The history of the Thinbread roll
Here we collect information about the origin of the flatbread roll. The document is "work in progress".
Currently, Loffes Grill is considered the creator of the modern flatbread roll, but Presto Grillen also claims the title.
As historical facts are found, they will be presented here.
Tunnbrödsrullens historia
Presto-grillen gör reklam för kommande "norrländska tunnbrödsrullar"
In an advertisement from Christmas 1961, the Presto grill predicts the future and then mentions that "Northern flatbread rolls" will be on the menu.
1961-12Korv med tunnbröd omtalas
In an article in Svenska Dagbladet from 1962 that dealt with the Sami's old cult place Fatmomakke, it is written "... Seth Persson's sundry store, which is open twice a year, had customers like never before and in front of the kiosk with 'hot sausage with soft flatbread' there was a constant queue".
1962
"Loffes" öppnar i Stuvsta
Elov "Loffe" Bråtfors together with his wife Anneli opens "Loffe's" kiosk at 18:00 on 5 October 1963.
1963-10-05 18:00Den moderna tunnbrödsrullen skapas
Elov "Loffe" Bråtfors creates (according to Tunnbrödsrullens Vänner) the modern thin bread roll.
1965
Tunnbröd figurerar i tunnelbane-utsmyckning
Karl-Olov Björk and Anders Åberg decorate Solna Centrum's subway station and includes a truck that transports flatbread from Norrland to southern Sweden.
1975Polarbröd lanserar korvtunnbrödet
1980Facebook-gruppen Tunnbrödrullens vänner skapas
The Facebook group "Tunnbrödrullens vänner" ("Friends of the Flatbread rolls") is started.
2018-06-04
Facebook-gruppen Tunnbrödsrullens Vänner skapas
Håkan Söder starts the Facebook group Tunnbrödsrullens Vänner. The group's popularity is constantly increasing and at the end of 2022 has over 25,000 members.
2019-09-19 16:55
Loffe utses till Tunnbrödsrullens skapare
Elov "Loffe" Bråtfors is recognized as the creator of the modern flatbread roll by the friends of Tunnbrödsrullen ("Tunnbrödsrullens Vänner").
2019-11-02Tunnbrödsrullens dag blev godkänd i temakalendern
The flatbread rolls day was approved in the theme calendar and thus became an official day along with cinnamon bun day etc..
The friends of Tunnbrödsrullen ("Tunnbrödsrullens Vänner") want to draw attention to the Swedish classic and unique dish Flatbread Roll and put it on the culinary map.
The flatbread rolls day will be celebrated yearly on the second saturday of may.
Erik Videgård utnämns till ambassadör
Erik Videgård is appointed ambassador for Tunnbrödsrullen's friends
2020-04-30 10:37
Videgårdsrullen har premiär
Erik Videgård's "Videgårdsrullen" is presented at Brogrillen and an era of modern luxury rolls begins.
2020-05-02Första firandet av Tunnbrödsrullens Dag
The Flatbread roll's day is celebrated for the first time on 9 May 2020 and will be celebrated annually on the second Saturday in May.
2020-05-09Tunnbrödrullens SM
The Flatbread Roll Championship will be held for the first time in Tierps Arena.
2020-09-12
TBR-kartan presenteras
The modern TBR-map goes live.
2021-08-03In the olden days...
In an article in Svenska Dagbladet from 1962 that dealt with the Sami's old cult place Fatmomakke, it is written "... Seth Persson's sundry store, which is open twice a year, had customers like never before and in front of the kiosk with 'hot sausage with soft flatbread' there was a constant queue".
It is said that the bread from the tuttul flatbread dish was used to serve flatbread rolls in the kiosks around Siljan. No known years or plates yet. There are some doubts about this information as Tuttul is a fresh product and that would mean that it was prepared in the kiosk, which sounds complicated.
When the flatbread roll was introduced in its modern form, it was called "Northern flatbread roll". However, the term usually already had the meaning "flatbread with hot content" and did not necessarily mean that it is about flatbread, mash and sausage when you see it in print.
Flat bread from Norrland
A former kiosk worker said she used to help her father in the 70s when the flatbread truck arrived. She didn't remember the brand.
In Solna centrum's subway station, a flatbread truck figures in the decoration Karl-Olov Björk and Anders Åberg created in 1975.
"Here and there the forest opens up with clearings where painted picture stories or sculpted scenes depict different contexts in our society. Not least the Norrland depopulation area with abandoned community meeting-places, clear-cuts, airplanes spraying the forest, the "Flatbread express" on winding roads, factory facilities and abandoned wooden houses with verandas which testify to the joy of carpentry. Romantic and nostalgic tones that alternate with biting social criticism."
Modern times
Loffes grill
According to Tunnbrödsrullens Vänner, the first flatbread roll appeared at Loffe's grill in Stuvsta sometime around 1965.
Daisy's Stuvsta
Previously known as "Loffes Gril"l, but when it was sold in 2016, they wanted the name not to be used any further. The original kiosk was recreated as a miniature at the playground right next door.
Elov himself has told the media that he was the first with Tunnbrödsrolle in 1965.
Loffes Grill
A miniature replica of Loffes Grill in Långsjöparkens playground. Loffes Grill, located at Stuvstatorget 12, opened at 18:00 on October 5th, 1963 by Loffe and his wife Anneli. According to many sources, Elov "Loffe" Bråtfors invented the tunnbrödsrulle at Loffes Grill sometime in the 1960s (1965 according to the Friends of the Tunnbrödsrulle). The kiosk's sign was painted by Loffe's wife Anneli. Loffes Grill was also likely the first to introduce a mashed potato machine. In 1987, the kiosk was renovated and took on its final appearance — the one depicted in the miniature. During its final years the kiosk was mostly run by daughter Maria and son Tomas. The family sold the kiosk in 2016, and chose not to carry the name "Loffes Grill" forward. The premises now operate as Daisy's Stuvsta. In 2017, the municipality honoured Loffes Grill by erecting a miniature on the playground not far from Stuvsta torg. The Friends of the Tunnbrödsrulle have recognized the establishment as the birthplace of the tunnbrödsrulle.
Elov "Loffe" Bråtfors, together with his wife Anneli, had been running his sausage kiosk since 18:00 on 5 October 1963, and is believed to have been the first to install a mash machine in the early 1960s.
Elov "Loffe" Bråtfors
Elov "Loffe" Bråtfors, born from Tornedalen, opened his sausage stand on the square in Stuvsta on 5 October 1963 at 18.00 together with Anneli. Created the flatbread roll in 1965.
Loffe's origin in Tornedalen, where soft flatbread is common in the diet, together with his new mash machine was probably the interdisciplinary background needed for him to get the idea for the flatbread roll, where these main components had to come together in a lovely symphony.
According to what Elof himself said (several articles in the media), the earliest flatbread roll consisted of flatbread, mash, sausage, Boston cucumber, ketchup and mustard.
A funny detail about the kiosk is that its sign was painted by Loffe's wife Anneli. Loffe's daughter Maria and son Tomas were also active in the kiosk. Another Loffe's was opened in Salem and was mainly run by the children Tomas and Maria Bråtfors.
You can read more about Loffes Original Thinbread roll here.
Prestogrillen
The Prestogrill also claims that they were the first with flatbread rolls, but so far nothing has been proven.
Prestogrillen
"The small kiosk with the tasty fumes" was started in 1961 by music school student Svän Ideberg to finance his studies. Moved from its original location at Vasaplatsen when Lidingö-C was built. Known among other things for inventing the Steppe Salad (which Sven called "Russian Steppe Salad"). Was probably the first with a vegetarian TBR in the 60s. Known for its "tasty fumes" in the 60s. As they were the first kiosk to serve Pommes Frites, this dish was sometimes called "Lidingö potatoes". Was one of the first kiosks to serve Thinbread Rolls. Their popular "Sagohare roll" is said to have been created by Henrik Dorsin. Bedri karadag and Nebi Bulduk took over Presto Grill in 2017.
In an advertising brochure from 1961, which Lidingö Stadsarkiv had in its archives, Prestogrillen mentions that they will start selling "Northern flatbread roll".
An observant member of the Facebook group "Tunnbrödsrullens vänner" ("Friends of the Flatbread-roll"), who was also a member of the group "You know you are from Lidingö" found the below picture from the newspaper "Mitt I" in the group's feed.
Which suggests that the Flat Bread Roll was not on the menu in 1962, maybe 1963.. Depending on when the picture was taken.
As the previously mentioned leaflet was from Christmas 1961 and it is possible that the menu above is from early 1962, it doesn't have to mean much though. The uncertainty is great.
A member of "Tunnbrödsrullens vänner" says: "On Presto, it was called 'Norrlandsrulle' for a long time into the 70s, crushed potato sausage and steppe salad" ... "I've seen that myself".
Below are a number of advertisements from the Presto grill from the 1960s, where, unfortunately, Norrland flatbread roll does not appear.
Nedan följer ett antal annonser från Presto-grillen från 1960-talet, där dessvärre norrländsk tunnbrödsrulle inte framträder.
Svän (the owner) was the first to introduce "Stepsallad" on the menu. Rumor has it that it was cooked in the bathtub at home in the townhouse, but no evidence of this has been presented.
Sources
- Lidingö Stadsarkiv
- Tunnbrödsrullens uppfinnare säljer klassisk grillkiosk - Tack Loffe, för 53 år i Stuvsta!
- Facebook-gruppen Tunnbrödsrullens vänner
- Skaparen av tunnbrödrullen hyllas på Stuvsta torg
- Kiosken i våra hjärtan
- Loffe har mättat magar – i ett halvt sekel
- Loffes grill i Stuvsta tillbaka - som lekplats
- "Korv, mos och människor", av Leif Eriksson
- Tuttul, tult, strut, bitå eler Räfsa
- "Fatmomakke, samernas urgamla kultplats", Svenska Dagblladet, 1962-09-10, sid 30.
- Solna Centrums Tunnelbanestations utsmyckning