A Dusty Review of Odessa and a Gluten-Free Giveaway!

Odessa

Avenue A between 7th and 8th Streets

212-253-1470

I am an extremely giddy Dusty Baker right now, because this is a very special review and post for me on Bromography. I started writing with the team a few months ago, and have very much enjoyed scoping out restaurants for my allergy-friendly Dusty Review column, getting all Mad About Macarons by interviewing cookbook author Jill Colonna and reviewing Bisous Ciao Macarons, and taking feverish notes about Markets and Immigrant Identity in New York City at a Museum of the City of New York panel discussion. Not a bad first few months on this lovely site.

So to celebrate, Bromography and The Dusty Baker are doing a joint post today, with a review of Odessa Restaurant in the East Village on Bromography and a gluten-and-dairy-free version of Odessa’s famous pierogi on The Dusty Baker. And by following a few friendly, neighborly steps below, you’ll be entered into an extra-special-fun-and-fabulous gluten-free cookbook giveaway, courtesy of Bromography!

The Goods…

How To Enter…

Contestants who comment on  this post and “Like” Bromography on Facebook are eligible for Artisanal Gluten-Free Cooking.

Contestants who comment on Bromography and “Like” The Dusty Baker on Facebook are eligible for Essential Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide.

Anyone who comments on both posts and “Like”s both blogs on Bromography are eligible for both books!

And if you follow DustyBakerGal and Bromography on Twitter and post this giveaway to your followers, we’ll double your entry!

Please make sure to post something on the Facebook and Twitter pages so we know you’re entering the contest – just a note to say hi and mention the giveaway or something!

The contest will end at midnight, EST on Thursday, August 25.

Now, the Review…

I must admit, I’m not sure when the Odessa closes, because I’ve been there as late as 4 a.m. for drinks and greasy food, and as early at 10 a.m. for brunch. The day I went to officially review, I had been there 48 hours beforehand. A friend was visiting from Florida for a few days and he had a hankering for pierogi for breakfast from his favorite little diner-esque haunt. Yes, pierogi for breakfast. An eyebrow remained cocked (I think the left one) the entire ride downtown and over as we made our way on a bleary Wednesday morning, but with my first bite of gluten-full and dairy-free sweet potato pierogi, my face relaxed and I just had to sigh with pleasure. The pierogi there are made with white flour, but a little gluten in the morning felt oh so good.

Pierogi are delicious little chewy bits of pasta with filling, either fried or boiled. Traditional fillings incorporate white potato, cheese, sauerkraut, onions…things of that nature. I was psyched with the dairy-free sweet potato offering. They’re served with either sour cream or applesauce. Yum.

My ex-boyfriend of a million years is of Polish descent, and I would often joke that pierogi are simply “Polish ravioli.” No better way to get a rise out of a foodie gentleman than a backhanded compliment.

Two days after my pierogi indulgence, we went back, and this time I abstained. Eggs over medium piled on top of pastrami with salad and a side of sauerkraut replaced the pierogi (my friend, however, indulged again). The pastrami was incredibly chewy and fatty, so needless to say, it was not my favorite. But the sauerkraut was incredibly flavored and came in a huge, friendly heap. The salad was simple and fresh. My tea was hot and my friend’s coffee was dark.

From an allergy perspective, Odessa offers the same basic Ukranian/Polish/Romanian/Italian food you see in most NYC diners…um, wait, nope, it’s unique in that aspect. Blintzes, challah bread French toast, corned beef – it’s got a bit of all. The waitresses are all very friendly when I mention my specific allergies and their extremity, and I’ve never had a problem with options.

Odessa has a deliciously relaxed ambiance – whether it’s a late-night-snack-you’re-going-to-regret-horribly-in-the-morning or a hit-the-spot-brunch-feast, I’ve never felt rushed. There’s a decent skylight in the back of the restaurant, some old faded booths in the bar, a generally friendly and extremely non-trendy waitstaff, and a hodge-podge of clientele that only the east village can offer.

Now, if your mouth is watering for those pierogi up there, head over to The Dusty Baker for my insanely satisfying gluten-and-dairy-free pierogi recipe! I swanked it up with some fresh rosemary and sweet potato, and am extremely satisfied with the result!

Talking Points:

• Inexpensive – brunch is around $10-$15
• Pierogi! Saurkraut! Blintzes! Challah!
• Completely relaxed atmosphere, kid-friendly, spacious
• Understanding staff
• Huge portions

Go if: You’re extremely hungry, want some solid staples and need something to soak up a long night. Or if you’re pregnant and have a hankering for some REALLY good sauerkraut and a milkshake.