Gourmand is not to be confused with gourmet. We gourmands place ourselves high above those connoisseurs of food. They try to find an artistic angle to food they eat be it simple dal-roti or an exotic dish like sushi. We gourmands are those who are neither gourmet nor glutton. We fall somewhere in the middle. Glutton is someone who stuffs oneself like a pig, well that’s how the expression goes never saw a pig eat. So we are just people who eat to enjoy food, take pleasure out of eating and not stuff ourselves nor eat like we are in an scientific experiment. For us breakfast, brunch, lunch, evening tea, dinner all hold equal meanings for us. I ask you what is the problem in living to eat than eating to live?? The term to gourmandize has evolved to be a derogatory term meaning to stuff oneself like a pig. But this is a clear injustice. Gluttonize should rather be the term meaning to stuff oneself like a pig. God when will these people realize that we are not pigs?
So what are you? A glutton, a gourmet or gourmand? Being gourmand is the best of both worlds- gourmet and glutton. Being a gourmet you miss out on the fact that food is there to be eaten not analyzed. You are constantly busy improving food, trying to find new things to be eaten. You wouldn’t even spare the poor little grasshopper in order to make new delicacies. Glutton what can I say about that? Just stuffing food inside your mouth until you choke? You miss out the great taste of food that you’re eating at that instance. What is the use of making or cooking food? Jus’ stuff the ingredients down your stomach and lay down in the sun!
Here follows my schedule. Jus’ see if you can connect with this if yes then you belong to my brotherhood!
1. Breakfast: Mornings are never complete with the usual cup of tea or coffee or even milk according to the age. A hearty breakfast is what most of us carve. Toast with butter, biscuits. Tea has to be so strong that it can jolt a dead man awake. Coffee? Well it should be with so much caffeine that a man can’t sleep for a week. Nay we don’t eat our toast dry. We eat them with butter or jam or both together. I have heard that honey and marmalade are good alternatives but never tried them out so can’t say anything about them. Breakfast like a king , lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper (Personally I don’t believe in the last two since I like to live my life king-size.). Cornflakes are a good alternative. A few people live to have rotis along with their tea. The scope of breakfast is very large. Since your body has not eaten in the last 5-6 hours it requires food to keep it coming.
2. Brunch: Being an auxiliary, it can be a small affair. Some tea, coffee would be more than enough. Along with it some biscuits would be alright! I call it an auxiliary since it can only be availed during holidays.
3. Lunch: After 3-4 hour energy draining shift at the office or the school, good food is always treasured. We gourmands like our full 5 course meal at this stage. Well 5 course whenever available but a full thaali with dahi, achhar, paapdh, salad is a must. A full course consists of first of all soup. Different people prefer different varieties. Some like Hot & Sour, some baby corn but for me tomato rules. Second is of course the salad. Tomatoes, cabbage, onions, etc. Spiced up these really open up your appetite. Main course is an elaborate affair. Everyone to his taste or rather the size of his wallet. What is on the person’s plate is a clear indication of the financial well being of the person. After the main course desserts are greatly appreciated. Yopu may say we have a sweet tooth but don’t sometimes you get an urge to have something sweet after lunch? Lets say that feeling comes to us every day!
4. Afternoon tea: jus’ like brunch, this is an auxiliary. Tea or coffee after your siesta is always loved.
5. Dinner: Well dinner is to be had like a king since you have to fast for over 4 hours in the night! At night wine is greatly loved. Old Wine, brewed for over twenty years is a precious treasure. Full courses are mandatory just like lunches but with different dishes.
Did you know that the shape of the glass plays an important part in the taste of the wine? It is the shape that determines where the wine reaches in the tongue. This brings me to another point. We choose our crockery with the greatest care. The whole touch and feel of the food is lost due to the bad quality of crockery. We use only a specific shop, a specific brand. We all have differences in our community like some like glassware whereas some like bone china.
After reading all this what opinion do you form of yourself? What are you? A glutton who gobbles down his food or a gourmet who cherishes his food or a gourmand like me who enjoys his food and eats to his heartfelt? Contemplate on this.
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