Top 7 Non-BBQ Hidden Gems in Kansas City’s Culinary Scene From Filipino Sisig to Duck Fat Carrots

Post Published October 22, 2024

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Top 7 Non-BBQ Hidden Gems in Kansas City's Culinary Scene From Filipino Sisig to Duck Fat Carrots - Fishy Business at Roe Seafood with Shrimp Toast and Sake Cocktails





Roe Seafood in Long Beach's Belmont Shore offers a compelling seafood experience that manages to feel both upscale and casual. While the menu boasts a focus on fresh, seasonal seafood with an emphasis on sustainability, it's their shrimp toast that really stands out as a memorable starter. Pairing this appetizer with one of their intriguing sake cocktails adds another layer to the dining experience. Their commitment to quality ingredients is apparent, and the ambiance is inviting. Whether you choose to relax in the formal dining room or opt for the more relaxed patio setting, you can expect a pleasant atmosphere. This restaurant clearly cares about providing a good dining experience. They even offer a happy hour with both drink specials and entertainment, making it a viable destination for a casual outing. While some may find it a bit on the pricier side, the quality and the atmosphere might convince many that it is worth a visit.

Roe Seafood, nestled within the Kansas City culinary landscape, presents a compelling alternative to the city's prevalent BBQ scene. While not your typical Kansas City experience, Roe's focus on fresh seafood and inventive coastal cuisine carves out a niche. They feature a robust fish market, allowing patrons to snag fresh catches and ingredients, alongside a full-service dining area. The restaurant embraces an elevated seafood dining experience, which may be a refreshing change for some.

Their menu, which focuses on seafood-forward dishes, has garnered praise. Shrimp toast, a staple of Cantonese cuisine, offers a playful nod to Asian cuisine while showcasing Roe's inventiveness. Interestingly, the creation of shrimp toast in its original form stemmed from an ingenious approach to using leftover shrimp paste, highlighting the ingenuity of early culinary practices.

Roe’s approach to sake pairings deserves some consideration as well. The subtle umami of sake enhances the seafood flavors and is a practice often encountered in Japanese dining settings. However, it's intriguing to consider how a traditional Japanese beverage like sake is incorporated into the broader cuisine within the restaurant. It is also interesting to note that the fermentation process of sake can take up to a month and varies based on specific temperature controls, leading to vastly different flavors in the final product. Perhaps Roe’s sake offerings incorporate such variances in their sake cocktail selection.

Beyond the pairing of sake and shrimp, many of the dishes here feature omega-3 fatty acids. These essential acids, found in abundance in seafood, are touted for their anti-inflammatory benefits. This adds an additional layer of intrigue to the restaurant's offerings, particularly with the focus on sustainable sourcing practices mentioned in their menu descriptions. It's a testament to how culinary experiences can also address modern concerns about health and well-being.

The world of sake cocktails themselves is also quite intricate, and one worth exploring further. The interplay of ingredients like citrus or herbs at a molecular level highlights how cocktails can be more than simple drinks. Roe’s utilization of sake cocktails further amplifies the sensory experience. In conclusion, Roe offers a welcome departure from typical Kansas City dining while showcasing its dedication to quality seafood and innovative culinary approaches. While not necessarily a ground-breaking culinary experience, it presents a notable and potentially satisfying alternative to the familiar BBQ-dominated culinary scene.

What else is in this post?

  1. Top 7 Non-BBQ Hidden Gems in Kansas City's Culinary Scene From Filipino Sisig to Duck Fat Carrots - Fishy Business at Roe Seafood with Shrimp Toast and Sake Cocktails
  2. Top 7 Non-BBQ Hidden Gems in Kansas City's Culinary Scene From Filipino Sisig to Duck Fat Carrots - Uzbek Dumplings at New Samarkand Cafe in Independence

Top 7 Non-BBQ Hidden Gems in Kansas City's Culinary Scene From Filipino Sisig to Duck Fat Carrots - Uzbek Dumplings at New Samarkand Cafe in Independence





Nestled within Independence, Missouri, New Samarkand Cafe offers a unique culinary escape from the typical Kansas City scene. The cafe presents an authentic taste of Uzbekistan, specializing in dishes that showcase the country's rich culinary heritage. The star of their menu is the Uzbek manti—tender dumplings filled with a flavorful mix of ground beef and lamb, all carefully seasoned and wrapped in a soft dough. The experience is elevated by the cafe's attentive staff, ensuring a pleasant and personal dining experience.

Beyond the manti, New Samarkand Cafe serves other traditional Uzbek dishes like samsa (savory meat pastries) and chebureki (meat pies). The menu also features comforting Uzbekistani tea and fresh, warm Fater bread, complementing the main courses. The cafe’s atmosphere is quite serene, offering a calm respite while providing a chance to experience the varied flavors of Central Asia. For those seeking a departure from the usual barbecue landscape, this unassuming spot is a hidden gem, delivering an introduction to the exciting culinary traditions of Uzbekistan.

### Uzbek Dumplings at New Samarkand Cafe in Independence

New Samarkand Cafe, situated in Independence, Missouri, offers a unique window into Uzbek cuisine, a culinary tradition rooted in the heart of Central Asia. Their star attraction is the Uzbek manti, a type of dumpling usually filled with a savory mixture of ground meat and spices. The preparation of these dumplings is quite involved, starting with a marinade of ground beef and lamb, seasoned with onions and various spices before being enveloped in a carefully crafted dumpling dough. It is fascinating how the specific techniques used in shaping the manti contribute to both their texture and the optimal cook time.

The cafe itself, aside from their delicious dumplings, is praised for the attentiveness of its staff, contributing to a comfortable and pleasant dining experience. The menu, beyond manti, also includes other Uzbek specialties such as samsa (meat pastries), chebureki (meat pies), and kebabs. To complement the savory dishes, the café serves Uzbekistani tea and freshly baked Fater bread.

Uzbek cooking is marked by an intriguing approach to utilizing heat, emphasizing techniques like pickling and drying alongside more standard methods like simmering stews. A prime example is dimlama, a complex one-pot stew featuring stacked layers of meats, vegetables, and spices, simmered slowly for hours. A hallmark of this cuisine is the skillful balancing of sweet and savory components, frequently incorporating ingredients like raisins and yellow carrots, adding complexity to each dish.


The New Samarkand Cafe's quiet setting enhances the overall dining experience, showcasing a culinary tradition that reflects Uzbekistan’s vibrant culture and history. It offers a unique opportunity to explore flavors and cooking techniques that might not be readily found elsewhere in Kansas City. While the flavors of Central Asia might be unusual for some, it represents a change of pace from the ubiquitous Kansas City BBQ scene. The cafe's calm and unpretentious atmosphere makes it a captivating spot, especially given the unusual cuisine. The experience is enriched by the meticulous preparation and the cultural underpinnings of each dish, making it a worthwhile detour for those looking to broaden their culinary horizons in Kansas City.

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