gourmet food education

What are the paths that different people take to learn how to cook gourmet food?

• professional cooking
  • go to culinary school
  • it's possible to avoid the huge expense of culinary school by getting real-world experience, especially in higher-end restaurants, especially working in a variety of cuisines and positions
• home cooks
  • various suggestions: [1]
  • important books:
    • New Complete Techniques | Jacques Pépin
      • he has lots of video content available online
    • The Professional Chef | The Culinary Institute of America, the general textbook for that school
    • On Food and Cooking | Harold McGee