dining services

Adam Baru, the owner of Isalita and Mani Osteria in downtown Ann Arbor, already had to close a third restaurant he owned, Mikette, due to the pandemic.  He talks to WEMU's Lisa Barry about the challenges he has faced as an Ann Arbor restaurant owner during this global health crisis and his response to Governor Gretchen Whitmer's announcement that restaurants may be allowed to open with some restrictions on February 1st.

Working out of a commercial kitchen in Ypsilanti Township, several new ventures have been able to survive and thrive, even in a pandemic.  Lisa Barry and Sarah Rigg talk with Forrest Maddox, co-creator of "The White Pine Kitchen," who is one of them creating a unique dining experience for people in their own homes.

This week, "Art and Soul" is about the culinary arts.  WEMU’s Lisa Barry is joined by Eater.com writer John Reyes, who talks about some Valentine’s Day dinner options in the Ann Arbor area.

Ann Arbor Restaurant Week is a semiannual event that celebrates the Ann Arbor dining scene, with 50+ area restaurants participating. WEMU’s Lisa Barry talks with Sandra Andrade, executive director of Ann Arbor’s Main Street Area Association, about what to expect from the dining event scheduled to begin January 12th. 

This week, "Art and Soul" is all about the culinary arts.  89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry and Jessica Webster are joined by Adam Baru, who owns three local restaurants, Mani Osteria, Isalita, and Mikette in Ann Arbor.  Baru talks about the re-launching of Mikette’s menu with a Mediterranean flare.

This week, Art and Soul is about the  culinary arts.  89.1 WEMU’s Lisa Barry and Jessica Webster are joined by Mary Campbell, the owner of “Everyday Wines” in Ann Arbor, who shares useful information about the world of wine.

Tradition and surprises can be found in the Jewish-German cookbook put together by a mother-daughter team coming to Ann Arbor June 12th.

Gabrielle Gropman and her daughter Sonja Gropman will prepare dinner from their cookbook at Zingerman's Roadhouse on the 12th and teach a baking class the next day.

89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry spoke with the mother-daughter team...

For this week's Art and Soul, 89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry is joined by Jessica Webster and the creator and chef of Grange Kitchen And Bar in Ann Arbor, Brandon Johns.  The restaurant was opened nearly 9 years ago as a genuine farm-to-table restaurant trying to serve as much local produce and meats and fish as possible.  Grange presents itself as a place for locally sourced farm-to-table dining.

There is a lot to be gained from hands-on learning.  At Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, there’s a program that combines learning and eating that area residents can also benefit from.

89.1 WEMU’S Lisa Barry takes you to the campus restaurant that serves as a training experience for culinary and hospitality students at WCC open to the public, but Hidden in Plain Sight…

 Eastern Michigan University’s Board of Regents yesterday passed a budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1st. As part of the spending measure, the Regents approved a contract with food vendor Chartwells. The decision to privatize the school’s dining services did not come about without some criticism.