quality meat is hard to beat! Learn about Wagyu, Kobe Beef, and Escargot, and what makes these gourmet meats so special.
Mushrooms: Truffles are bought for thousands of dollars a pound. Need I say more? Find out how truffles, chanterelles, porcini, and morels are harvested, and why they're in such high demand.
Cheese: There's not much that isn't made even better with cheese. And the gourmet classics are hard to beat: Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino, Gorgonzola, Brie, Camambert...just reading the words can can make you hungry! See what goes best with various cheeses, and how and where they're made best.
Seafood: Caviar can be more expensive than gold. Is it justified? Learn about the different types of caviar, along with other gourmet seafood including salmon and where to buy it.
Recipes & More
If you're looking for great recipes check out our blog, where you'll find some of my favorite gourmet recipes, links to other quality food sites and blogs, culinary journeys, and reviews of excellent cookbooks and cookware.
Enjoy!