With a strong emphasis on real ingredients, thoughtful menu design and a customer-first approach, Leven Bakery & Cafe is a healthy fast casual eatery carving out its own niche in Houston’s food scene.

Franklin Liao, chef and partner at Leven, said the business is committed to providing delicious, wholesome food and beverages that cater to people who want to feel confident about what is in their food based upon their desire to feel good.

“We started with gluten free bread,” Liao said. “Gluten-free eating is not a trend nor a fad. It’s a lifestyle choice that helps people overcome the challenges of improving their well-being.”

At Leven Bakery & Cafe, the focus is on serving nutrient dense foods that are gluten free, satisfying, delicious and relatable.

“We want our customers to understand that good food can be more enjoyable when done the right way. When we eat it should give us joy and energy,” Liao said.

The bakery doesn’t just limit itself to gluten-free products. Liao and his team take pride in their wide array of menu options, which cater to those with dietary restrictions without sacrificing taste.

“When you come to Leven, you can reduce the frustration of eating out,” Liao said. “When you work with real ingredients, it’s easier to eat better.”

This attention to customer needs extends beyond dietary restrictions.

“All you’ve got to do is ask,” Liao said, noting the bakery’s flexible menu can accommodate a variety of tastes. “I tell people, you can probably come up with 100-plus different ways to have a different experience.”

At the core of Leven’s culinary philosophy is a dedication to using unprocessed ingredients.

“We don’t use any inflammatory processed seed oils,” Liao said, adding that the bakery opts for fats like olive oil, coconut oil, whole butter, ghee and avocado oil.

The bakery sources high-quality proteins as well, with a focus on halal meats.

“It’s not solely based on being of service to the Muslim population,” Liao said. “It’s a decision toward quality.”

Looking ahead to the holiday season, Liao is excited about the fall ingredients that bring earthy and comforting experiences. Look for the return of the popular pumpkin bread and pumpkin spice latte.

“Don’t expect overly sweet drinks you find in the marketplace. That’s not us.” he said. “When you try our pumpkin spice latte, for example, you can connect the dots between what’s good and not good.”

During the Thanksgiving holiday, the cafe is currently offering pre-orders online for a range of seasonal dishes, including pies, rotisserie chicken and a variety of sides like balsamic roasted brussels sprouts and mushroom stuffing. By ordering from Leven for the holidays, Liao said his team hopes customers can buy back their time and spend more time with their family without the added pressure of cooking.

“You’re either traveling, or saying hi to family members that you haven’t seen for quite some time,” he said. “Go do that, and let us alleviate some of the [cooking] so you can do more of what you really want to do. We want to help people spend more time with their family, and they can do it in a healthy and delicious way when they source from us.”

The above story was produced by Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.