13 Maple Street, Maleny QLD
Photo Credit Ashley Robinson
Nestled in the charming town of Maleny, Maple & Sage stands as a welcoming haven for both locals and visitors seeking a delightful vegan experience.
Maple & Sage’s allure lies not only in its great food offerings but also in its story. Stacey Lum Wan, Co-founder and Head Chef, started dabbling in vegan cooking when her son questioned why they hurt animals to provide food for humans. This set the family on a wondrous journey that continues today.
Stacey started creating tempting treats for the children, which in turn, created an overflow which her friends loved so much, they asked if they could buy them. She started creating weekly Treat Boxes, which she would sell each weekend.
She started an Insta page to show off her creations and that started a whole new stream of people wanting to purchase her goods. One day, she decided to quit her job but then realised, how was she going to cover the mortgage? So, she decided to start selling at the markets on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
She started getting orders from local cafes but to do this, she needed a wholesale kitchen. She then took on a lease at a small shop in Caloundra where she cooked and sold locally as well as wholesaling to local cafes for about a year. Then, on the one-year anniversary of her mother’s death, she and her partner went on a drive to the hinterland town of Maleny. They saw a beautiful-looking shop that was for rent and there was a phone number on the door. Stacey decided to phone about it.
What were the chances that the street was called Maple Street, and their business was already called Maple & Sage? It was also number 13, the same number as their street address. Stacey said, “No bad luck here - how many signs did my mother have to give me? I’m still wondering when Sage will pop in!”
“We have been open in Maleny now for over three years and love this cute little Sunshine Coast village, filled with an abundance of locals and tourists. People just come here because of its hippy/rural vibe - just a lovely place to spend time.”
Recreate Stacey Lum Wan's signature recipe -
Thai Green Curry on P.210 in the 2024 edition of Flavours of Australia.
Flavours of Australia
- 92 signature recipes from top Aussie Chefs
- 200 stories about the best chefs and places to eat and drink around Australia
Read the stories of some of Australia's most decorated chefs & rediscover some of our oldest family institutions. Recreate your favourite meals at home & relive your most memorable food experiences with signature recipes from our most coveted restaurants & identities.