Gastronomists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals who study or are experts in the art and science of good eating and culinary practices
2. Professionals dedicated to the exploration and appreciation of fine food and beverages
3. Specialists engaged in understanding diverse cuisines and food cultures across the world

Etymology: The Greek root "gastēr" meant "stomach," and "nomos" meant "law" or "rule," so "gastronomy" originally described the rules governing eating. Archestratus, a Greek writer whose poem on the pleasures of the table survives only in fragments, is among the earliest known authors on the subject, and his work was titled "Hedypatheia," roughly "the pursuit of pleasure." The English term reached us through French, where "gastronomie" was adopted as a name for refined eating and drinking. English then borrowed the French form and its meaning together. "Gastronomist" is a simple formation: "gastronomy" plus the suffix "-ist," which marks a person who practises or follows something, as in "pianist" or "botanist." A gastronomist is therefore someone who pursues the discipline of fine eating.

Synonyms: chefs, cooks