DISQUS

Olaf · 10 months ago

hehehe, now that I'm in Madrid I miss my almuerzos from Valencia (esmorzar is the catalan word). I think they also do it in Catalunya, because when I lived in Terrassa I used to do the esmorzar with my neighbours, but I'm not sure if it was because my family came from Valencia and they imported the tradition.
In Madrid is more common the desayuno, which is just after you arrive to work, and it is nothing more than a breakfast.

gabriellaopaz · 10 months ago

Olaf, who knew that we weren't the only ones living in Terrassa?! To be honest, you are absolutely correct in saying that almuerzo is the same as esmorzar, which is quite similar to desayuno. If there is a distinct difference, I'm not aware of it, as every work place I've worked at seemed to break around 10:30 am for their coffee and regional pastry of choice.

Olaf · 10 months ago

You are right, there are differences between desayuno and almuerzo. In Valencia is later (10:30-11:00) and it is something salty (like a blanc i negre bocadillo, for example) and here in Madrid desayuno is as you said sweet with coffee (traditional churros, for example) and earlier around 9:00 am.
I definitely prefer the Mediterranian version and have my breakfast at home. Also this version is more wine friendly ;)

Wink Lorch · 10 months ago

It certainly used to exist also in southern Germany - of all places - where it was called Brotzeit (bread-time) or sometimes more formally "Zweite frühstück" (2nd breakfast). When I spent a month working in Münich in the 70s they would start work at around 7am and then stop at 9.30/10 for Brotzeit consisting of a large beer and a sausage - I was appalled and stuck to coffee. Lunch was at 11.45/12 and was a pretty grim affair too. I suspect somehow things have changed - at any rate, I would much prefer your almeurzo.

Ivan · 10 months ago

Olaf - thanks for reading! I have a question for you:

My catalán-english dictionary tells me that esmorzar means to have breakfast and my catalán-castellano one says it means desayunar. If it means almorzar, then what´s the word for breakfast?

My bet is café...

Andrea · 10 months ago

Ivan, really interesting article, I didn't even realize that Spain hardly used the word almuerzo to refer to lunch! Growing up around all Latin Americans and then living in Miami, that's what everyone calls lunch and it's a big meal. In Portugal it's practically the same word used, "almoçoª but interestingly enough is that they have a period much like elevenese but in the afternoon as a snack called "lanche" which is pronounced the same way as lunch! That was a bit confusing for me at first hahaha, but they do also have that mid-morning meal as well, consisting of coffee, a sandwich or pastry, though from my observation, people vary their morning meals at the pastelerias from as early as 7am to as late as 11am with no alcohol as well usually. Anyhow, maybe I didn't catch it but what DO they actually call lunch in Spain? :p