Free Press Word of Mouth

SYLVIA RECTOR WORD OF MOUTH
Birmingham's Maple Leaf Cafe keeps it natural
November 29, 2007
BY SYLVIA RECTOR
FREE PRESS RESTAURANT REPORTER
The first reason you'll want to try chef Jeorge Swanson's itty-bitty new Maple Leaf Café in downtown Birmingham is that the food is creative, fresh and hearty.
The second is that he's cooking only with organic and natural ingredients and keeping prices competitive.
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Maple Leaf also is vegan- and vegetarian-friendly, but don't let that scare you off if you love a great burger or two-fisted sandwich.
Swanson, whose resume includes Lily's Seafood in Royal Oak and Sweet Lorraine's, opened in early October in the former location of a Thai restaurant at 297 E. Maple between Woodward and Old Woodward.
He seats just 40, so you may have to wait. But based on my first-taste visit, I think you'll want to stick around.
Breakfast includes items such as sweet potato pancakes with toasted pecan honey butter, Mediterranean scramble and crab cakes-and-eggs.
Lunch ranges from Five-Star Meatloaf and roasted butternut squash fritters to salads, overstuffed sandwiches and half-pound Certified Angus Beef burgers.
Swanson says about 80% of his food is organic, and the rest is naturally produced.
"I have kids, and I would not want to see them eat genetically modified products or things with growth hormones in them," he says. "I'm trying to feed the people the same kind of food I feed my family."
He's open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.