Opening Up Space: A Lovely Technofeminist Opportunity

Victorian Era Cooking

Victorian Era cooking holds a plethora of historical significance. Much like modern-day cuisine, cooking in the Victorian Era represented levels of the class system; there were several foods and ingredients associated with various socioeconomic classes. Lower class Victorians' cuisine was mostly limited to soups made with onions, butter, meat, and cheese, and dry bread with butter. Middle Class Victorians had a diet generally consisting of foods like potatoes, fish, eggs, vegetables, porridge, and gravy. On the contrary, upper class Victorian cuisine was shaped to exhibit wealth and fruitfulness; rich Victorians would often host lavish dinner parties and make an arguably unnecessary abundance of traditionally opulent dishes as a means to display their social and economic class. 

Another interesting aspect of Victorian Era cooking and home remedies is the extensive yet remarkably casual use of opium. In nineteenth century Britain, opium was like aspirin for Victorians. It was used frequently and without restriction, and was sold at any corner shop. Although eventual restriction occurred, it was still viewed as a non-threatening, effective product to use in home remedies and recipes. 

For information on some significant recipes in Victorian cooking, see https://britishfoodhistory.com/tag/victorian-era/.

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