MI Great Plates

05/28/2026

This week on MI Great Plates, we welcome Tasso and George Teftsis of Astoria Pastry Shop and Blue Goat in Royal Oak to discuss family legacy, building brands that stand the test of time and balancing tradition with growth.

Then, Ivana Kalafatic, founder of Detroitisit and organizer of The Business of Food Summit, joins the conversation to discuss entrepreneurship, collaboration and the ideas helping shape the future of food and hospitality in Michigan.

Tune in Thursday, May 28 at 8 p.m. EST on WJR Radio, or listen on demand at WJR.com/MI-Great-Plates.

Can’t listen live? Stream the show anytime, wherever you get your podcasts.



Photo Credit: Astoria Pastry Shop / Blue Goat / DetroitIsIt

04/23/2026

Tonight at 8 p.m., MI Great Plates host Justin Near sits down with restaurateur Jeremy Sasson, founder of Heirloom Hospitality.

Sasson discusses the vision behind a growing portfolio of concepts, including Townhouse Birmingham, Townhouse Detroit, Prime + Proper, Mad Nice Coffee and Mad Nice Detroit, and what it takes to build scalable, high-performing restaurants across multiple markets. The conversation explores brand development, operational discipline and how an uncompromising, detail-driven approach defines modern luxury hospitality.

SPOILER ALERT: For the first time publicly, Jeremy unveils his upcoming concept, Heiress.

🎧 Tune in tonight at 8 p.m. on WJR Radio, or listen on demand at WJR.com/MI-Great-Plates.

Can’t listen live? Stream the show anytime, anywhere - wherever you get your podcasts.

Photo Credit: Heirloom Hospitality

03/24/2026

TONIGHT at 8 p.m., MI Great Plates host Justin Near sits down with Adriana Jimenez, owner of Vecino.

Jimenez shares the story behind Vecino and how she is bringing an elevated, Mexico City-inspired dining experience to Detroit. The conversation explores her transition from the automotive industry to hospitality, her culinary perspective and how Vecino is helping expand the city’s evolving food scene.

🎧 Tune in tonight at 8 p.m. on WJR Radio or listen on demand at WJR.com/MI-Great-Plates.

Can’t listen live? Stream the show anytime, anywhere - wherever you get your podcasts.

02/23/2026

On February 23 at 8 p.m., MI Great Plates host Justin Near sits down with Lyndsay Green, restaurant critic for the Detroit Free Press.

Green breaks down her Top 10 New Restaurants, along with her picks for Restaurant of the Year and Classic Restaurant of the Year, offering insight into the trends, talent and standout dining experiences shaping Detroit’s culinary landscape.

🎧 Tune in February 23 at 8 p.m. on WJR Radio or listen on demand at WJR.com/MI-Great-Plates.

Can’t listen live? Stream the show anytime, anywhere - wherever you get your podcasts.

01/28/2026

Thursday on MI Great Plates, host Justin Near sits down with acclaimed restaurateur Sandy Levine, co-owner of some of Detroit’s most celebrated dining and cocktail destinations. From the fine dining experiences at Freya Detroit and Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails to the acclaimed bars The Oakland, Dragonfly Detroit and Dirty Shake, Levine shares how he and his business partner, the award-winning Chef Doug Hewitt, are helping shape the region’s modern dining and bar scene through thoughtful hospitality and bold, chef-driven concepts.

🎧 Tune in Thursday, January 29 at 8 p.m. on WJR Radio or listen on demand at WJR.com/MI-Great-Plates.

Can’t listen live? Stream the show anytime, anywhere - wherever you get your podcasts.

12/23/2025

On this episode of MI Great Plates, we’re diving into two incredible stories shaping Michigan’s culinary scene:

Nick Arone of Bar Chenin shares how his intimate 10-seat wine bar inside The Siren Hotel is redefining late-night dining with natural wines, house-made sourdough, and the must-try Mortadella sandwich.

Ping Ho, the visionary behind Marrow, The Royce, and Mink, reveals her mission to build a better meat industry - plus details on her groundbreaking new Eastern Market facility that combines a restaurant with a state-certified processing plant.

🎧 Tune in TONIGHT at 8pm on WJR Radio.
Miss a broadcast? Stream the show anytime, anywhere - wherever you get your podcasts. Visit https://www.wjr.com/mi-great-plates/ for more.

Photos: Justin Near, Joe Portelli, Taylor Higgins

11/28/2025

🎙️ Today on MI Great Plates , we bring you two great conversations with leaders in Michigan’s hospitality and dining world.

✨ Owen Chestnut of Hotel Walloon joins us to talk about the magic of Walloon Lake during the holidays - including the creative seasonal cocktails that draw guests from across the state.

🍽️ Nico Gatzaros, co-owner of The London Chop House, Ostrea Detroit, and Fishbones Greektown Detroit offers an inside look at running three iconic Detroit restaurants and how each delivers its own distinctive experience.

Whether you're planning a winter getaway or scouting your next dinner reservation, this episode has something for every Michigan foodie.

🎧 Tune in TONIGHT at 8pm on WJR Radio

Miss a broadcast? Stream the show anytime, anywhere - wherever you get your podcasts. Visit WJR.com/MI-Great-Plates for more.

11/26/2025

11/22/2025

Martini time at Bar Chenin....

11/03/2025

Missed our trip to Detroit’s modern Roman masterpiece? Don’t worry - we’ve got you covered! SheWolf Pastificio & Bar Executive Chef & Owner Anthony Lombardo joined MI Great Plates host Justin Near to dish on pasta craftsmanship, his time in Italy and the philosophy behind one of the city’s most talked-about kitchens. Listen now at https://thegreatvoice.com/Shows/mi-great-plates or wherever you get your podcasts. 🎙️