Gazette

Some throw away superfluous items accumulated during the year and invitations to vernissages that were left without an RSVP, and some spend hours choosing the perfect outfit for the New Year’s Eve party (à propos, #totalblack or #shinebright?). But everyone, EVERYONE, even the most skeptical, reads the horoscope, hoping that their Sign will be the most delighted with luck.

For Gourmode, I analyzed the general mood of 2024 from a very particular perspective: that of the Tarot. I extracted a Major Arcana for each Sign, interpreting small pointers and predictions in a gourmet à la mode fashion, for a year in the name of pleasure!

Take a seat at my table, let yourself be guided by the golden candelabras and the astrology-themed embroidery of the Burgundy red velvet tablecloth, and I will serve you an amuse-bouche of stellar advice.

Voilà the GOUROSCOPE, bon appétit!

Gourmode tip: Do something amazing, like a tattoo that says “Revolution,“ although we would love the word “Gourmode“ even more!

Taurus, the zodiac sign of certainty at the dinner table, like a mouth-watering Sunday lunch, has been shaken like a Cosmopolitan in the past few years, but those who have been able to turn this storm into a triumph of positive change now face the ultimate challenge: to come to terms with their emotions and immerse themselves in them like a marshmallow in a fondue au chocolat. Taurus Gou Gous need to slow down the pace this year, to figure out what’s on their minds and thus pamper their creative and romantic streak. This can be done when the people they choose make them feel safe and understood. Remember that Taurus is a sign that, like a grandmother making fresh pasta, cherishes its values!

Gourmode tip: Indulge in plenty of moonlit dinners, while listening to sublime jazz, with your own beloved comfort foods.

Asking you to keep calm and quiet is like asking an ice cream not to melt under the hot sun –a Mission Impossible! The Papess reveals the arcane to you in order to make the impossible possible: take a moment of respite, this is the year of contemplation. Your 2023 has been busier than the waiting list at Osteria Francescana, so don’t fuss like a boiling pot: treat yourselves to the luxury of gathering all the information raining down on you and simmering it down.

Gourmode tip: This is the perfect year to start that yoga or meditation class you’ve been putting off for too long. Relaxation is every social addict’s cherry on top!

A hit song from the 2000s said “Ci vuole calma e sangue freddo,” or “You need to keep calm and cool,” just like the mantra of Cancer’s Gou Gous for the year 2024. In 2023, they shone like light dancing in a Baccarat flûte. They now have wings wide enough to fly over every challenge, but will they be flexible enough to face the toughest one, which is the one against haste? Temperance teaches them that the key is not only in the balance of flavors but also in patience. Their motto? “Trust the process,” as a chef would say while patiently waiting for the soufflé to puff up in the oven.

Gourmode tip: Avoid excess and flamboyancy, discover the virtues of vegetarian food and fruit juices, perhaps sipped poolside at your favorite spa. Oubliez vos chagrins!

In 2024, Leos will make a stellar upgrade, moving from caterpillar to butterfly status, returning to being as radiant as their nature dictates. It’s your time to shine, but first… a good decluttering is just what you need! Just like a gentle exfoliation that revitalizes a dull face, you will need to scrub your life to bring out the Sun that normally watches over your Sign.

Gourmode tip: Choose your skincare carefully, and consequently the right opportunities to show off your glow. Favor, for example, lunches or brunches on a sunny rooftop. Be the croissant au beurre in a world of unsalted bread.

I am well aware that Virgo Gou Gous prefer to DIY to show off their proverbial perfectionism, but in 2024 I recommend that you try to collaborate by forming the right alliances and learning to ask for a helping hand. Start with small gestures: hire a top-tier catering company for your New Year’s Eve dinner, so you can show off all your organizational talents in a table setting, as long as it is in theme with your Arcanum. Choose warm, golden hues, such as those in the Soleil d’Hermès table set collection.

Gourmode tip: What better union than food and wine? Study the best pairings for your gourmet dinners.

Oh là là, what better theme for the most indecisive sign of the Zodiac than that of choices and options? Like in front of an all-you-can-eat buffet, you will be able to grab your full of all the trays of possibilities that 2024 will offer, without even having to worry about calories! And if you feel overwhelmed by the options, remember: it’s like being presented with a menu with too many delicacies. Just get confident and say, “Je prends tout!”. Be assertive and follow those talents too long neglected because of your uncertainty.

Gourmode tip: Spoil yourself! When you find yourself thinking “This or that?” the right answer will be “Les deux.”

Like the Taurus Gou Gous, in 2023 your sign was forced to cut out the superfluous with a Japanese santoku in order to balance all the elements of your life, such as when you have to choose between a bottle of Château Margaux and saving for the new Limoges porcelain serving set. As we know, every recipe has its secret; in this case, it is harmony between the ingredients. Dear Gou Gous, in 2024 you will find the right balance with the discipline that distinguishes you, choosing judiciously what to keep and what to discard, preserving that irresistible aplomb of someone with the power to approve or blacklist a dish.

Gourmode tip: Since you are able to make it all add up, I suggest a Food Costing course to make the numbers add up, too.

J’adore ça: an Arcanum about travel for the most wandering Sign of the Zodiac! How about you start packing your bags? If the discombobulations of 2023 caused you the feeling of jet lag after an intercontinental flight, in 2024 you will return to wanting to explore the world and discover what it has to offer you. Let yourself go on every adventure with the spirit of a wandering Gou Gou, not as a mere tourist. Make sure that all your five senses have already been booked for an unprecedented journey.

Gourmode tip: In addition to preparing your palate for the delicacies of the world, learn new languages! You could say “Gluttony“ in at least four different ways and feel like true connaisseurs.

My dear Capricorns, fear not, this is not a bad omen: this Arcanum advises you to bring out your bolder side and to stop resisting temptation! The Devil may even make you feel a bit rebellious. Have you ever thought of abandoning your strict diet for a night, and diving into a world of chocolate and champagne? This super-hot Arcanum might suggest daring to try something new. Maybe it’s time to invite someone to dinner for an aphrodisiac recipe. It can be a super 2024 for business, and that may be the juiciest news in this GOUROSCOPE.

Gourmode tip: For a spicy year, learn to use spices wisely, without causing anyone to sneeze. That would not be chic!

If your sign is normally the one most likely to make innovative and over-the-top choices, for the coming year it is better to stick to traditions. No crazy experiments with flavors: opt for the reassuring familiarity of your staples, even the culinary ones. The Pope is guiding you on the path of wisdom, and a little discipline won’t hurt. I know this is like telling Ferran Adrià to prepare a “mundane” dish, but remember that even a modest puree, if taken to excellence, can become a Michelin-star dish, like Joël Robuchon’s. The Pope can also be a mentor, so why not ask for style tips from a Gou Gou whose irresistible charm you particularly admire?

Gourmode tip: Treat yourself to an all-Italian journey to discover the flavors of La Dolce Vita.

Pas de surprise! In 2024, there will be no rules or limits to your already well-known eccentricity. Whether it’s nonchalantly swinging from a crystal chandelier, wearing a hat adorned with peacock feathers, or showing up in Valentino Red to a white dress code dinner, you choose your transgression: the important thing is not to fall into the trap of routine and repetitiveness. This is the year of first times, so make a list of activities and restaurants you’ve never tried and start ticking it off! The Fool is a bon vivant, so indulge in the pleasures of life without too many inhibitions. There’s room for innovation, too: why not try a dish with an out-of-the-ordinary ingredient, such as novel foods? The only limit is your imagination. Be visionary!

Gourmode tip: Go against the grain, don’t follow trends, but dictate them!

If you enjoyed it, share this GOUROSCOPE with all Gou Gous who want a taste of the irresistible pleasures that await them in the new year.