When the local bakery that Jenny Urban was working with suddenly stopped production this summer, she was forced to bake scones in-house.
"I decided to challenge myself and fresh bake our scones on site with a toaster oven," Urban said. "I didn't think it would work out, but people are really loving them."
Urban's favorite combinations so far are cheddar jalapeno, blue cheese walnut with red onion, butterscotch coconut, and golden raisin cinnamon caramel swirl.
"I can barely keep up with the demand; we're selling eight times the amount that we were before," she said.
Urban spent several years teaching culinary arts to the homeless, ex-convicts and refugees. From there, she opened her own restaurant, Urban Café in North Lakeview. She then took a couple years off to be a stay-at-home mom.
"I have always been extremely fortunate in my career path," Urban said. "Old Town School of Folk Music is a perfect fit for me right now. I work with the most talented musicians in the city and am making great connections."
She has worked there for two years
"When my time as a stay-at-home mom was coming to an end, I knew I would need to start looking around," she said. "One night I had a fortuitous, vivid dream. I dreamt that I was a chef at Old Town School of Folk Music in their new building on Lincoln Avenue. The dream was very detailed; I can remember the tiled floors, the equipment, everything. The next day I dropped of a resume for them to keep on file."
She was contacted a few weeks later when the position opened up.
"It was kismet," said Urban, who noted that one of her job highlights is helping cater the green room for the artists performing at Old Town. "Basically, I make hummus for my idols, which recently has included the Indigo Girls, Kristen Hirsch, Dar Williams, Allison Kraus, Henry Rollins, Meshell Ndegeocello and many more.
"Down the road, when my kids are old enough to help, I hope to have a concession trailer. I would specialize in brunch options and showcase a Tex-Mex themed menu."
THE STATS
Age
33
Neighborhood
Edgewater
Relationship status
"I am madly in love. She is a femme, an artist and a mother."
Hobbies
"I am active in the queer music community, and play drums for several local and touring acts."
Job title
Cafe manager at Old Town School of Folk Music
Favorite TV shows
Ted Talks, and Orange Is the New Black
Favorite local queer musicians
Congress of Starlings, Scott Free, Emily White, Ripley Caine, Elias Krell, Mike Grimes, Kristen Ronne, Ellen Rosner, Nhojj, Shelley Miller "and the list could go on and on for days."
Little-known fact
"I am a proud mother of two girls."
Four people ( living or dead ) who you'd like to have dinner with
"I would trade anything in the world to have dinner with my dad, mom and two daughters."