Meaning & use
gastronomy
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Meanings
noununcountableformal
The study and enjoyment of good food and drink, including how it is made and its culture.
Grammar: Never takes a plural or an article in this sense: she studies gastronomy.
Patterns
- the gastronomy of a place
- study gastronomy
She enrolled in a course on the history of gastronomy.
The magazine writes about wine, travel and gastronomy.
His love of gastronomy led him to visit small restaurants all over Italy.
noununcountable
The traditional cooking and eating customs of a particular region or country.
Grammar: Usually followed by of plus a place or used with an adjective: Spanish gastronomy.
Patterns
- the gastronomy of a region
- French gastronomy
Lyon is famous for its gastronomy.
The festival celebrates the gastronomy of the coast, from fresh fish to local wine.
Peruvian gastronomy has won international praise.
Common combinations
- French gastronomy
- French gastronomy is recognized as a cultural treasure.
- molecular gastronomy
- The chef uses molecular gastronomy to turn juice into foam.
- local gastronomy
- We spent the weekend sampling the local gastronomy.
- haute gastronomy
- The hotel is known for its haute gastronomy.
- gastronomy tour
- The company offers a gastronomy tour through northern Spain.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cuisine
- Cuisine is a particular style of cooking, while gastronomy is the wider interest in and culture of good eating.
- cooking
- Cooking is the plain act of preparing food, whereas gastronomy suggests refinement and appreciation.
- epicurism
- Epicurism is a taste for fine food as a personal pleasure and sounds rather old-fashioned, whereas gastronomy covers study and culture.
Word family
- gastronome noun
- a person who enjoys and knows about good food
- gastronomic adjective
- relating to good food and cooking
- gastronomical adjective
- a longer variant of gastronomic
- gastronomically adverb
- in relation to food and eating
Commonly confused: gastronomy or astronomy? gastronomy or gastronomist?
gastronomy vs astronomy
Astronomy is the science of the stars and planets, while gastronomy is about food; they differ by one letter and share the same ending.
gastronomy vs gastronomist
Gastronomist is a rare variant; gastronome is the usual word for a person.
Practice
The city has become a destination for travelers interested in its ______, from street food to fine dining.
Choose one answer.
Gastronomy is about food culture, which matches street food and fine dining. Astronomy sounds similar but concerns stars, and economy and autonomy are unrelated.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gastronomy”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.