The Microwave Gourmet Cookbook The central concept behind the Microwave Gourmet was to develop a list of recipes that all of us could use in a pinch when we want a delicious meal, but are limited on time and materials. Cooking with microwaves is almost looked down upon by chefs and professionals in food preparation. People seem to have a predisposition to assume microwave food is fast and cheap... as if to prepare food in a microwave damns...