How does gourmet cooking differ from basic food cooking?

It's all about the motivation

You might compare them to a staying at a motel vs. staying at a spa... you stay at a motel for functional reasons; you need a place to sleep before you continue on your trip. As long as it has the minimum requirements, the details aren't too important. It's inexpensive and more or less forgettable. When you go to a spa, you want an experience. You are impressed with the details, you are happy to be paying more because you're getting "taken care of" in a detail-oriented, caring way.

Same with food. It's about appealing to your stomach or your soul.

Basic cooking has two main goals: to fill you up so that you aren't hungry, and ideally to keep your body in good, healthy shape. It's not terrible if it's not something you recall fondly, doesn't need to be expensive, and doesn't require a lot of practice or expertise. The basic cook doesn't need to be (not that he/she can't be) proud or deeply involved in the process. It's about getting it on the table.

Gourmet cooking is essentially an art. You consider balances between textures and colors (just like painting), the lasting, memorable effect it has on the diner (like dance), and there is an element of striving for perfection (like singing) that only comes with practice. You use decorative garnishes that basic cooking doesn't bother with, and variety/uniqueness is key. Cooking time is much more critical as it effects color, texture, and taste. Last, the ingredients are meant to impress so often they are more rare and/or expensive.

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