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Open-faced or closed, kolaches are delicious and healthier than doughnuts or other fast food fare.
Michelle Blodget, Neighbor
Michelle Blodget, Neighbor
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When you look at a kolache, it doesn't seem like it could possibly be healthier than a doughnut.
Stuffed with fillings like cheese, chocolate and bacon, it tastes just as decadent as a doughnut, though it is less sweet. But don't be fooled: the kolache is healthier, just ask Ryab Smith, owner of Brentwood's.
"Doughnuts are fried, while these are all baked," Smith said. "You don't get the heavy feeling in your stomach after eating them. We even have a few people who will come in and get three, four or five of them on their way to the gym. It's a really healthy breakfast."
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Smith said one kolache only contains between 100 and 250 calories, depending on the size and filling. Compared to a plain doughnut, which ranges between 160 and 300 calories before any filling or icing is added, it definitely makes more of a mark in the healthy arena.
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A kolache's calories aren't empty like a doughnut's, either. If you choose the bacon, egg and cheese, for example, you get more complex carbohydrates in the dough plus protein.
Smith isn't naive though. He said of course there are still ingredients that have a higher caloric count, like cream cheese or eggs, but for fast food options, it's far and away better than the rest.
"It's a pastry, but it uses a semi-sweet yeast dough," Smith said. "People might think we're like a doughnut or other pastry shop, but it's more savory."
Kolaches are a eastern European pastry, originating in places like the Czech Republic, Poland and Russia. While different versions exist as a result, the Kolache Factory serves the Czech kind.
As with many culinary traditions, the kolache recipe is a secret, passed down through many years via families and businesses. Smith said even he doesn't know what's in the dry mix, which Kolache Factory employees mix on site with butter, water and flour to make dough.
Traditionally filled with meats, cheeses and fruits, the open-faced kolache is the original. In keeping pace with retail needs, however, the Kolache Factory also makes a stuffed closed version.
"If you can conceal the ingredients in the dough, you keep it fresher," Smith said.
Smith, who took over the business nearly two years ago with his wife, knows what he's talking about, having worked his way up in the restaurant business for years.
Smith and others at the breakfast and lunch spot make roughly 1,000 kolaches a week to keep up with demand.
"There was a great customer base here even before we got involved, so we really focused on customer service and food quality," Smith said. "By itself it's unique, and it's the best breakfast option."
The Kolache Factory is located at 2604 S. Brentwood Blvd. Hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.
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