There’s not much travelling to be done during this period but Kafé Samsa offers you a chance to play tourist in your own country by exploring the lesser-known region of Central Asia through food.
This new all-day dining concept, located within Central Asian restaurant The Nomads, taps on The Silk Road as inspiration. It is named after the savoury pastry, samsa, which is commonly found in areas of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. There are regional variations, but you will almost always find them stuffed with meat and vegetables. Naturally, these buttery bakes feature heavily on the menu here.
Choose from five options: the original ($8), with minced lamb scented with a house-blend of aromatics and sautéed onions to mask any gamey aftertaste; wagyu beef ($8) mince cooked in its own fat; a version of a Central Asian chicken ($7) pot pie, spiced with Uzbek aromatics; a meat-free mushroom and lentil ($7) option that’s just as hearty; and a dessert apple ($6) samsa.
Kafé Samsa also invites diners to bring home a piece of the Silk Road. Piping hot parcels of samsa are available for delivery and takeaway, along with some spreads to jazz up your toast. There’s the Hunter’s Butter ($20), which depending on the time of visit, could come whipped with different rendered animal fat – duck, lamb, beef, or others. The Gatherer’s Butter ($20), a favourite at The Nomads, can be found here as well. It might come bottled with mushroom and truffle, or with umami-laden seaweed. While they'll do fine on the sliced white bread you have at home, they're best served alongside Nomads' Kazakhstan-style naan ($10). Spices, pre-bottled for convenience, can also be picked up to help lend a nomadic touch to any home-cooked meal.
Come nighttime, the space transforms into a wine bar, serving up a selection of Central Asian wine, spirits, and bar bites.
