A true Texas treat for Czech searchers in Kerrville: Sausages and kolaches
Two iconic Texas restaurants thanked a Czech search-and-rescue team in the Hill Country floods with a genuine Czech-Texan meal.
Two 8-member teams from the Czech Republic’s Urban Search and Rescue firefighter unit brought four of the world’s most renowned search dogs to cover the Guadalupe banks near Center Point, on the grim search for those lost in the July 4 Kerrville and Hill Country floods.
In a tough week, they were treated to a traditional Czech meal from the McLennan County town of West.
Gerik’s Ole Czech Bakery, a local hangout and the insiders’ favorite for kolaches, baked 500 assorted fruit kolaches for the searchers and their dinner hosts.
Picha’s Czech-American Restaurant, a frequent detour for Interstate 35 travelers seeking a plate lunch and pie, served sausage and sauerkraut dinners. The sausage is from Prasek’s Family Smokehouse in El Campo, another traditional Czech-Texan business.
In a touching Facebook post, the Czech Fire Rescue Service thanked hosts:
“Sausage and kolaches,” the team wrote in Czech (“Klobása a koláče”):
“To us, a taste of home — and a reminder of why we’re here.
“The Czech community in Texas is the largest in the entire United States. ... Since the very start of our mission, they’ve known about us, reached out to us — and now, they’ve even cooked us an incredible dinner.”
The workers noted that West is 200 miles away. It’s north of Waco and only a hour’s drive south of Fort Worth or Dallas.
“Even the toughest firefighters were at a loss for words,” the post read.
Commernters on Facebook expressed thanks and surprise. One commenter from Strasnice wrote in Czech: “And their kolaches turned out great!”
Gerik’s and Picha’s are two of the best examples of Czech culture in West, which had a Czech-language newspaper until recent years and where Czech is still occasionally heard on the street.
Until late In the 20th century, Czech was still the third most common language in Texas after English and Spanish.
The town is known mainly for the larger Czech Stop and Slovacek’s convenience stores on Interstate 35 and for the Westfest beer and polka festival Labor Day weekend.
Gerik’s is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily at 511 W. Oak St., a block behind the Czech Stop.
Picha’s Czech-American Restaurant, 220 N.. Main St. in downtown West, is open for lunch daily except Sunday and for dinner on Friday nights only.
This story was originally published July 21, 2025 at 5:31 AM.
