Kolache
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A kolache (also spelled kolace, kolach, or kolacky, from the Czech and Slovak plural koláče) is a type of pastry consisting of fillings ranging from fruits to cheeses inside a bread roll. Originally only a sweet dessert from Central Europe, they have become popular in parts of the United States. Several cities, including Prague, Oklahoma and Caldwell, Texas, hold annual Kolache Festival celebrations, while Montgomery, Minnesota claims to be the "Kolacky capital of the world"[1] and holds an annual festival known as "Kolacky Days"[2]. Verdigre, Nebraska stakes the same claim,[3] with a similarly named festival. Prague, Nebraska is commonly known as the home of the world's largest kolache.
It was the sweet chosen to represent the Czech Republic in the Café Europe initiative of the Austrian presidency of the European Union, on Europe Day 2006.
In Texas and Oklahoma, several restaurants and bakeries specialize in kolaches; popular areas in central Texas include the communities of West[1]and Schulenburg, as well as the Nebraska town of Wilber, which have large Czech populations (see the Czech Stop and Kountry Bakery links below). These restaurants and bakeries now sell varieties for all meals of the day and include versions such as Philly cheesesteak, ranchero, and chocolate cream cheese. The Bluebonnet City of Ennis which has celebrated the Polka Festival (see National Polka Festival link below) since 1966, with a weekend of parade, street dancing and dinner/dances at the fraternal Czech halls. Kolaches are sold on the street. The official "Czech Capital of the United States," Wilber Nebraska holds the annual Wilber Czech days, during which several thousand kolaches are sold by various town groups and businesses.
A savory, Americanized version of the kolache is commonly sold by delis and doughnut shops in Southeast Texas. These are usually ham and cheese, sausage, or sausage and cheese, and sometimes jalapeño slices enclosed in a buttery dough, and more resemble a "pig in a blanket" than the original European pastry (see the description of the "koblasnek" below).
A related dish is a klobasnek, which often uses similar bread but is filled with a piece of sausage. These are sometimes mistakenly referred to as kolaches.
[edit] References
- ^ The Town of West, Texas. Retrieved on March 10, 2007. “..home of the official Kolache of the Texas Legislature”
