Sights, sounds and tastes from childhood can seem so ephemeral, but appear to be hard wired. Since my mother’s death some 9 months ago a few things have bubbled up to my heart and head and set me to thinking about how the past influences the past – and the future.
If you grew up in South Australia you will surely remember visiting the butcher and being given a slice of Fritz as a treat. Quite transparently a way for the butchers to charm the mothers (ahh the things that we have left by the wayside) to ensure return business *grin*.
There are many stories about the origins of Fritz, but the most enduring one is that it is “just the same as devon or luncheon sausage”. Now understand, it fills the same niche, Fritz and tomato sauce sandwiches being a staple in the lunchbox in the 70s and 80s (and possibly still now?), but Fritz is definiately NOT luncheon meat, or Pariser, or Balony* or Devon, or Windsor.
My mum used to say that all sausage like this across Australian was know as Bavarian, or German sausage; but only in South Australia,with it’s strong German immigrant population, did the German link stay on following the wars.
We were occasionally allowed to have Fritz sandwiches, and sometimes Dad would fry thick slices cut off the “bung” as part of Sunday breakfast, and there was the visits to the butcher. But be warned, Fritz bought in a log – or “bung” – is a very different beast from what was available pre-sliced at the deli counter in the supermarket (though that is still much better in flavour than Devon!). The bung actually refers to the part of the large intestine used for the casing – you’ll see it’s much thicker than a normal sausage.
So, when I was visiting the new-ish Bezela Free Range Deli in Carlton the other day, I noticed that a lot of their small goods come from Barossa Fine Foods, and eventually the fact that they Barossa is in South Australia finally wormed its way into my brain. I think I may have looked a bit rabid at this stage but I had to know …. can you get Fritz? Obviously used to childhood smallgood memories, Jess behind the counter pulled out her iPhone and googled. Yes they have Fritz, it came as a kilo “bung” – did I her to order me some? Did I! Holy moly I sure did!
So today, I picked up my kilo of Fritz. I left some with Jess to entice others to join the revolution, got some sliced to give away to friends and fellow South Australians, and will chop up the rest for the freezer.
I didn’t open the packet as soon as I left, but it sure was open before I got home. I could smell the nutmeggy, garlicky, porky goodness! A slice took me back a few decades instantly. Now that I’m older I’m sure it’s the mace that really makes this sausage.
Oh – and I’ll have at least one Fritz and tomato sauce sandwich on white bread!
So happy to have my food memories re-stoked
Oh – and Fritz is NOT Devon.
Have you tried Fritz? what food transports you right back to your childhood?
LINKS: Simon from The Cook and The Chef’s recipe for Fritz
* yep Baloney – the way they spell at the Deli counters in supermarkets not Bologna as it is more properly spelled.
