Crazy for Kolaches!

Mmmmmm, as I took in the scent, I could hardly wait to pop one into my mouth! I was introduced to kolaches on my first visit to Texas about 2 years ago, which my boyfriend told me was similar to a Hawaiian favorite of mine - the manapua. Is it similar? Yes, but only to the baked manapua (as you can see from the pictures), sort of.
However, my favorite type of manapua is steamed so it's hard for me to choose which product I like better. It's funny how similar Hawaii and Texas are...okay, you might need to stretch your imagination a bit, but there are certain similarities. Based on my personal experience, Texans have their own special spirit about them, they are welcoming and friendly folks kind of like the "aloha spirit" but with a Texas accent. They spend a lot of time with the family - I miss that about home, I don't see this as much in Los Angeles (or maybe it's because my family is so far away). It's hot and humid, no explanation needed for that. They enjoy simple family-style dishes (Texas-sized of course) and if you're from Hawaii, you know what I'm talking about. We both have placeable accents. Anyway, back to Kolaches. They are doughy rolls, stuffed with a filling such as sausage and cheese, spinich, egg and cheese, fruits, etc. And the Kolache shops close in the early afternoon just like a lot of the dim sum shops in Hawaii. If you're in Texas, check them out!

http://www.kolachefactory.com/