グルメ

ぐるめ
noun / na-adjective
gourmet, foodie, fine food
1. gourmet, foodie, connoisseur of food
A person who appreciates and seeks out high-quality or delicious food.
(かれ)はグルメだ。
He's a foodie.
グルメな友達(ともだち)にお(みせ)(おし)えてもらった。
A foodie friend recommended a restaurant to me.
彼女(かのじょ)はグルメで、いつもおいしいお(みせ)()っている。
She's a gourmet who always knows about delicious restaurants.
2. gourmet food, fine cuisine
High-quality or specialty food and dining. Often used as a modifier to describe food-related things.
グルメ番組(ばんぐみ)()る。
I watch gourmet TV shows.
この(まち)はグルメスポットが(おお)い。
This town has a lot of gourmet spots.
地元(じもと)のグルメを(たの)しむために旅行(りょこう)する(ひと)()えている。
More and more people are traveling to enjoy local cuisine.

グルメ comes from French "gourmet" and is used both as a noun (a food lover) and as a na-adjective/modifier (gourmet, food-related).

USAGE:

  • グルメな + noun: a gourmet ~, food-loving ~
  • グルメ + noun (compound): gourmet ~, food ~

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • グルメ番組(ばんぐみ): food/gourmet TV show
  • グルメサイト: restaurant review site
  • グルメスポット: gourmet spot, foodie destination
  • B(きゅう)グルメ: budget gourmet, cheap but delicious food
  • 当地(とうち)グルメ: local specialty cuisine

NOTE:
In Japanese, グルメ is used much more broadly than in English. It refers not just to a connoisseur but also casually to anyone who enjoys good food, similar to "foodie." B(きゅう)グルメ in particular refers to inexpensive local comfort food, not fine dining.