What Did Shakespeare Really Mean by ‘Food of Love’?

Will Shakespeare certainly needs no introduction, but when it comes to his food obsession, that’s no small matter. You see, food has always had a historical place in our hearts and minds… and stomachs. It has been used in literature and culture as a metaphor for love, to insult rivals, explore human nature, and as well-placed humor!

Most literature pros and buffs consider our Will as the penultimate literary savant, with no topic too sacrosanct. This article will explore some of Shakespeare’s most eclectic and famous phrases, artfully woven into his plays, English history, and the common vernacular.

But where to begin… ahh, “there’s the rub.”

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Foods Popular in Elizabethan England – Circa 1600s

First, let’s dive into the favorite foods of the era to understand the context Shakespeare wrote (and dined):

• Sweets: Marchpane (a precursor to marzipan), gooseberry fool (cream pudding), and Shrewsbury cakes were popular.
• Meals: He likely ate meat-heavy dishes, including beef, and “makerouns” (an early type of mac-and-cheese).
• Daily Bread: “Cheat bread” (a type of sourdough) was common.
• Snacks: Theatergoers of the time frequently ate nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts), berries, plums, and shellfish.
• Drinks: Ale was consumed regularly, as it was safer than water. 

Here Are a Few Shakespearean Appetizers!

“Let the sky rain potatoes.” 
The Merry Wives of Windsor (Act 5, Scene 5) – potatoes were viewed as rare, exotic aphrodisiacs, and pleasing to the senses.  

 “If music be the food of love, play on.”
Twelfth Night (Act 1, Scene 1) – food is synonymous with love and a source of desire. 

“He hath eaten me out of house and home.”
Henry IV, Part 2 (Act 2, Scene 1) – Shakespeare is using food to cause conflict, betrayal, and ingratitude.

“You are a fishmonger.”
Hamlet (Act 2, Scene 2) – playful quip that insults someone for smelling like fish.

“His wit’s as thick as a Tewkesbury mustard.”
Henry IV, Part 2 (Act 2, Scene 4) – mocking someone as not very bright or heavy. 

Wit, Wisdom, and Insults – and Why We Love Them So:

Everyone loves a good insult (when not directed at yours truly). It’s human nature to poke fun at the obvious and frivolous. For audiences in William Shakespeare’s day, food took on a whole new and relatable meaning…

• Food spoilage = moral decay 
• Overeating = lack of control 
• Cheap food = low status 
• Rotting food = disgust you can almost smell 

So when Shakespeare insults someone with food, he’s not being cute — he’s being cleverly cunning and cutting. His use of double meanings and food analogies is also meant to entertain the audience and help them relate on a human, visceral level. 

Clever always wins the day and the audience, of course! 

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Selected Sources and Further Reading

• Primary texts – William Shakespeare
• Articles and essays on Shakespeare’s language, symbolism, and everyday references – Folger Shakespeare Library
• Cooking and Dining in Shakespeare’s England – Peter Brears

Note to my readers:
My research draws on travel experiences, books, and, sometimes, AI tools. I love using my own photos whenever possible, but occasionally I include stock or AI-generated images to help illustrate the story.