American English is sadly lacking in names for proper structured between-meal meals. "Snack" doesn't do it, because it has skittered away from structure and taken up residence with furtive fumblings in desk drawers and that sort of thing. I am not quite at the hobbit level of proliferating meals, but I will certainly confess to enjoying both elevenses and afternoon tea -- the latter often featuring coffee, in my case. A hot drink and a little something to take the edge off is just what the between-meal dips in morale and blood sugar call for.
My afternoon goûter is very well in hand, as S. and I have taken to faithfully stopping for a cappuccino and a little bite in Little Italy on our way home from work in the evenings. Midmornings more frequently get short shrift, but sometimes when I am working at home I manage to take the time for a little spread like the one pictured above.
The cookies are Almondias, which I always pick up when I happen to be in a Trader Joe's. I've only ever tried their "original" flavor, but I have found no reason to want to stray. (That said, now that I know that they make other flavors, I find myself intensely curious about what they are like.) Not too sweet, not too unsweet, thin and crunchy, just the thing. Some occasions call for for a baked good that is small and crisp, rather than large or gooey or chewy. The manufacturers take a lot of trouble to emphasize that they are not dreadful for you, but that is entirely beside the point. The important thing is that they are very tasty and a fine complement to a restorative cup of tea.
That looks like genmaicha... one of my favorites! (And if it's not, don't mind me, just wishful thinking.) I'm at work now, and while I have tea here, I don't have that. *sigh*
Posted by: Opheliac9 | 04/18/2005 at 08:55 PM
Genmaicha it is indeed. So good.
Posted by: redfox | 04/18/2005 at 10:02 PM
I think it's "Elevenses", the "ies" being a result of Billy Boyd's Scots accent. Unless you didn't pick the expression up from the LotR film, in which case ignore me.
Posted by: senn | 04/19/2005 at 12:30 AM
I just had a mental glitch, I think, since my bushels of English relatives and children's books of the same origin were my original sources, so Billy Boyd's accent didn't particularly contribute -- but I'm certainly quite wrong, in any case. I'll fix it in the post. Thanks!
Posted by: redfox | 04/19/2005 at 12:36 AM
"Elevenses" never fails to remind me of Paddington Bear. Off to have a spot of tea!
Posted by: christina | 04/24/2005 at 11:38 PM