Cultural context

Kolaches are the most famous legacy of the Czechs who arrived in early 19th century Texas, including Anthony Dignowity—namesake of a park and the cemetery on the east side of San Antonio where he’s buried.

Czech immigrants brought with them the koláč, round pastries filled with preserved fruit, nuts, or sweetened soft cheeses. The traditional ‘big three’ flavors are poppy seed, prune, and sweet cheese.

South Texans think of meat fillings when they think of kolaches, but traditionally kolaches are sweet. Texans are the one who started wrapping the dough around sausages; these are appropriately called klobasnek.

Although we can’t claim Czech ancestry at Bexar Kolaches, we hope to keep one tradition alive—of cooking what you’ve grown, the flavors local to this region. We tip our hat to friends who are descendants of these immigrants, and who have shared recipes and memories of this food and their Czech culture. Come see us--we’d love to learn about yours.

Want to learn more about Czechs in Texas, including your own neighbors here in Bexar County?

• https://www.bexarcountyczechheritagesociety.com 
• https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/czechs (Tex-Czech settlers were tight-knit families of farmers!)
• https://czechheritage-texas.org (the state’s official heritage society)
• http://www.texasczechs.com (Tex-Czech music and culture pages)
• http://svacinaproject.blogspot.com (Austin blogger Dawn Orsak details her food and culture research)