The strangest things happen somedays when talking about the weekend. I was talking about my recent trip to Omaha, NE and lamenting the fact that for perhaps the second time ever, I left Omaha without stopping by Runza.
My friend immediately responded by asking “What’s a Runza?” *gasp* *lights out*
What’s a Runza???
So, in case you’re wondering, a Runza is a German-Russian brand name for a bierock, which is meat, veggies and spices baked into light, semi-sweet bread. The bread is pillowy, the beef moist and the spices give the whole thing a deep, peppery, savory flavor. There is exactly one person I know who doesn’t love them (my wife.)
Everyone else loves them along with Runza’s salty, crispy, somehow always warm fries. Or onion rings. Or a delightful combo they call frings, which is fries and rings together.
Of course, you can also get a Runza stuffed with Swiss cheese and mushrooms, but I think that’s somehow less traditional.
So Why Hasn’t My Friend Had a Runza?
So anyway, my buddy grew up in a house filled with German food. His mother is reputed to be one of the best German cooks around (a proposition I am more than willing to help prove) but yet he had never had a Runza. How could he not have had a Runza, the very hallmark of German food (after, you know, Currywurst, schnitzel, spaetzle, etc.)?
Thus started my journey through the history of the Runza. First, it’s important to note that my buddy’s mom left West Germany in 1968. Runzas are German-Russo cuisine created in East Germany after World War II so my friend’s mom had no chance to learn about them since, in his words “nothing left East Germany.”
Meanwhile, history moves on. The Berlin Wall falls and now the West has access to East Germany. From here, the bierock spreads all across the US (except for one household in Missouri, apparently) and Europe in less than 35 years. This is both kind of amazing and a testament to how good bierock/Runzas are.
There may be a happy ending to the tale, though, because he’s already armed with bierock recipes for the next time he goes home. There in his mother’s kitchen a new family will be exposed to bierocks. I am excited for my friend to get to try bierocks because I absolutely love them.
I just wonder how his mom’s will stand up to the restaurant. I mean Runza is pretty amazing, but I’m never betting against the expertise of any friend’s mom in the kitchen.
Recent Comments