What Exactly Is A Kolache, And How Does Texas Do It Better?
Apparently what we think is a kolache, isn't a kolache.
When you clicked this link, I bet you didn't expect to see the following picture.
Believe it or not, most of the world knows the "kolache" as a soft dough pastry with a divot in the center, traditionally filled with sweetened cheese or fruit, and the like. They have roots in Czech culture, basically all of Central Europe.
Now let's take a look at the Texas Kolache. When Czech immigrants moved into Central and South Central Texas in the 1800's. They brought their food with them. It was known back then as the Czech belt. They started taking these traditional pastries and combining them with the local flavor.
Of course we simplified it, got rid of the sweets, and added savory foods. All kinds of meat, but mostly sausage and boudin. We ARE Texans after all. Now you can find all kinds of kolaches, but mostly in Texas. There is even a restaurant in Houston called the Kolache Factory. They have Philly Cheese steak, and Chicken Enchilada kolaches, just to show you how far they have moved from their roots.