Once upon a time in the city of Abbotsford, a little fox came to life. It was quite extraordinary. You could find no other like it. As the little vulpine wandered the streets, it witnessed no place for the city’s inhabitants to hide away from the toil of daily life, nowhere to unwind. And so our little fox decided to create a den for them. Settling under the mighty maple tree on the Mayfair Ave, it stuck out its fluffy tail to let wanderers know where they can sit down, relax, and eat.
This mischievous little canine was born in the mind of former freelance photographer Kelsey Mackintosh, and The Polly Fox is a one-of-a-kind bakery. It’s gluten-free, focusing on addressing all sorts of food allergies without taking away from the taste.
“Everything is made on-site, from bread to the mayonnaise that we use in our sandwiches,” said Mackintosh. “Not only for quality and freshness, but just to ensure that everything is free from allergens. We also try to use local ingredients and keep things seasonal.”
Being a celiac herself, Mackintosh recalls the constant worrying of whether or not the food she bought and ate was safe.
“I think it came out of the place of frustration,” she said. “It’s really difficult as someone with food allergies to find safe places to eat.”
Harnessing her passion for baking, The Polly Fox opened its doors to the public at the end of February and it seems impossible to close them since. Both Mackintosh and her partner in crime, Kaitlin Simoes, shared surprise when their quite unusual enterprise attracted customers beyond the younger crowd.
“There is a lot of people from our parents’ generation who are later in life discovering that changes to their diet have really helped with their long-term health issues,” Simoes said. “We were expecting the younger generation.”
Another reason The Polly Fox became so popular is its unique — for the area — offerings.
“There is nothing like it. [We were] able to cater to the market that hadn’t been tapped in this community,” adds Simoes.
Unlike many vegan restaurants, despite being a health-conscious eatery, The Polly Fox does not come off as pretentious. You know that feeling when you go to some of the vegan restaurants and you feel out of place? The Polly Fox doesn’t have that.
“Ultimately we just want to be part of this community,” Mackintosh said.
It shows, in the open and welcoming atmosphere that hits you when you first enter through the unassuming glass door.
“And we do have sandwiches on the waffles,” Mackintosh added. “It’s a huge sandwich and it’s amazing.”
Just hurry up, because as lovely as their current location is, they plan on digging themselves a bigger den in the near future.
