"Few Michigan chefs can lay claim to being James Beard Award winners, but Alex Young, formerly of Zingerman’s Roadhouse in Ann Arbor can, as he took home the honor of Best Chef: Great Lakes in 2011. Now Young is back with Cafe Origins, an all-day spot in Birmingham that opened its doors toward the end of 2024. The menu here may look comparable to other cafes with a variety of espresso beverages, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches, but the difference here is in the details. Young’s team bakes its sprouted wheat bread for sandwiches. In addition to offering sweet pastries like salted chocolate chip cookies and pecan sticky buns, Cafe Origins also serves globally inspired savory hand pies, filled with Jamaican spiced chicken, curried potatoes, or Cornish beef. Wraps come stuffed with fillings like lamb shawarma or wild mushrooms. Plan ahead and place orders online." - Serena Maria Daniels
