Odyssey World Cafe
Odyssey World Cafe By Camille DeVaul
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amed for the Greek King, Odysseyous’s adventures through the Mediterranean Sea, Odyssey World Cafe was one of the first to bring international comfort food to Paso Robles 25 years ago. Now, after a quarter-century, the cafe’s owners are embarking on a new Odyssey in their lives, turning the restaurant over to long-time Odyssey chef Carmelo and his wife, Anna Rodriguez. In 1997, Dawn Gregory and John Hawley opened the Odyssey World Cafe on Pine Street in downtown Paso Robles. Originally, the two envisioned Odyssey as a marketstyle shop, bringing the community worldly ingredients that Odysseus, from the epic poem by Greek author Homer, may have found throughout the Mediterranean during his Odyssey. But slowly, Dawn realized their customers wanted to stay at the shop and eat. They wanted John to create sandwiches with these new ingredients. Soon enough, Odyssey became a cafe, offering comfort food with an international twist. While they were owners, the cafe survived the San Simeon earthquake of 2003, a recession, and now the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. But due to the overwhelming support from the community, Odyssey continues to survive and thrive. And now it is time for Dawn and John to pass the torch to Carmelo and Anna. “I knew in my heart that it was a yes,” says Anna. “This is our time to take on this adventure. Carmelo has been in the restaurant industry for his entire life—I felt like this was the opportunity for me to raise him up and honor the work and the commit-
ment he has made to his career, and if I got to be a part of it while also including our children, I knew, yes it is a yes.” Chef Carmelo was born in Mexico raised by his father, a butcher, and his mother, a phenomenal cook. Growing up on a farm, he learned husbandry from his father and how to take that bounty and make it into something wholesomely delicious. Anna says this experience and knowledge has given her family a greater appreciation of food, “You have a closer connection to the food and the food source.” He moved to California about 24 years ago, where he worked his way up the ranks in a Santa Barbara restaurant. There he worked under another great chef who taught the importance of consistency, quality, and flavorful sauces. Soon, Carmelo and Anna met, were married, and moved back to Anna’s hometown to build their family. Anna worked for her family’s busi-
ness while Chef Carmelo continued to dial in his skills working at McPhee’s Grill in Templeton and soon, Odyssey World Cafe. “He has a well-rounded teaching, a lot of that comes natural to him. The flavor of his food comes natural,” says Anna. “I am bringing an understanding of small business management—that’s my part, combining the business with a front-of-the-house presence and hospitality.” Chef Carmelo thrived at Odyssey Cafe for the last decade. Anna explains, “They started publishing his name with the specials—it was almost like a foreshadowing of what’s going to happen in the future—they have been choosing him for the last ten years. He really is the strength and the backbone of what we are doing.” The stars finally aligned for Chef Carmelo and Anna to take over Odyssey. Dawn and John were ready to let go, and they always knew they wanted Anna and Chef Carmelo to
adopt the cafe from them. Anna hopes to fill Dawn’s shoes as the warm, friendly face greeting customers into the cafe, “Dawn had this kindness and genuine care for her customers—I am hoping to be able to follow in her footsteps.” Chef Carmelo and Anna look forward to honoring Odyssey World Cafe’s roots while adding notes of their own personality and sharing the experience with their children, Max and Paloma, further adding to the Odyssey Family. For more information on Odyssey World Cafe, visit: odysseyworldcafe. com Location: 1214 Pine Street Paso Robles, CA 93446 (805) 237-7516 Hours: Monday - Thursday: 11 am - 8:30 pm Friday - Saturday: 11 am - 9 pm Sunday: 11 am - 8:30 pm
The Odyssey now under new ownership as the the long time owners prepare for retirement. Photo from left to right: Steve and Dawn Gregory, Carmelo and Anna Rodriguez, John and Shaun Hawley. Photo by Camille DeVaul
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