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 (including poppy seed, raspberry, and apricot) 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, Caldwell, Texas,and East Bernard, 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. Fayetteville, TX, claims the title of "Kolache capital of Texas." Crosby, TX, also has a yearly Czech festival. St. Ludmila's Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, IA, hosts it annual Kolache Festival the first full weekend in June every year and makes over 600 dozen kolaches to sell at its annual event.
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 kolache; popular areas in central Texas include the communities of West[1], Weimar, and Schulenburg, as well as the Nebraska town of Wilber, which have large Czech populations (see the Czech Stop and Kountry Bakery[2] links below). Kolache Factory is known for pioneering unique flavors like Philly cheesesteak, ranchero, and chocolate cream cheese. Kolaches are sold on the street and in the local Czech bakery (see Kolache Depot Bakery link below). The official "Czech Capital of the United States," Wilber, NE holds the annual Wilber Czech days, during which several thousand kolaches are sold by various town groups and businesses.
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. They may also contain ham and cheese, sausage, jalapeño slices, and more resemble a "pig in a blanket" than the original pastry. There is also a sweet and flakey filled pastry with Polish origins called the Kolachky.
American vs. Czech terminology
- Unlike recent American usage, the Czech word "koláče" is a plural word. A single pastry is called a "koláč" or "koláček."
- The term "koláč" in the Czech language simply means any of a variety of cakes, but Americans use "kolache" to refer to specific types of pastry (the small pastry with filling in the center indentation, or a larger roll with meat and cheese inside).
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