A minor symbolism of cooking and teeth exists in the novel, teeth at least representing
ferocity. (See the "dentist" speech in Chapter 3-9. )
Perhaps it alludes to the fact that the fundamental necessity of life -- eating
-- can only be pursued at the expense of another living thing. In Nostromo
Conrad presents the dream-ideal in identical terms: as a fundamental necessity
of life that can only be pursued at the expense of others. Viola's cooking is
explicitly associated with his idealistic cause below, and his imprecations against
it "in general" accompany reflections on the failure of that cause.