New York City Edition: Kolache Mama, A Foodie Grab-And-Go

The kolache (kuh-lah-chee) has just literally arrived in the big apple.

The kolache — hoping to be the fast food of foodies — is a fresh-baked dough filled with meats (meaties), vegetables (veggies) and sweets (sweeties). Think challah-type bun, topped with fillings. Some, are baked in, others — like fresh mozzarella, basil and tomatoes — are added after the bread is baked.

I like that the ingredients are sustainably produced. And that Koache Mama has partnered with City Harvest, giving a percentage of each kolache sold and also donating their daily leftovers.

The kolache concept began a few years ago when founder Richard Saler  tasted one while in Texas. The company debuted these tasty morsels last month at a media event at a rooftop garden at the Roosevelt Hotel (45 W 45th Street) with the first store opening today (September 30, 2009).

Kolaches are reasonably priced — one for $2.99, two for $5, a dozen for $30 — with a menu having 25 varieitesto grab and go. Some flavors include: meaties such as Breakfast Sausage, Egg and Cheese (Breakfast sausage, scrambled egg and cheese), The Street Dog (All Beef Hebrew National Frank, add mustard and sauerkraut), The Reuben (Corned beef, Russian dressing, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, caraway seed), Pizza Works (Tomato sauce, pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers and onions, Italian sausage);  veggies such as Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil (Fresh Roma tomatoes, mozzarella, garlic, olive oil and basil chiffonade), Spinach, Feta and Olives (Baby spinach, garlic, dill, feta cheese and Kalamata olives), Twice Baked Potato (Mashed skin-on red potatoes, butter, cheddar cheese, sour cream & chives) Combo Nosh (Hummus, tabbouleh, tzatziki and sirachi chile); and, of course, many sweeties.

Check the website occasionally to see whether one has opened in your area, as this company is hoping to become more ubiquitous than McDonald’s, giving foodies more grab and go healthy options.

– bonnie