Three friends from Altadena recently decided to get together and cook and sell pierogies as an attempt at a new side hustle. Then came the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The pierogians’ effort then became a chance to raise money to benefit celebrity Chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen its relief efforts in Ukraine.
So they arranged a one-night “pop-up” event Wednesday at their friend Kevin Hockin’s Side Pie Pizza restaurant. They called it “Meadow’s Pierogies,” a nod to their Northeast Altadena neighborhood.
The three friends—musician Imaad Wasif, sculptor/painter Jon Pylypchuk, and JPL graphic artist David Rager—had no idea how things would go.
Huddled in the back dining area of the restaurant, they manned pots of boiling water and tended sizzling sausages in hot skillets, while unbeknownst to them, the line began forming outside the restaurant before they opened, and in less than an hour, they had sold out their stock.
As Rager told Pasadena Now, “We’re all friends and neighbors, we hang out, we hike together, our kids play together, and we had an idea to try this out, and it succeeded way beyond our expectations.”
And customers seemed to agree.
“We tried one of each of the pierogies,” said customer Rachel Foster, “and they were amazing, especially the cheese ones.”
As Pylylchuk, whose family is Ukrainian, explained, the trio had the idea to make and sell the pierogies he grew up with, long before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“So,” Pylylchuk explained, “we pivoted and tried to make this business venture into something that might provide a little relief somewhere.”
The menu featured pairings such as aloo bhaaji/tomato masala pierogi and vegan shiitake bacon/cosmic kraut, alongside classics like potato/cheese/onion pierogi and housemade Kovbasa (Ukrainian) smoked sausage.
Rager estimated that the sold-out evening brought in “a few thousand dollars,” and said he was optimistic about staging the event again.
Side Pie Pizza is at 900 East Altadena Dr, Altadena, CA. (707) 743-3743
