Dish & Drink KC: Black Feast Week and flavor-packed aguachiles

Matties Food // Photo By Tiffany Watts

Mattie’s Foods for Black Feast Week

As Kansas City celebrates its first-ever inaugural KC Black Feast Week, hosted by The Kansas City Defender, there’s no better time to spotlight the city’s extraordinary Black culinary talent.

From October 1st to October 14th, Black Feast Week highlights nearly every major Black-owned restaurant in Kansas City. Among them is Mattie’s Foods, a Black-owned plant-based gem specializing in comfort food that nourishes both body and soul.

To support Kansas City’s Black-owned restaurants and relish in the festivities, I visited Mattie’s with my daughter. We decided to go all in on their signature dishes, beginning with Mattie’s mixed plate ($20).

Packed with greens, creamy macaroni, buttery cornbread, and sweet, melt-in-your-mouth yams, this plate was a soulful blend of flavors and textures. Each bite carried the warmth of home-cooked goodness, with the greens and yams especially standing out for their rich, authentic taste.

Next, we dove into the chik’n Philly ($15), a standout in the plant-based world. Made with soy curls, this sandwich packed a punch with sautéed peppers and onions, gooey cheez, zesty jerk mayo, crisp romaine, and a surprising kick from jalapenos. The flavor combination was bold yet balanced, and the sandwich was served with a side of crunchy kettle chips that added a satisfying texture to the meal.

Matties Food // Photo By Tiffany Watts

We couldn’t leave without trying the highly recommended nachos ($15), which came fully loaded with gluten-free corn tortilla chips, Mattie’s nut-free queso Blanco, pinto beans, pico, cashew sour cream, guacamole, and a protein of our choice. The nachos were a testament to how creative and flavorful plant-based food can be. Every layer delivered on flavor, making this dish a must-try.

Mattie’s Food is the perfect representation of Kansas City’s thriving Black culinary scene, and Black Feast Week is an incredible opportunity to explore and support the diverse talent within our community.

Be sure to stop by Mattie’s and the other participating Black-owned restaurants during Black Feast Week to indulge in the flavors that make Kansas City so special.

Mattie’s Foods is located at 633 E 63rd Street, Suite 110 Kansas City, Missouri 64110.

Mariscos Mr Culichi // Photo By Tiffany Watts

A Flavor-packed visit to Mariscos Mr. Culichi Food Truck

When it comes to finding the best aguachiles in Kansas City, one name consistently pops up: Mariscos Mr. Culichi. Known for their creative take on this classic Mexican seafood dish, the food truck offers a range of flavor-packed options, and my girlfriend and I couldn’t wait to dig in.

We started with the levanta muertos consome ($15), a savory soup that immediately stood out for its bold flavors.

Topped with onions, cilantro, and slices of serrano peppers, this dish brought the heat, but it was well-balanced with the generous portion of large, juicy shrimp. Each bite of shrimp was tender and flavorful, making the soup a perfect combination of warmth and spice. The heat built up nicely on the back end, leaving us both craving more.

Next, we moved on to the star of the show, the aguachile con pulpo ($20). This dish featured chunky raw shrimp pieces submerged in a vibrant, mouthwatering sauce, mixed with crisp cucumber and onions, and topped with fresh avocado. The mix of textures and flavors, from the tenderness of the shrimp to the crunch of the veggies, made each bite refreshing yet indulgent.

Mariscos Mr Culichi // Photo By Tiffany Watts

But the highlight of our visit was the tosti-miche ceviche ($15). This drink is similar to a bloody mary but mixed with beer, and while the food truck doesn’t serve beer, we came prepared with our own Modelo. You could also mix it with your favorite Mexican beer to really make the flavors pop.

The tosti-miche ceviche comes with ceviche de camaron, a shrimp ceviche that adds a fresh, zesty component to the savory drink, making it one of the most unique and satisfying experiences you’ll find in Kansas City. It also comes with Tostitos, flaming hot or salsa verde, to add a kick to your drink.

If you want to be a bit adventurous, try adding mayonnaise to your tostitos or tostada when eating the ceviche or auguachiles. The smooth creamy taste of the mayo mixed with the spice and acidity of the auguachiles and ceviche truly levels up the dish.

Prepare to be obsessed with this hidden gem!

Mariscos Mr. Culichi Food Truck is located at 9544 E Winner Road Independence, MO 64053.