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"MI Great Plates" dives into Michigan’s food scene - hot restaurants, bold brands, and the people behind them. EST on 760 WJR.

Hosted by top publicist Justin Near, it airs on the fourth Thursday of every month at 8 p.m.

08/27/2026

Detroit’s food scene is earning national attention, but Carlos Parisi believes what makes it special starts much closer to home: a small business-first community built around independent restaurants, food entrepreneurs and the people behind them.

On the next MI Great Plates, Justin Near sits down with Carlos, the entrepreneur behind Aunt Nee's, host of WDIV Local 4 / ClickOnDetroit’s Carlos Eats Detroit and creator of Detroit Sandwich Week and the Detroit Sandwich Party.

They talk about Carlos’ journey through Detroit food, how he chooses the restaurants and stories he shares, the growing national spotlight on the city’s food scene and why community remains at the heart of it all.

Plus, Carlos previews the third annual Detroit Sandwich Party, coming September 6 to Eastern Market Partnership’s Shed 5.

Listen Thursday, August 27 at 8 p.m. EST on WJR Radio.

Missed the show? Stream the episode afterward wherever you get your podcasts or at WJR.com.

Photo credit: Village Portrait

07/23/2026

This Thursday, MI Great Plates host Justin Near sits down with award-winning food journalist Serena Maria del Refugio, founder of Midwest Mexican and the new food critic for Hour Detroit Magazine.

Their conversation explores the evolving role of food journalism, how food reflects culture and identity, what makes a restaurant truly memorable and why the stories behind the people and communities are often just as meaningful as what's on the plate.

Tune in Thursday, July 23 at 8 p.m. EST on WJR Radio, or listen on demand anytime at WJR.com/MIGreatPlates.

Missed an episode? Catch up anytime wherever you get your podcasts.

Photo Credit: Rosa Maria Zamarrón

06/25/2026

This week on MI Great Plates, we welcome internationally acclaimed chef, entrepreneur and author Matthew Kenney to discuss his remarkable career, the evolution of plant-based dining and the opening of BESOS Birmingham in downtown Birmingham.

Matthew shares stories from his early days in New York's restaurant scene, explains how he became one of the pioneers of modern plant-based cuisine and discusses the future of hospitality, sustainability and food innovation. The conversation also explores Dream Chef, his new AI-powered culinary platform designed to help inspire creativity in the kitchen.

Tune in Thursday, June 25 at 8 p.m. EST on WJR Radio, or listen on demand at WJR.com/MI-Great-Plates.

Can’t listen live? Stream past shows anytime, wherever you get your podcasts.

Photo: BESOS

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.

Address

3011 West Grand Boulevard
Detroit, MI
48202

Telephone

+13138754440

Website

https://www.WJR.com/

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