Chili and Sauerkraut? Now That's Czech-Mex!


Texas chili con carne and barrel fermented sauerkraut are two of my favorite things. But I never thought of eating them together. In fact, they sound like two foods that should never ever be combined. So imagine my amazement when a request for a hot dog “all the way” at Janak’s Country Market in Halletsville yielded a fabulous Janak homemade Czech sausage on a bun spread with mustard and topped with both chili and Janak’s own housemade sauerkraut. Now that’s what I call Czech-Mex!

On first examining the sandwich, I wrapped it back up in aluminum foil and put it in the back of the car.

About an hour later, I found myself at Howard’s, a convenience store gas station in Shiner. Howard’s is one of a handful of gas stations in Texas that serves several varieties of cold Shiner on tap and also features live music. After a couple of cold ones at Howard’s I got a little hungry. And while Howard’s offers a great selection of beer, they don’t have much in the way of cuisine. And so I found myself in the parking lot, eating the Czech-Mex hot dog with the mustard, sauerkraut and chili. And I must say, after three or four beers…well I ate the whole thing. I think I’ll go back to my regular order of a sausage with mustard and sauerkraut.

I have stopped at Janak’s on several occassions, but this time I met the two Janak brothers and their twin sisters who run the place. The big news is Janak’s has added a private dining room in the back for parties. It’s decorated with wood paneling and lots of handcrafted wood furnishings. They have already hosted a few receptions. I think they said the room seats over a hundred. Who wants to hold a party in the back room at a Czech sausage factory? Um…me for one.

Janak’s is one of the oldest Czech sausage companies in the area. Here’s the history from their website:

“Janak Packing Inc. opened its doors for business in the year of 1938. Our country was beginning to feel the effects of the great depression and times were difficult. Paul and Mark Janak opened a small grocery store and meat market. Requests began to come in for Paul to make his famouse sausage out of the farm-raised pigs that the local farmers brought to him. Neighbors also urged Paul to expand his sausage business so that the surrounding folks could also enjoy his hickory-smoked, old fashioned products. From this humble beginning, Janak Packing, Inc. has expanded to a statewide operation and has also been serving to our United States Presidents.”

3 thoughts on “Chili and Sauerkraut? Now That's Czech-Mex!

  1. Joe Apa

    ‘Then he screamed his raspy epitaph,
    Before he turned to flames…..
    “They pay two-fifty down in Halletsville,
    I ain’t the one to blame”’

    Thanks, Robert Keen, Thanks, Shiner….and
    Thank You, Robb!

    GOd I love this state!

  2. Aghastronome

    Swing by Glen’s Packing Company on a Saturday for some barbecue. Be sure and buy a couple of pounds of “red weiners” to take home and toss on the grill. They are a childhood fave of mine. The family used to hunt on our ranch and they would bring us a box of them when they came out. We would put them in a hotdog roaster and cook them over the fire in the fireplace in winter. Spicy mustard and red weiners…..yum.

    Now, I have to schedule a road trip…and hit both packing companies.

  3. brucesw

    Glen’s is a new one on me and it’s on my list now. Thanks Aghastronome.

    Robb – how was the chili on that Janak’s? I stopped off and picked up some sausages once and saw the chili and wondered if it was any good.

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