477823 Wed Jan 09 16:58:41 -0800 2008 7 29 Not About Food 0 3279115 It seems that some people use the word interchangeably on here. I always though that a gourmet was a person who appreciated fine food and a gourmand was a glutton. When I googled for the definition, the preferred def of gourmand was a lover of fine food. Is the glutton component of gourmand "old school"? Discuss. Wed Jan 09 16:58:41 -0800 2008 148300 filth 1 3279200 >>>I always though that a gourmet was a person who appreciated fine food and a gourmand was a glutton. <<< That was always my understanding as well, but I have recently heard the two words used exchangeably. According to my dictionary, a "gourmet" is a connoisseur of fine food and drink, i.e. an epicure, while a "gourmand" is a person who delights in eating well and heartily; so, obviously, the words are related, but the second has the nuance of eating "heartily" as well as enjoying fine food. The etymology of the words clears things up a bit. "Gourmand" is from the Middle English word "gourmaunt,' which meant glutton, and "gourmaunt" itself was derived from the Old French word "gourmand/gourmant." That word came from the Old French gromet/gourmet, which was a wine merchant's servant. Wed Jan 09 17:25:04 -0800 2008 3279115 11028 DanaB 1 3281590 In the words of the late Justin Wilson, in his "Gourmet & Gourmand Cookbook": "A gourmet is a person what likes fine food. A gourmand isn't nothin' but a P-I-G hog. Me, I'm both." Thu Jan 10 11:10:41 -0800 2008 3279115 113176 jmckee 1 3281650 I think a gourmet actively cooks or prepares the good stuff. A gourmond just enjoys the good stuff. Never associated either with gluttony. Thu Jan 10 11:21:47 -0800 2008 3279115 60617 rednyellow 1 3281728 I've noticed the misuse of gourmand here and elsewhere in the food world. At least I was convinced based on a couple years of high school French that it was wrong to use them interchangeably. Then I confirmed it. I was in Europe at a wedding about a year and a half ago and asked the question of some fellow wedding guests, a couple from Lyon, and they confirmed to me that, at least in French, gourmet is a lover of fine food and gourmand is a lover of lots of food. Thu Jan 10 11:37:58 -0800 2008 3279115 47019 gido 1 3281784 A gourmand is considered a glutton, yes. French culinary proponents are advocating that the French Catholic Church update the infamous "Seven Deadly Sins" list to refer to "gloutonnerie" rather than "gourmandise". My Blog: http://www.epicureforum.com Thu Jan 10 11:48:00 -0800 2008 3279115 144280 sirregular 1 3281880 This question came up when I was working at a copy desk of our local newspaper -- where such things are taken very very seriously. I believe the outcome was that according to most current definitions the words can be used interchangeably, although some note that a distinction once was made. Personally, I'll never use them interchangeably and when someone brags of being a gourmand, I tend to smirk and look at their waistline/butt. Thu Jan 10 12:04:51 -0800 2008 3279115 44876 Fuser 1 3282933 in french, gourmet is an adjective and gourmand is a noun. people here use them (incorrectly) interchangeably a lot of the time. Thu Jan 10 16:09:54 -0800 2008 3279115 11796 tuqueboy