When Odessa Davis tells you her food is made with love, she means it. At just eight years old, Odessa learned to fry chicken, guided by her father over a long-distance call. Ever since then, she’s been quietly building something powerful—a community-rooted, customer-responsive culinary brand that’s as much about care as it is about cooking.

Born from Necessity, Built on Passion

Odessa’s Home Cooking officially began in 2020 when friends—stuck at home with raw ingredients from food pantries—turned to her for help. With no plan other than a heart for service and a long-standing love of cooking, Odessa got to work. Today, the business offers catering, meal prep, private chef services, cooking classes, customized cookies, and more.

What sets Odessa’s services apart? “I accommodate,” she says simply. She meets dietary restrictions with care—offering gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, and other alternatives without sacrificing flavor. Even her salad dressings are made from scratch to suit clients’ individual tastes.

“I want everything to be fresh—not from a can,” she says. And her clients notice. Whether they are a new mother on maternity leave or a family recovering from a fire, Odessa steps in with comforting, nourishing meals prepared with precision.

A Culinary Education Rooted in Experience

Odessa’s cooking journey started out of rebellion, really—against takeout. Growing up in Brooklyn, she got tired of fast food and decided to take matters into her own hands. When she spotted a frozen chicken in the freezer, she called her dad in Florida, who talked her through how to make fried chicken – over the phone! “Ever since then, I cooked for the house,” she says.

That initial encounter with cooking fueled her path to culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu in Miami. Later, she pursued an associate degree in business management at Montgomery College (graduating with honors) and is now wrapping up her bachelor’s in business administration and small enterprise from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Odessa’s home base today is the TPSS Community Kitchen in Takoma Park, but her dreams are bigger. She’s actively seeking staff—a prep cook and a line cook—and working toward opening a storefront. Meanwhile, she stays deeply engaged in her community. She’s a family service worker for Montgomery County Public Schools’ Head Start program by day and an advocate for food justice in her spare time, serving on the board and fundraising committee of Manna Food Center.

“I love helping people,” Odessa says. And that commitment shows up in every aspect of her business, from the accessible cooking classes she developed for people on the autism spectrum to the way she builds lasting, trusting relationships with her clients.

Blending Caribbean Roots with Southern Soul - and Service

Odessa is proud of her Caribbean heritage—her mother’s side hails from Trinidad—and infuses those flavors into her menus. While Southern cooking is her foundation, she offers dishes like oxtail stew and curry chicken alongside classic comfort foods. This summer, she’s popping up at a a popular neighborhood farmers market, where locals can try her food and meet her in person.

She’s also cultivating more relationships with local farmers and is excited to deepen those connections to better support her farm-to-table mission.

During her time as a camp director with Montgomery County Recreation, Odessa created cooking classes for people with developmental disabilities. By adapting recipes to their reading level and using visual instructions, she proved that every child could learn their way around a kitchen.

That spirit of inclusion carries over into her business today. “I want my clients to feel supported,” she says. “If you’re recovering from surgery, juggling parenthood, or managing dietary needs, I’m here for you.”

What’s Next for Odessa’s Home Cooking?

Odessa is preparing for the next phase of growth, including securing a brick-and-mortar location, building out her team, and expanding her reach across Montgomery County and beyond. She’s a graduate of the Montgomery County Black Collective’s AMBER entrepreneurship program and recently competed in a local pitch competition hosted by the Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce.

Whether she’s prepping nutritious meals, teaching food safety as a certified ServSafe proctor, or hand-delivering comfort food during a client’s time of need, one thing’s clear: Odessa is building more than a business—she’s building trust, one plate at a time.

Follow along at Odessa’s next pop-up or reach out for custom catering and personal chef services. She’s not just feeding people—she’s feeding a movement.