Kolache Cafe Orange Beach: Becoming Popular with Both Residents and VacationersTHIS RESTAURANT HAS CLOSED"What are kolaches?" and "My mother/grandmother used to make the best kolaches ... and I haven't had them since ...." are two of the most popular questions/statements I overheard while recently visiting Kolache Cafe Orange Beach at the town's newest shopping center off Perdido Beach Blvd and conveniently located between Publix and CVS. The shop is still quite undiscovered but is gaining in popularity. Some customers wander in for no other reason than to "escape the drudgery of shopping," I am told. Behind the doors, they expect to find a coffee shop. What they discover is a unique and mostly unheard of product this side of Texas made by friendly owners who take pride in their made-from scratch breads. "These are so popular in parts of the country like down around Houston (TX) where we lived," says Cheryl, "but what people don't know is kolaches are made from a mix there. We make ours from the recipe every morning at 5:30 a.m. in order to be ready for the 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. cafe opening. " While I continue to eat what I call a "pig in a poke" style kolache, a gentleman visiting from Mobile orders a few of the fruit variety exclaiming how much he loves kolaches. He reveals to the owners he is also from the Houston area and is "surprised to find a kolache bakery in South Alabama" he says. He laments he has not had any luck finding kolaches except at "Shipley's of Birmingham." "My mother always made the fruit-filled variety," he adds. Three young men visiting from University of Tennessee say they are just "hungry," see the Cafe sign and decide to try them. The cafe is conveniently located across from the beach home they rent for the week. As quickly as they arrive, they leave with their purchases in hand. Kolaches are eaten as a finger food. One can serve as a snack, a small meal or as an appetizer. It is undeniably a "fast food" although it is labor intensive to bake. It can be picked up, ordered in advance for delivery or eaten in the cafe. Randy says that the dough is great for pizzas and and encourages people to try a salad or personal pizza while visiting the store. "We made several special order King Cakes during Mardi Gras season,... everything from plain to cream cheese filled to fruit filled. We'd like to be known as a bakery... not just a coffee shop," I add kolaches can be a great substitute for donuts and a treat for local policemen, firefighters etc. People have yet to discover the Kolache Cafe Orange Beach as their local "bakery." But for those that just "happen" on the shop, chances are they discover a tasty treat they will not soon forget --- one that may have them telling tales of their own--- a Southern Alabama Kolache experience as good as any found this side of West, TX. Try to work a visit to Kolache Cafe into your next Gulf Shores vacation. Kolache Cafe Orange Beach
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To answer the first question, owners Randy and Cheryl Ranft have the definition --- Kolache (ko-la-chee) noun: a home made yeast bread stuffed with meats, cheeses, fruits (printed on the back of their business cards as well as a brief history framed on the wall.) What isn't described in the history is how the recipe, handed down from Louise Hluchan to grandson Randy, is freshly made from scratch daily. It does not describe the sweetness and tenderness of the bread surrounding the fillings. It cannot describe to you as I will how well the spicy,smokiness of Alabama brand Conecuh sausage blends exceptionally well with the sweetness of the bread. It doesn't tell how one kolache is nice, but you will almost certainly want to purchase two to three in addition --- if for no other reason than you may not have the opportunity to experience them until you can return to Kolache Cafe Orange Beach --- and you do want to assure you don't forget the flavor.