Different paths that people take to learn how to cook gourmet food

• professional cooking
  • go to 📔culinary school
  • it's possible to avoid the huge expense [2] of culinary school by getting real-world experience, especially working under very experienced cooks (at high-end restaurants?), especially working in a wide variety of cuisines and kitchen 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