Cook Extravagantly, Eat With Pleasure: In Defense of Greed

Greed is one of the seven deadly sins, so who would want to be called greedy?

Nigella Lawson might. One of her prized cookbooks is the Victorian-era A Guide For The Greedy By A Greedy Woman, which she loaned to writer Jeanette Winterson as the inspiration for a thought-provoking essay on the subject.

The author of A Guide For The Greedy By A Greedy Woman was not the usual Victorian lady. Elizabeth Robins Pennell bicycled around Europe, wrote for magazines, and believed cycling and cooking were good for the body and soul. Women should have an appetite, should enjoy eating their food, and — though she was writing for women who could afford their own cooks — should find pleasure in cooking.

Winterson points out that "ERP" used the most luxurious ingredient of all: time.

Time - even tiny amounts of it, can be enjoyed in food preparation. The sandwich is ERP's fast-food - and her descriptions of wrapped paper packages and snow-chilled Alsace transform the office lunch into an encounter with the infinite. "Between slices of good bread place thick uncompromising pieces of beef or mutton... lettuce, celery, watercress, radishes, not one may you not test to your own higher happiness... and your art may be measured by your success in proving the onion to be the poetic soul of the sandwich."

To deeply love food, to enjoy the process of cooking, to pursue the perfect sandwich — this is really what it means to be greedy. If you have ever experienced the particular satisfaction of sitting down and joyfully eating a good meal you have prepared with thought and care, you will appreciate this essay.

• Read the article: Greedy Women at Stylist

(Image: BBC2)

Comments (14)

Where can I find a copy of that book that is not $100? It sounds like I NEED it.

Greed is one of the 7 deadly sins

It sounds like an interesting read.
Hey JesiC: why yes you are correct, you must be a riot at parties.

I was just saying...because I would want someone to correct me if I was wrong. Wasn't fishing for a snarky remark.

Actually greed is a deadly sin, you might knowm it under the name of avarice though.

@vintagejenta, that price is out of my range too at the moment, your local library may be able to get a copy to you for loan for a small fee (mine charges $5 and I've gotten even $500 professional cookbooks on loan from all over the country).

Have you ever heard of Google?

You are all absolutely right about greed being one of the seven deadly sins. Winterson says in the essay that it isn't and I neglected to double-check, but it's been fixed. Thanks!

http://www.archive.org/details/guideforgreedyby00penn

Here's a 1923 version.

Sorry-the above link may not allow you to read it. Here, instead, is a book of her essays which everyone should be able to get:

http://www.archive.org/details/feastsofautolycu00penn

I'm tired of people defending greed. Or trying to change it's meaning to make it OK. Even if it was 100 years ago.

@MsAnon - YES! I found that link too! It is now on my computer. I only had time to read the intro today, but I already know I am going to love the whole book.

Too bad there isn't a reprint available though. I'll just have to scour used bookstores for a vintage copy... Until then, yay internet!

To enjoy cooking or the perfect sandwich is NOT greed. Greed is the desire for more than you need. In the food world this would be the equivalent to gluttony.