Gourmet is an ability added in the Blood and Wine expansion that boosts vitalty regeneration from food to 20 minutes and is from the General tree.

Description

• Eating food regenerates Vitality for 20 minutes.

Tips

• The duration is in real life minutes not in-game minutes.
• The skill effectively causes food to just have two types i.e. those that regenerate 50 Vitality per second and those that regenerate 80.
  • Technically there is a 3rd type which regenerates 25 during combat and 40 outside of combat; the Horn of Plenty, however, using the item along with this skill makes little to no sense as normal food is abundant and gives at least twice the amount during combat.
  • The best food item in terms of availability and regeneration rate appears to be pork, which can be farmed for free from infinitely respawning pigs that are found in most human settlements in the game.
• The skill is a good way to survive at the beginning of the game when food is still scarce, especially on higher difficulty settings, as it can be unlocked at any time and only costs one skill point, making it a prime contender to be the very first skill unlocked.
  • A fast way to unlock this skill is by going to the Place of Power south of Broken Bridge, as it's the only one in White Orchard that is danger free, use it to gain a skill point and unlock the skill.
• The skill is less useful later in the game as there are better skills used for survival like Active Shield and Undying and food becomes abundant, however, using this skill one won't have to constantly spam the food they wish to eat. However, there are situations where the skill can prove to be invaluable:
  • There are fights during which using signs and potions is prohibited in which case this skill is the only option left. For example, when fighting Jutta an Dimun during the secondary quest Iron Maiden and during the mock battle during The Warble of a Smitten Knight.
  • With the Hearts of Stone expansion, it is possible to enchant swords with Invigoration in which case the skill can be used as an easy way to boost the damage.
• If the skill is used constantly then there is obviously no sense in using food that regenerates 50 Vitality instead of 80.
  • Obviously a good idea is to sell all the food that regenerates 50 and use the to buy all that regenerates 80.