If you’d rather enjoy your kolache while sitting at a table and basking in some serious Old Texas vibes, then Gerik’s Ole Czech Bakery & Deli fulfills all of those needs. Taxidermied animals, neon beer signs, vintage flags and retro light fixtures are all present and accounted for, and the kolaches also fit into that old-school but well-executed vibe. The dough at Gerik’s tastes sweeter than that of most local competitors (almost like a glazed doughnut), and Gerik’s offers a remarkable array of flavors like blueberry cream, poppy seed and apricot and cream cheese. While you’re there, don’t miss their king-sized cinnamon rolls slathered in icing.
If you live in Central Texas, then you definitely have a strong opinion of Interstate 35, the highway that runs from Laredo in the south to Gainesville in the north, connecting the major cities of San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas. Grumbling about the traffic on I-35 is a legendary Texas tradition, but on the bright side, there’s some high-quality eating to be done in the small towns right off of the exits. One such town is West, a community of just 2,500 people located right off of I-35, an hour south of Dallas, that holds the well-earned reputation as the unofficial kolache capital of Texas.
What is a kolache?
Kolaches hail from the present-day Czech Republic and typically consist of a semi-sweet, yeasted pastry dough baked with a fruit filling. In Texas, you’ll also find pastry rolls filled with sausage, cheese and peppers labeled as ‘kolaches.’ Technically, these savory variations are called klobasneks, but because they’re made with the same dough as sweet kolaches, Texan bakeries group them together.
Kolaches in Texas serve as the ultimate convenience food. Since they’re easy to eat while on the move, you’ll often see kolache counters at gas stations and convenience stores.
How did kolaches come to Texas?
In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a large number of Czech immigrants settled in Texas, and the regions where they developed their communities became known as the “Czech Belt.” While the Czech population has since thinned out in this area of the Lone Star State, many remnants of Czech culture remain, including Czech restaurants and bakeries. Because kolaches are now so fully embraced by Central Texans of all backgrounds and heritages, they’re viewed as a Texan dish rather than a purely Czech dish. But we definitely have the Czech people of generations past to thank for these tasty treats!
Why is West a hotspot for kolaches?
West’s history as a kolache destination begins with its location firmly within the Czech Belt. Immigrants from Central Europe began to arrive in West in the late 1800s and early 1900s, drawn to the town’s status as a rail stop on the Texas Electric Traction Railway (a major employer at the time) and its available plots of workable land. With its Czech community, restaurants and bakeries, the town of West continues to uphold its culinary reputation.
