What is a gourmet?

Or who is a gourmet? The usual concept is that it is someone who enjoys fine food, in contrast to those who eat incessantly, which makes one a gourmand. Mirriam Webster’s dictionary defines a gourmet as a person who enjoys and knows a lot about good food and wine. A common concept is that gourmet food is exclusively served by hotel outlets and classy restaurants, basically because they have access to ingredients not otherwise available.

Now, homemakers, heed the call of Marketplace by Rustan’s in Rockwell to turn ourselves and our families into “Everyday Gourmets.”

The innovative chain has recently unfolded a treasure trove of fine ingredients from different countries, elements that would allow any housewife to serve her family with dishes that spell “gourmet.” One might argue that these are rather high priced, but note that a bottle of, say, premium olive oil will not be consumed for only one dish. It can be stored for other uses.

One enters Marketplace and will be awed by the array of food elements, starting with a seemingly endless selection of Italian products. Of course, you notice this after passing the collection of cheeses and cold cuts by the entrance. If one is not careful about a budget, he/she can go wild and load his/her basket with crystal salt, sea salt with truffle, blood plum vinegar, Dalla Costa’s maccheroni (we got the semolina pasta flavored with asparagus), Bont Snack bruschi (because we love snacking) which are coin-sized biscuits done with rosemary. There is even a finishing vinegar, something we came across for the first time. It is what one can lightly pour on salads before eating it.

One who fancies mushrooms can try the wild rice polenta with porcini mushrooms. There is much more, but we made sure our cash budget would allow us only to get what we really need and, yes, fancy.  

The vegetables are very attractive, such as the vibrant yellow, red and green capsicums. The girl manning this section would call one’s attention to the organic selection – such as cabbage, potatoes, carrots, lettuce, etc. When eating healthy, make organic your choice. We did with our Filipino fried lumpia.

From the fruits, choose the Black Beauty seedless grapes (P346 a kilo), they are much sweeter. Here at Marketplace, the mangoes are the big kalabaw variety, at P120 a kilo. The mangosteens are tagged at P370 a kilo. We found fresh tamarinds for our sinigang at P27.86 a pack, enough for one recipe.

For non-meat eaters, there are vegetable dumplings at P218 a pack of 675 gms.   

Together with local pork and beef, the meat sold includes imported premium cuts – Aussie lamb rack at P1,025 a kilo and the Wagyu ribs for P2,300 a kilo. From the seafood counter, local curacha sells for P478 a kilo, while lobsters cost more.

Tired after making the rounds? Have a snack or sandwich at Rustan’s counter and be refreshed.

Be a gourmet, choose your food elements wisely.

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