noun
Refers to a person who loves and knows fine food and drink; often implies refined taste and knowledge.
彼は美食家で、週末はいつも新しいレストランを試している。
He is a gourmet and always tries new restaurants on weekends.
美食家の友達がおすすめの店を教えてくれた。
My gourmet friend recommended a good restaurant to me.
グルメ is a common loanword for 'gourmet' and can be used more casually, sometimes as an adjective (e.g., グルメな人). 美食家 sounds slightly more formal and literary.
Compound of 美食 (fine food, delicacy) and 家 (person, specialist). The word follows a common pattern for describing a person devoted to a particular pursuit.