Connoisseur engaging US vice-president and British PM in conversation? (7)

I believe the answer is:

gourmet

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'connoisseur' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for gourmet that I've seen before include "Connoisseur of good food and drink" , "Food lover" , "Discriminating eater" , "connoisser of good food" , "One has a passion for fine food and wine" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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