Dutchman’s Hidden Valley

The Dutchman

Ron Wenzel, the ‘squareheaded Dutchman’, as he was called by the locals (Texas slang for Deutschman), says he loved to sneak into the smokehouse as a kid and cut off a piece of meat. The fond memories inspired him to build his own smokehouse which he brought into the Hidden Valley back in 1985, along with his deli, aptly called The Dutchman’s. His recipes for smoked meats will usually satisfy most palates.

The Original “Dutchman”

The original Dutchman sketch was drawn by a customer on the back of their receipt and still hangs in the Dutchman’s Country Store today!

The Experience The Dutchman’s Hidden Valley, “Texas’ most unusual store,” is located on the historic Highway 281. Johnny and Frances Harris obtained their first highway sign permit back in 1961, announcing Hidden Valley Farms, purveyor of pecan grafts, pecans, and fresh fruit from their orchards located behind the store. Adding old army barracks and room additions, the store grew along with the array of merchandise. Pecan and peanut brittle, Texas made merchandise, antiques, and even a collection of Texas art were among the goods travelers could browse through while stretching their legs.

If you venture out into Hamilton and into Dutchman’s Hidden Valley, you’ll be greeted with the gorgeous Texas landscape, a wave accompanied by a friendly smile and probably a glass of sweet tea because that’s how they do things around there. It’s scenic and the cell service is a little shoddy at times, but it can be part of the charm...peace and quiet is rare these days.

They are still hand-dipping chocolates, pouring brittle, and making candies the old-fashioned way. Sit for a spell and have lunch at their deli where they will serve you up delicious sandwiches on their homemade bread.

The afternoon we chose to visit the Bavarian Sandwich was ordered. It really was beyond expectation. With the perfect portions of fresh sauerkraut, lean ham, swiss

cheese, served on rye – I chose to have mine on homemade white bread. I couldn’t be there and not make sure to figure out how to incorporate their homemade bread. Baked to perfection and insanely light providing the perfect cocoon for the insides of the sandwich. In fact the sandwich was so good, a week later we made another stop in anticipation for having it again!

Bison chili was also brought to our table, and not a speck was left in the bowl.

Anytime we are able to take a trip for lunch, and homemade desserts are an option, we cannot pass them up. In this instance we ordered Henry’s homemade ice cream. It was scooped to perfection in its very own cone, and was the perfect exclamation point to our meal.

Before you head home, don’t forget to peruse their general store for homemade candies and gifts!

Nowadays, the Dutchman’s daughter, Kara Chorenziak, along with some of her sons and an almost-family crew, holds on to the old-fashioned recipes and timetested values that feel like you walk in the store as a guest and leave as family.