Gastrique

Definition

A sweet-and-sour sauce made by caramelizing sugar and adding vinegar. Sounds like a stomach condition but tastes like culinary enlightenment. It's what separates a $12 duck breast from a $42 duck breast -- two tablespoons of fancy vinegar sugar.

Example Usage

"The chef drizzled a balsamic gastrique on my pork chop and charged me an extra $15 for what is essentially a tablespoon of sweet-and-sour sauce with a diploma."

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