So, what puts the ‘gourmet’ in to a gourmet dinner recipe? What makes a gourmet cook a gourmet? The freshness of ingredients is essential, as is complexity of flavor. ‘Layering’ of flavors is another signature of a gourmet dish worthy of the name. Do you need a degree from a culinary school in order to produce an outstanding dish that spells ‘gourmet’? Certainly not. Let’s take a look at the elements that make the difference between ordinary fare and gourmet dining.

My dictionary defines ‘gourmet’ as “one who likes and is an excellent judge of fine foods and drinks”. While this definition may seem a bit vague, it also implies that the gourmet designation is a matter of taste – yours and those who join you in your meal!

Every gourmet dish begins with simple ingredients, made from the freshest and  highest quality foods you can find. For example, if you’re making lasagna, you can choose to use ‘oven ready’ lasagna noodles from a package. Alternatively, you can use freshly made lasagna of 100% Semolina wheat. Instead of using mozzarella from a hard packaged ball, you can use fresh mozzarella. For your meat, using a high quality Angus beef, with no hormones or other additives, increases your gourmet quotient exponentially. Sausages, made fresh daily from your deli are superior to a processed, additive heavy packaged sausage. Fresh organic produce, such as onions and mushrooms, adds significantly to that gourmet dinner recipe and the subsequent gourmet taste. The message? KISS! The success of any gourmet dinner recipe depends, in part, on simplicity and quality.

Seasonings can make all the difference between a ho-hum taste and a stunning palate pleaser. Consult an herb and spice chart to select those matches ‘made in heaven’. A good example: compare a shrimp scampi without seasoning, to one seasoned with fresh cilantro. The taste between the two is miles apart. In this case, the scampi dish seasoned with cilantro is the gourmet’s choice.

Sauces, used appropriately, are the gourmet dinner recipes best friend. While a grilled chicken breast is tasty, one dressed with a white sauce and garnished with shaved Parmesan and a sprinkling of capers becomes a gourmet dinner. That same plain grilled chicken breast, served with a salsa of tomatoes and fresh basil, is transformed into a gourmet dish.

Use these tips to turn a ‘yawn’ into applause, every time you serve a meal!

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