Meet Jackson Whitby | Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jackson Whitby and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jackson, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind success in my life is my relationship with God. Through Him, all things are possible.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business name is, “Uncle Jack’s Southern Soul Food.” I got the name “Uncle Jack” from my nieces, LOL. What sets my brand and product apart from others the most is the authentic, Southern taste and my Southern hospitality, two things that are not traditionally found on the West Coast. When I first moved to San Diego in 2021, I had the most challenging time trying to locate a restaurant that serves the type of Southern Soul Food I am accustomed to. I was homesick and really looking for food that reminded me of living back home in the South. I was born in Arkansas and later moved to Dallas, Texas where I grew up and lived until I moved to California. I was raised around a lot of women and my Granny’s Thanksgiving meal is something that everyone in my family looks forward to every year. Most of the recipes for my business come directly from her. She is still alive today and over 80 years old!! I trust her food! Growing up, I was not a huge fan of cooking, I spent most of my time around music, books, or sports. However, in early 2021, after living in Texas around my family and support system most of my life, I stepped out on faith, and applied to Law school in San Diego, California. I got accepted and my wife and I moved across the country. However, my mother had been suffering from kidney failure at the time. Leaving her was challenging and created a lot of anxiety for me. As a way to cope with my anxiety, I started to cook and bake late at night when I found myself lying awake. Unbeknownst to me, cooking turned into a much deeper passion for me. I started to perfect my food presentation skills and research cooking/baking techniques. Fast forward a couple of years, I am preparing to enter my last year of law school and have never been able to travel outside of the country. I was accepted into the study abroad program and gained the amazing opportunity to study abroad in France this summer. As a means of helping fund my expenses for the study abroad program, I started “Uncle Jack’s” to sell soul food and baked goods.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting the area, I would take her to some of the best restaurants, beaches, and trails I have found around the city. Lavo, Greystone Steakhouse, or The Melt are my go-to food options. La Jolla Beach and Coves if you want to enjoy a classier, affluent atmosphere. I would take my best friend and children to Mission Beach to enjoy the amusement park and SeaWorld. Sunset Cliffs is a well-known place to catch the beautiful sunset. Ocean Beach is a wonderful place to sit quietly and cozy in the sand. For hiking and trail options, I would take her to Torrey Pines or Mission Trails Regional Park. Oxford Social Club, Tipsy Crow, and Parq are good nightlife options that can be found in the Gas Lamp Quarter. Lastly, Balboa Park is an exceptional area to explore the town’s museums and diverse culture.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely! There are several individuals, books, and organizations that have contributed to my current successes, but I would like to especially thank the woman who has stood by my side through all of my ambitions and walked this path with me as I have grown into the man I am today, and that’s my beautiful wife, Reddd. I would also like to send a huge shoutout to my mother, Veronica, and my whole support system. You all know who you are! We are going up!

Instagram: @unclejackssoulfood

Other: unclejacksfood@gmail.com for questions/concerns 619-707-2336 to place an order.

Image Credits
Image Credits: Jackson Whitby