Home › Food Science & Culinary Craft › Gastronomy & Cultural Cuisine › gastronomy

gastronomy

gas-TRON-uh-mee /ɡæˈstrɒnəmi/

nounC1GREIELTS

formalacademic

The practice or art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food; the study of the relationship between food and culture.

While 'cooking' refers to the act of preparing food, gastronomy encompasses the entire cultural, historical, and scientific context of eating.

The story behind the word. Coined in the early 19th century, the word literally means 'the laws of the stomach.' It was popularized by the French lawyer Brillat-Savarin, who elevated eating from a biological necessity to a refined academic pursuit.

Word relationships

culinary art: Culinary art focuses more on the skill of preparation, whereas gastronomy includes the study of the eater's experience.

Commonly confused with

culinary: Culinary is an adjective describing the kitchen or cooking; gastronomy is the noun for the whole field of study.

Word family

gastronome (noun): A person who is knowledgeable about gastronomy.
gastronomic (adjective): Relating to gastronomy.

Collocations

molecular gastronomy
local gastronomy
gastronomy tour
modern gastronomy

Example sentences

"Gastronomy is the intelligent knowledge of whatever concerns man's nourishment." A classic definition from the father of the field. (Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, The Physiology of Taste (1825))
"The city's gastronomy is a vibrant reflection of its diverse immigrant history." Discussing the cultural impact of a city's food scene.

Memory hook

Think of an 'astronomer' of the 'gastro' (stomach) system—someone who studies the stars of the food world. The 'laws' (nomos) of the 'stomach' (gastro).

When not to use

Do not use it to describe a quick, utilitarian meal like a fast-food burger eaten in a car.

Fun facts

The first book with 'Gastronomy' in the title was a poem by Joseph Berchoux in 1801.