Food Philosophy
January 30, 2003

Gourmet: anyone who likes good food

I love this definition- it includes every person I have ever met. In this new column you will release your inner gourmet; you’ll find simple yet sophisticated ways to punch up your daily menus and entertainment plans. Reluctant to try new things because of time constraints or worry that the kids might hate it? Together we’ll make new food discoveries and techniques as easy and exciting as possible. The mantra for the Everyday Gourmet is simple: indulge your passion for food in some way, everyday. It takes just a small “extra” to make an ordinary meal extraordinary. Try chopping a handful of fresh herbs for a simple pasta dish; your meal will improve threefold. Use kosher salt instead of table salt. It is the “traffic cop” of the food world and will organize and intensify flavors without making your food taste salty. If you have a dish that is too spicy, sour, or salty, add a dab or two of maple syrup to rebalance the flavors. I will be sharing hundreds of chef’s tips, recipes and food facts with you in the coming months. For me, cooking is a hobby. In real life I work as a business consultant, and have a hungry husband and three teenagers to feed; there is rarely enough time or energy to go around. Mainly self-taught, I have cooked in many professional and home kitchens. I studied at La Varenne with Anne Willan (recently voted best cooking teacher by Bon Appetit), in Burgundy, France, and completed her Professionals Course in 1995. I believe food is a wonderful gift that people give to eachother in a connected community, and the quality of that act permeates every level of our everyday lives. Let’s begin with gremolata, there is no faster path to a great meal, sprinkle it on every tired mid-winter dish you can.

- Gremolata (greh-moh-LAH-dah)
- Grated zest of 1-2 lemons
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Handful of fresh parsley, cleaned and minced

Mix well.

Kim Dannies is a graduate of La Varenne Cooking School in France. She lives in Williston, VT with her husband, Jeff, and three college–aged daughters who come and go. ©2008