restaurants

Michigan restaurants will be allowed to open their doors to indoor diners February 1st.  Indoor dining has been prohibited by state officials since November to curb the cases of COVID-19 in the community.  WEMU’s Lisa Barry talks with Don Knight, the owner of Knight’s Steakhouse with two locations in Ann Arbor and one in Jackson, about his excitement to reopen even with state-imposed restrictions and some changes they’ve made to keep diners healthy.

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.

The Ann Arbor Ypsilanti Regional Chamber says customer confidence will be essential for businesses when the State of Michigan lifts its COVID-19 indoor dining ban on December 21st.  

Two Ann Arbor restaurant chefs say they plan to "pivot and roll with the punches" in light of the latest order by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to pause indoor restaurant dining for the next three weeks to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Lisa Barry talks with Ji Hye Kim of Miss Kim's Korean Restaurant and Allie Lyttle of the recently opened Lala's Restaurant--both in Ann Arbor--about the impact of the pandemic and the recent decision and what the local community can do to support all restaurants in the area at this time.

The Ann Arbor Ypsilanti Regional Chamber says takeout orders will be essential for the survival of restaurants and bars during the next three weeks.  

Many local businesses have felt the harsh effects of the pandemic, especially restaurants.  The owners of these restaurants have been able to adapt, thanks to outdoor dining and delivery services, but the situation may become more difficult when winter comes along.  In this week's "On the Ground-Ypsi," WEMU's Lisa Barry and Concentrate Media's Sarah Rigg speak to Andrea "Cuppy" White, owner of Cuppy's Best Soulful Cafe in Ypsilanti, about how she, like several other local restaurateurs, plans to maintain her business through the rest of this trying year.

The City of Ypsilanti is considering extending its Sidewalk Cafés permits to allow businesses to continue offering outdoor dining during the pandemic.  

Ann Arbor Zingerman's co-owner Ari Weinzweig is part of the recently formed "Independent Restaurant Coalition" working to get a bill approved to provide financial support for restaurants struggling due to the current pandemic.

He talks with WEMU's Lisa Barry about his hopes for keeping his doors open, especially with no home football games this year in Ann Arbor, and the approach of colder weather which will impact outdoor dining, which is helping to sustain many restaurants right now.

The number of coronavirus cases has jumped dramatically across the state of Michigan and across the country.  This scenario has caused more hardships for business owners and low-income residents.  The HEROES bill was passed by the U.S. House two months ago, but the U.S. Senate has yet to present its version of the next relief package.  12th District Representative Debbie Dingell joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss community need and congressional response. 

Ypsilanti’s city council has approved street closures to allow restaurants and bars to expand their seating areas outdoors because of COVID-19.  

Restaurants were one of the first and hardest hit by our current health crisis and looks like they will remain closed for a while.  WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with John Reyes of Eater.com about how Washtenaw County restaurants are evolving during the current health crisis and what they are doing to try and still serve customers and maintain their bottom line.

With over a billion dollars in losses statewide this month alone in the Michigan restaurant industry and hundreds of workers furloughed under orders banning in restaurant customers, WEMU's Lisa Barry checks in with Zingerman's co-owner Ari Weinzweig to find out how that successful Ann Arbor community of food-related businesses is holding up as the ordered closures to diners continues.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order that will provide financial relief for bars and restaurants.  WEMU’s Jorge Avellan tells us how this could benefit businesses in Washtenaw County during the coronavirus crisis. 

This week, "Art and Soul" is about the culinary arts, but due to the current coronavirus pandemic, most restaurants have had to figure out a new way to operate, and some have had to close.  WEMU's Lisa Barry and Jessica Webster talk about what your local dining options are and how you can support local grocery stores and restaurants in new ways, due to rising health concerns.

In the first installment of a new feature series, entitled "WEMU Reaches Out: COVID-19 Conversations," Barbara Lucas catches up with Ann Arbor restauranteur Phillis Engelbert.  She owns Detroit Street Filling Station and the Lunch Room and is doing all she can to keep the businesses open, pay and insure staff and help customers in need. 

Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a "Stay Home, Stay Safe" executive order Monday morning to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.  89.1 WEMU's Jorge Avellan tells us what that means for some local businesses in Washtenaw County.
 

New measures designed to help curb the spread of the coronavirus are forcing local restaurants and other businesses to close, or otherwise change their normal operations.

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 about the culinary arts, focusing on the many food options in our community.  89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry and Jessica Webster talk to the owner of Antonio's Coney Island in Ypsilanti, where diners might be surprised to find a non-typical, coney island menu focusing more on Central American specialties.

Ann Arbor has a lot of popular restaurants serving a variety of food that has earned the city a strong reputation for dining out.

89.1 WEMU’s Lisa Barry talks to Sandra Andrade from the Main Street Area Association about two community food events coming up soon.

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" focuses on the culinary arts and with the upcoming “restaurant week” in Ann Arbor.  89.1 WEMU's Lisa Barry talks to the director of the Ann Arbor Main Street Association,  which organizes the annual event, Sandra Andrade, about the annual restaurant event.

The English translation of the French word "dessous' is "underneath."  That's where you'll find the one of Ann Arbor's newest downtown eateries. "dessous' occupies an underground space that used to house "Melange." The menu and the space itself have been transformed into an entirely new experience for patrons.  In this week's "creative:impact" on WEMU, you'll hear from co-owner Jay Mullick and consulting chef Eve Aronoff,  on the creative process in creating something entirely new. 

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…

An effective food system in the state’s prisons should go beyond just feeding prisoners.  That’s the message of some lawmakers in the state Senate.

Ann Arbor’s “foodie” enthusiasts are looking forward to the start of Restaurant Week on Sunday, January 14th and runs through the 19th.  57 restaurants will be participating in the twice-yearly event featuring one week of one-price dining.

89.1 WEMU’s Lisa Barry spoke with Maura Thomson, the executive director of the Ann Arbor Main Street Association, which organized the event.

Ever notice the volume level of music being played at a local restaurant or coffee shop?  There's an effort underway in Ann Arbor to reduce that noise level and make the city a quieter and more peaceful place. 

Many of us take time off this week between Christmas and New Year's to spend time with family.  But those who work in the restaurant industry are getting ready for a busy week.

Food safety became a huge concern when a man introduced hazardous chemicals to grocery stores in Washtenaw County in May.  In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair talks with Washtenaw County Environmental Health Director Kristen Schweighoefer about what to do if contaminated food becomes a serious problem.