On Being a Gastronome

The peculiar fact about being a gastronome is this; you’re always hungry. Always. But the hunger of a gastronome transcends the physical state of needing food. The desire to be sated runs much deeper. It’s a hunger for ideas, tastes and flavours. When I have a lot to do, I sometimes worry that there are not enough hours in the day; as a gastronome, I constantly worry that there are not enough meals in a lifetime. It’s not a matter of gluttony or unbridled desire; it’s a matter of obsession. Food is something a gastronome celebrates and as such, there is always something to be tasted, a new recipe to try or a new ingredient to experiment with, a new restaurant to discover, a cheese to sniff, a wine to appreciate or a gadget to test. I see nothing wrong with struggling to finish my dessert whilst discussing what to have for lunch the following day.

Katie Phelan, Food Writer