The holidays are upon us and that means lots of meals, both at home and dining out. We almost need a PhD in Culinary Arts to plan a proper menu these days. There are some obscure food acronyms that we all should be aware of as we choose our meals. I’ll get to those later. This is a good time to reacquaint ourselves with important eating terms. Also to learn a new term that I’ve coined to better describe where today’s food issues have taken us. As a refresher, let’s start with the difference between a gourmet and gourmand.
A gourmet is someone who knows everything about food, especially from a historical perspective. Her palate is so discerning that she eschews any restaurant that isn’t up to her standards. She seeks out haute cuisine and rare ingredients. You may be wondering what she does when she’s a guest at a party where the hostess is not also a gourmet. Good question! A true gourmet will travel with a package of acceptable food in her purse. After excusing herself for a trip to the powder room, she nibbles just enough to keep her stomach from growling until she gets home.
So, how is a gourmand different from a gourmet? A gourmand is someone who enjoys eating. Period. He’ll consume anything that isn’t nailed down. More often than not, he’s a glutton with nothing discerning in his palate. You won’t find restaurants that feature small plates and tapas on his dine-around list. He’ll probably turn down invitations to holiday parties where the fare will mostly consist of grazing on light appetizers. Chances are you’ll never hear his stomach growl, though it likely hangs over his belt!
This brings me to the third eating term, one of my own making: the gourmaven. You make have heard the word “maven” before, perhaps as a herring maven. A maven is an expert in a particular field, someone who is proud to pass on his knowledge to others. A gourmaven differs from a gourmet in that his field of culinary expertise is focused on the latest trends. Gourmets usually share their knowledge only as a way to show off their own expertise. A gourmaven keeps informed of all the new food information and trends and shares them freely.
Let’s start with some food items that a gourmaven should understand. You might already know about one of them, and that’s kombucha. I kept seeing it but I didn’t have a clue what it was. This is what my research turned up. Kombucha tea is a fermented, lightly effervescent, black tea that supposedly has health benefits. Kombucha is a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). I still don’t have a clue what it is, but I suggest we become familiar with the acronym, just in case there’s a test somewhere.
I also see a lot about bone broth these days. It supposedly offers many health benefits, especially for your joints, gut and skin. It sounds downright creepy to me, like something witches would brew in a huge black caldron. I have no plans to make my own, despite what the so-called experts recommend. And it’s not going on my shopping list, either. However, as your resident gourmaven, I’m obligated to put it on your radar.
This brings me to my last acronym, one I bet you’ve never seen before. FODMAPs are short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine. They’re likely to soak up water and to ferment in the colon. Sounds yucky? You betcha! Don’t even think about what must be going on down there when you eat FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols).
Research identifies these carbohydrates in FODMAP foods: fructose, lactose, and polyols. That’s all your fruits, your honey and corn syrup, your dairy, and your sugar alcohols. It also includes the lesser known fructans and galactans. Those are not aliens in a Star Trek movie. They’re wheat, onions, garlic and all your legumes. So much for the guidance that says to replace red meat with beans and lentils in your diet and to consume local honey to boost your immune system.
This completes my food tips for this holiday season. You can decide if you’d like to be a gourmet, a gourmand, a gourmaven, or just someone who appreciates a good meal. Whatever your decision, if you’re at a house party, think about pitching in to clear the table and do the dishes after you’ve indulged.
Copyright 2023 Business Theatre Unlimited
