Almond Eclaire.
When I was in middle school, 7th grade to be exact, I spent a measureable time at the mall closest to our house. Back then it was called East Towne Mall (in Knoxville, Tennesseee), but now I hear the name has changed to Knoxville Centre or some-such-thing.
At East Towne there was a pastry shop that wasn’t in the food court, it was down the hall to the left as you exited the food court and reminded me a whole lot of what little deli-type shops in airport terminals look like now. Big glass cases showcasing all the pastries, and probably sandwiches, but I only ever noticed pastries.
At that little shop, they made and sold something called a Chocolate Almond Eclaire. Heavy on the almond. Almost no chocolate, really, just some drizzles across the top, which makes sense, because I don’t love chocolate. I could really take it or leave it, either way. But I digress.
Sometime during 8th grade that little shop closed. And I was sad. Because I loved those almond pastries. And rather inactively since then (yes, 21 years) I have been wanting one of those.
I’ve tried some at Panera, and bagel shops, but nothing was ever quite right. Mostly because every one since then had cinnamon in it, and that just overpowered the almond, and the almond is why I liked it. I haven’t ever thought to look online, because as I mentioned previously, my search was inactive. And then…
On Sunday last week, as I dashed into Pac-N-Save for fried chicken, there it was:
An almond ring. I read the ingredients. NO CINNAMON! So I bought it. And ate the whole thing in two days. Shut-up, you would too if you waited 21 years. It was worth it.
I’m proud of your restraint! I would have snarfed that thing down in half a day, had I been waiting for 21 years for it. Good job and congratulations on your find!
I could take or leave chocolate, too. Do you think that’s Nature or Nurture?
I have longed for the taste of Carnation Instant Breakfast bars the way they used to make them. They were all dry and dense and crumbly. Now they’re like granola bars and don’t feel right or taste right. If I travelled back in time, I’d definitely eat one of those. And some Space Food Sticks.
I used to eat those bars too…and liked them. They had a very thin layer of fake frosting on them if I remember correctly. And they were square. I actually just thought of them the other day. I tried a Slim Fast bar & I thought they resembled them in flavor a little, but not texture.
I long for Fudge Town Cookies and Fudgies (hehe). Mmmm…
And I agree with Karla…your discipline is remarkable!
Yes, I loved those as well. But I don’t remember them being square. Are these them? Mom only let us have them a couple of times, so I can’t remember the box. But I do remember the taste.
http://tlc-smileygirl.blogspot.com/2008/03/old-school-carnation-breakfast-bars.html
No—they’re not the ones I ate.
Dang it…now I’m on a long lasting quest to find a picture of the bars I liked. Are the ones Curt pictured the ones you ate Brad?
The ones I liked looked sort of like a brownie–square, but dense, with a thin layer of something on the top only. My mouth waters….
Those are the ones I remember. But NOT with peanut butter. Yuck!
http://www.inthe80s.com/food/carnationbreakfastsquares0.shtml
See, there are ‘others’ out there who remember the squares…whew, I’m not crazy…they did exist. Same great product, different shape???
I’m going to go with nurture. Mom LOVES chocolate and probably hoarded it all for herself when we were young, so we never developed a taste for it.
Well, this would explain why my kids can take or leave chocolate too!
We have a bakery here that is known far and wide for it’s burnt almond torte, which you would probably love. I am not an almond fan and even I can say it is incredible.
Mmmm…would it travel well in the mail?
Congratulations! Finding food is heaven!
Congrats on the score! A wheel of nutty goodness - can’t be beat.
Chocolate covered Bavarian cream eclair is my favorite. YT and I had lunch in an authentic German delicatessen outside of Portland last summer. We had a sandwich and a beer and for desert, eclairs and a tall glass of milk.
Was Oregon milk of high enough quality?
Oh yeah!! “It tastes so good when it hits your lips.”