the proof of the pudding is in the eating/ she felt the tide of public esteem flow to

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to give me your considered opinion concerning the interpretation of the expressions in bold in the following sentence?

But the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and when the epidemic was confined in record time, Olwen felt the tide of public esteem flow slowly but surely toward her. (B. J. Cronin, “Nurse Davies”)

the proof of the pudding is in the eating = quality is tested in practice not by theoretical methods

she felt the tide of public esteem flow towards her = she felt that she was gradually winning public respect

V.

[Mylanguageclick]

"Tide" is something that fluctuates like the tides of the sea ("the tide of public opinion")
Regards.