Conclusion

Food and Sherlock Holmes

In conclusion, it seems that Doyle uses food to emphasise Holmes's deep interest in solving cases.  He sometimes goes pub (for example the Alpha Inn) but it is for investigating. The readers can hardly see the relationship between food and Holmes. Holmes seems to prefer a light meal and it helps to see his rationalism because having heavy meals to take a long time. For example, he has only ham and eggs for breakfast and the rude sandwich for lunch. Moreover, he seems to use the food for his disguise and it shows clearly that the highest priority for Holmes is solving cases. 

When I went to Sherlock Holmes Museum in London, I could not find foods in his flat. I know it is not real flat of Holmes, but I think it should be no foods around his chamber if someone tries to recreate his chamber. I found the dining table but there is any fake food on the plate.

The dining table in Sherlock Holmes Museum

In addition, Holmes is English Bohemian gentlemen. He is the "solitary" person and he belongs no club. Therefore, it seems to be natural that Doyle gives the readers to a description of eating at pubs/restaurants seldom. Missing detail of eating habit and not much description of eating make Holmes be an enigmatic man. Doyle uses descriptions of eating to make Holmes be an enigmatic and the man whose priority is solving cases. On the other hand, there are derivative cookbooks, the pub, and the restaurant of Sherlock Holmes series. It seems that the readers would like to enjoy Holmes's enigma and imagining the gap which is not given the detail in the narrative is one of the ways to enjoy Sherlock Holmes.