My friend Joe (for lack of a better name :)) can and does prepare gourmet meals at his house, at my house, in the RV, at moose camp, at sheep camp, and on the banks of the Copper.
Joe's cooking gear? A roll of Wusthof knives; 12 in all (IIRC). He brings fewer than that on hunting/fishing trips, but even at his house, he doesn't use kitchen gadgets....although I'm quite envious of his kitchen full of Sub-Zero appliances.
Joe's profession? Well, retired now, but previously Chef de Cuisine at rated restaurants in San Francisco, Seattle, and in Los Anchorage.