[Ana&Steve]

Could someone go over the meal names and purposes to expect in NZ? I thought Tea was more like "cocktail hour" or a light repast and happened around 4pm; a couple of threads are now giving me the impression that Tea is a big meal. Please advise! :confused:
Ana

[StevieD]

LOL, "tea" is a peculiarly British thing, if you have ever watched cricket you notice that they stop for tea at approx 4pm. But in most households it is your evening meal as in "kids, get in it's tea time!" And lunch is often "dinner". Sure you'll get used to it!!:laugh

Steve

[sarahw]

...But just to confuse you, they do have morning tea and afternoon tea as well - which is coffee or tea with cakes, biccies or nibbles - yum! Kiwis think this is a terribly British tradition & they all do it, however, I can tell you I don't think I ever stopped work for a cup of tea and cakes in the UK (especially not on an almost daily basis!) let alone leave my desk & go out to a coffee house without anyone around batting an eyelid!

[katandbob]

...But just to confuse you, they do have morning tea and afternoon tea as well - which is coffee or tea with cakes, biccies or nibbles - yum! Kiwis think this is a terribly British tradition & they all do it, however, I can tell you I don't think I ever stopped work for a cup of tea and cakes in the UK (especially not on an almost daily basis!) let alone leave my desk & go out to a coffee house without anyone around batting an eyelid!

Yes Smoko twice a day for an office worker was a real treat! since its my Birthday today I brought in some cakes.... a british thing that we did in the office - so hopefully it will go down well with the hungry gardeners.....

TEA COFFEE etc is free too, oh and so are the occasional shout - our boss is leaving friday - so its FREE BOOZE AND BBQ - shame I can only stay till 5pm and I am driving! as I am off to Queenstown

($1020 for 4 to d0 the Jet & swing :( - thats my birthday money gone then!)

YIPPEE 10am ....... :exit off to eat cake........... :nice1

[Ana&Steve]

Hmmm, I'm sure we'll get used to it, I'm not one for missing meals!
But if Kiwis make sardine sandwiches for Tea like they do in the UK, well, I'll just stick to the what-do-you-call-em, biccies I Think! :D
Ana

[katandbob]

Hmmm, I'm sure we'll get used to it, I'm not one for missing meals!
But if Kiwis make sardine sandwiches for Tea like they do in the UK, well, I'll just stick to the what-do-you-call-em, biccies I Think! :D
Ana
:laugh :laugh
more like - Whitebait sarnies!

or savory muffin (they will stick anything in a muffin)

bacon.,eggs you name it.

Kat (PS the cakes went down a treat....they asked to try both choices, I suppose gardening all day they can eat like horses!)

[Moorf]

Oh yes, got to have biccies to dunk in your tea!! :nice1 I would be right there with you shunning the sardine sarnies - cucumber triangles for me :D

hahah Kat - you're so right - they'll stick anything in a muffin - even pasta :roll !!

[sarahw]

Pasta? That's a new one - I've seen broccolli & cheese!

[jo-and-jeff]

Meals in New Zealand:
"brunch" - combination of breakfast and lunch (a fairly substantial meal, probably with some cooked food)
"lunch" - around midday, lighter fare (salad, or soup in winter, and some sandwiches)
"dinner" - the main meal, served sometime between 6:00pm and 8:00pm (also referred to as "tea" by some)
"morning tea" or "afternoon tea" - short break for tea or coffee (possibly with some light snacks or cakes)
"supper" - the last meal of the day, often just a cup of tea and/or a snack (comparable to the "midnight snack" in the U.S.)
if you are invited to a picnic or social event in NZ and asked to bring a "plate", it means a dish of food to share.

The preceding information is from Culture Shock! New Zealand (http://www.bestwebbuys.com/Culture_Shock!_New_Zealand-ISBN_1558689710.html?isrc=b-search) by Peter Oettli (if you haven't already gotten this book, I highly recommend it as a "must-have" for adapting to life in New Zealand).

[StevieD]

I can just imagine somebody turning up at a party with an empty plate :laugh

[Trigirl]

sardine sandwiches for Tea like they do in the uk.

do they? thats a new one on me!

[Ana&Steve]

This is strange...I posted earlier, and now it's gone. :confused:
Well, I remembered I thanked jo-and-jeff for the info and the book recommend, and I asked another question: Is "elevensies" an actual term, or just a Hobbit thing? I believe I also asked not to be laughed at too hard if it was a silly question. :D Well, if my post turns up, sorry for the double!
Ana

[Ana&Steve]

Trigirl~ It was my understanding that it was done, I might be generalizing too much! ;)
Ana
/my Scottish friend tells me they're great
//not assured
///I'll have some cucumber triangles, Moorf!

[Trigirl]

ooo - maybe its a scottish thing then. sounds pretty gross to me (but they can be a bit odd up there - must be the cold ;) )

elevenses is definitely used in the uk (tea/coffee and a biscuit)

second breakfasts is pure hobbit though - although if you ask me it could catch on :clap

[Ana&Steve]

second breakfasts is pure hobbit though - although if you ask me it could catch on :clap

:laugh :laugh :laugh

[olivia]

Don't know about tea but we used to get sardine sandwiches for lunch as a treat when i was younger and to make a tin of sardines stretch for the whole family they were watered down with vinegar too. Now i can't eat tinned sardines at all, but fresh sardines though they're yummy!

Olivia

[Hannah]

I loved the whole morning and afternoon tea thing. Loads of tea, loads of cakes...brilliant. When I came back to the UK i 'introduced' morning tea to my office and they took to it like ducks to water!

The kiwis love the old 'big breakfast' thing - fry up late morning. Came from the farmers apparently, who are up at 5 am and starving by 10am. This 'tradition' has spread into general homes it appears...

Long live the farmers and their food traditions!!!!!

[jdbob]

Thanks jo-and-jeff, that was quite a useful list. I too was confused when I was invited for "tea" and they kept bringing out more and more food and a bottle of wine!

[Howie]

The other day we ran into a nice dog in the park. As the owner was leaving, she said to her dog "come on doggy, it's time for your tea" or something like that. We had a nice laugh over that one. :laugh