Elevenses

Learn about the British practice of elevenses.

Have you heard of elevenses?  It’s a strange word to most of us Americans, but to the British it means a morning snack and/or beverage break around 11:00 a.m.  I love the word.  It is just so different from any word in our vocabulary for morning break time. I first heard the word when we did a three-week bicycle trip from the bottom of England to the top of Scotland.  Mike and I were the only Americans cycling with about 20 Brits.  We had a great time, and every morning we stopped for elevenses to rest, feed,  and hydrate our bodies.  We Americans tend to have a break around 10:00 a.m. each morning, but if you are up for a change in your routine, why not try elevenses?  Then you can delay your lunch time if you want to.

You might be wondering what do you eat for elevenses.  Well, the easy answer is that any snack and beverage will do.  It can be simple, or it can be fancy.

However, the popular ones are scones, biscuits (what we call cookies), a bit of chocolate, or even an Oreo.  If you’re a Winnie the Pooh fan, then you know he liked honey on bread with condensed milk for her elevenses.

Beverages can range from a cup of coffee or latte, a cup of tea, a glass of milk, or just water. I’m going to enjoy a piece of freshly-made zucchini bread with tea for my elevenses today.

During the lock-down, I have been enjoying a show on Youtube called Chateau Diaries.  It has over 100 episodes that are around 20 minutes each.  I watch a few each evening and have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the British girl living in her French fixer-upper chateau.  Watching this series has made me enjoy my elevenses each more.  You might want to check it out.

Enjoy your break!

Take care.