Texas tradition – Grand Rapids Magazine

D.riftwood is a new food startup specializing in kolaches (pronounced Ko-LAH cheese) that operates out of a commercial kitchen area in Grand Rapids. A kolache is a semi-sweet baked good made from a yeast dough that is soft, airy and aromatic. They can be made with sweet or savory fillings to satisfy any craving.

Kolaches came from what is now the region of the Czech Republic and were traditionally served as a dessert at weddings. Kolaches came to the USA through Czech immigrants who came to Texas from the end of the 19th century.

Kolaches are best fresh, but they can be reheated. Aside from taste, they’re extremely convenient to eat (think Grab-n-Go), and the wide range of flavors that Driftwood offers “allows a foodie to replace any meal of the day with a few kolaches.”

The baker and owner Noel Rydecki, who discovered Kolache in Texas, started Driftwood after spending nearly six months perfecting his Kolache batter and filling recipes.

“I branded the company as Driftwood because not only is it part of my Michigan roots, but also the transformation we all experience as we navigate and live life,” said Rydecki.

Due to the pandemic, the company is using a “milestone” system for orders, which means that a certain threshold for orders must be met before a baking operation is confirmed.

According to the website, this means: “We have set a specific goal for how many Kolaches we want to bake for each milestone. Announce the milestone on our website and on social media platforms. Milestones are posted a week before the actual delivery date and customers can place their orders directly on the Driftwood website or on Instagram (@driftwoodmich).

“If we reach our milestone target by the deadline, the Kolache casserole is open! If not, our dough won’t be completely knotted, we’re just planning the next milestone baking date. As soon as a milestone baking target is reached, We communicate the same with our followers and share the estimated delivery times with the happy customers. “

Driftwood announces its milestones every 2-3 weeks. Each milestone contains a rotating selection of Kolach from its menu. Orders must meet the minimum value of $ 20. A nominal fee is charged for delivery to your doorstep.

This story can be found in the April 2021 issue of Grand Rapids Magazine. Subscribe here to have more stories like this sent to your mailbox every month.

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