Midstory at Urban Foxes
Those of you that follow along our Adventures with Outlaw (and Emory) know that allergies are a huge part of our story. It often leads to lots of fear, exclusion and annoyance (to others) when we try to eat anywhere other than our home. Just for a refresher, or maybe even introduction, Gabriel is anaphylactic to dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and sesame and sunflower seeds; very allergic to soy and pea protein; and “intolerant” of corn and beans. Emory shows all the sign of having his brother’s allergies, with the addition of a few more.
When we find a place that has safe food options here in Jackson, MS, it’s huge. We kind of cling to those places because they are few and far between. When we lived in Austin, TX, it was actually pretty easy to find vegan or diet-friendly places. People were much more aware of the severity of allergies, as well as other dietary restrictions. We usually just bring safe snacks to coffee shops, but it is mighty fine when we can just enjoy the coffee shop goods with everyone else. Throw in the killer aesthetic that Urban Foxes plays host to and we are over the moon.
I have a list I send people when they ask us for allergy-safe options here in Jackson. To be honest, I don’t really consider anywhere “safe” other than our home, so maybe I should say low-risk. I will get to more of these places later and you can always feel free to contact me about the list, but for now, I want to highlight a coffee shop and bakery that we love, Urban Foxes. It truly is a place for all.
*Side note for perspective: I don’t mind hand-making the majority of our meals and snacks, it’s healthier for us anyways, but the biggest thing about having safe options is just getting to feel like everyone else for a minute. A little less-known fact on having food allergies is that you always feel like a burden and a weirdo. Servers make their annoyance at all of our questions very clear, people get offended when we can’t eat what they made and when we go to holiday dinners, people comment on how little I served myself, not considering that the only safe option available was what I brought and raw veggies. The UF guys are happy to check on ingredients for me, they never judge me if I get 2 pieces of cake and they understand that allergies are nothing to play with. We feel so at home!
Urban Foxes is, as its name so conveniently hints, very much like a fox den. It is easily accessible, though not necessarily easily seen. It’s a hidden gem, if you will. The shop is nestled on a quiet street right between the Historic Belhaven Neighborhood and Downtown Jackson, perfectly binding the two together. We often tuck in there for coffee and chills before heading to cruise through downtown and head to the train station to watch the trains pass before naptime.
Sometimes I get the eebie jeebies when I walk into a coffee shop and it’s all super pretentious hipsters. I am a coffee snob, so those places have exactly the coffee I am looking for, but babies are frowned upon, everyone looks exactly the same and sometimes they don’t even serve snacks (what?!). Urban Foxes always has an eclectic mix of people, reflecting the diversity of Jackson, MS. They have options for vegans (or folks allergic to eggs + dairy) and also meat-lovers (the sausage rolls look devine). It’s a home for the hip and trendy, but also welcoming to those with kids. I love scheduling one-on-one client meetings, and also look forward to having creative business gatherings around their conference table.
When the boys are calm, we like to play with their tic-tac-toe board or read comics inside. If I know it will be a wild day or Gabriel suggests it right off the bat, we love hanging in the back courtyard. There are often other parents and kiddos and sometimes even pups, which the boys always enjoy. Basically, there is somewhere to go when you want quaint and quiet and also somewhere if you need to keep the crazy outside. I don’t let the boys get too rowdy when we are in public, just out of respect for others, but kids will be kids and the occasional outburst from Emory never seems to bother anyone. On the contrary, people at Urban Foxes often smile and welcome us in when they can tell I see them working and start off to find another room.
If you haven’t been yet, basically what I am trying to say is, GO. The “vibe”, if you will, is so perfect. It doesn’t really matter what type of mood you are in, it kind of transports you into its own mood - warm, open-minded pleasantry. The food is as delightful as the people, the light peeking through the windows inevitably brightens my soul and there is as good of a beer selection as coffee. The decor is thoughtfully curated (down to the last nostalgic VHS) and the different spaces allow it the opportunity to meet your different needs. It is definitely one of those places you take out-of-town friends to show off the best of Jackson and once you leave, you are in the perfect location to hop over to Fondren for lunch, go for a downtown stroll or hit any of Jackson’s great museums.
