The Prince and The Hawker

The last time I was in New York, my partner and I came across Brooklyn Kolache while searching for somewhere to eat breakfast.

New York is a cornucopia of food experiences. You can find cuisine from every corner of the world, usually at multiple price points, so there’s something for everyone. On this trip, we were staying at a hotel with a lacklustre breakfast offering. By the second day, my partner and I were looking around the city for more exciting options.

We were staying in Queens and I somehow convinced my partner to head all the way to Brooklyn for breakfast. A quick internet search revealed Czech pastries… From Texas? Colour me intrigued…

Kolache are fluffy pastries made from yeasted dough. They are traditionally filled with sweet fillings like apricot, prune, and sweet cheese. Nowadays, you can also find ones with savoury fillings like sausage, cheese, or jalapeños. These pastries made their way to Texas in the mid-to-late 1800s, brought over the Atlantic by Czech immigrants of the era.

We arrived at the humble shopfront early. Since it opens at 07:30 on weekdays, it was perfect for us being jetlagged from Europe.

Time to Eat

We were given a very warm welcome the moment we walked in. It felt like a familiar neighbourhood joint. Of course, I had to order both a savoury and a sweet choice. The service was quick as the kolache were kept hot behind the counter. This might have been for the morning rush.

The savoury kolach I chose was filled to the brim with chorizo, egg and cheese. The filling oozed out when I bit in. It was hearty without being overly decadent. On the sweet side of things, I indulged in a blueberry sweet and cheese kolach. This was a unique combination for me that brought a welcome delicate fruity flavour. The textures of the two fillings were similar, but added distinct qualities to the combined flavour. Additionally, the coffee served was also excellent.

Most patrons I saw seemed to be regulars grabbing a bite and a coffee to go on their morning commute. However, the small outfit also has an inviting seating area tucked in the back where we relaxed and ate our breakfast. There is even a cute little terrace/courtyard, but we couldn’t enjoy it due to the pouring rain that day.

Final Thoughts

If I lived near Brooklyn Kolache, I could see myself coming regularly for a quick breakfast bite. The kolache are warm, fresh and flaky, with myriad flavours. One could easily gobble up two or three of them in a moment.

The seating area and terrace are inviting and the service is friendly and efficient. Even if you are visiting New York and not staying nearby, this is worth a quick journey on the G train to grab an early morning (or any time) bite.