The Dish

Inside Ayasofya, Kalamazoo's only Turkish restaurant

There's a small restaurant near Western Michigan University where, for a lot of people in Kalamazoo, lunch is also an introduction to gobit doner, to lahmacun, and to a w

Peterson's Fish Market: A U.P. fish fry worth the trip

Peterson’s Fish Market in Hancock is a family‑run operation built on one guiding principle: freshness. Pat Peterson and her family, catch, fillet, smoke, and serve Lake S

Hawaiian flavors in Michigan: How Unco Chad built a viral food truck

You won’t find soy beans, corn and mango in the dishes at Unco Chad’s Hawaiian Flavaz. The bright blue food truck pops up around southeast Michigan, and offers something

Michigan’s cricket protein boom: Inside a family farm reinventing nutrition

Protein is having a moment, with powders available in a variety of flavors and base ingredients. The Green Leap, a family-owned business based in Grand Rapids derives the

The Guatemalan diner that became Ypsilanti’s community anchor

Manuel De Paz created his Guatemalan diner, Encuentro Latino, with community in mind. The name translates to “Latin Gathering.” It’s been in the same location in downtown

Grand Rapids couple creates community through bagels

The Cottage Bagel, a home bakery in Grand Rapids owned by Angela and Tony Ochoa, has developed a loyal following, with weekly bagel and scone pre-order “drops” often sell

Sober bartender reinvents zero‑proof cocktails

A sober bar manager in Ann Arbor is redefining what zero‑proof cocktails can be. In this episode, my colleague April Baer talks with Max Schikora of Echelon Kitchen and

Cooking through the holidays with Feel Good Foodie's Yumna Jawad

We spent some time with Yumna Jawad, better known as Feel Good Foodie, in her Grand Rapids home. She shared her must-have holiday dish and some super practical tips to he

How Chef Kieron Hales turns wedding meals into memories at Cornman Farms

British-born and Michelin-starred chef Kieron Hales has cooked for presidents and royalty across 27 countries.  He's Executive Chef at Zingerman's Cornman Farms in Dext

The baker bringing Brittany-style crepes to Boyne City

In Boyne City, a little lakeside town in Northern Michigan, there’s a bakery offering crepes of a quality that you'd expect to find in France. It’s owned by a classically

From Chicago fine dining to Michigan’s wild peninsula

Milkweed Inn is a unique culinary getaway hidden deep in the Upper Penninsula's Hiawatha National Forest. Chef Lane Regan works to craft menus that are foraged and locall

Traverse City chefs lean into Sichuan spice

Brothers Patrick and Ryan Evans fell in love with Sichuanese cuisine while working in San Francisco's fine dining industry. When they returned to Michigan, they teamed up

Fry bread and family traditions in Peshawbestown

Tanya and Wasinade Raphael are the mother-daughter team behind Raphael Foods. You’ll find their food truck drawing long lines at powwows and other tribal events across no

Flipping the script on Detroit pizza, one vegan slice at a time

We’d love for you to fill out this listener survey. It will only take a few minutes, and it will help us know what you want to hear!  Brittany March, the owner of a cul

Hemlock's Maple Grille cooks farm fresh with fire

We’d love for you to fill out this listener survey. It will only take a few minutes, and it will help us know what you want to hear!  The Maple Grille in Hemlock, Michi

How EK's Cheesecakes became a second chance

It's Season 2 of The Dish!  Today’s story takes us back to 2014, Ann Arbor. That’s when Eric Holloway started making cheesecake with his mom. Before that, Eric was in a

Paczki Day: A Polish tradition with a modern twist

A brand new season of The Dish is here, and we’re kicking things off with a Michigan favorite – pączki. We’ll take you inside a popular Hamtramck bakery known as "Pączki

Mexican-born birria tradition takes root in Michigan

Chef Eddie Vargas has a long history with birria — a flavorful stew that is slow cooked until the meat of choice is fall-apart tender. Filled with dried chiles, garlic, a

A Nigerian chef's journey from farmer to food truck entrepreneur

For Chef Prej Iroegbu, Detroit is home base for both his family and his business: a series of well-loved food trucks called Fork in Nigeria. But his culinary talent was b

Madre Masa takes heirloom corn from kernel to masa

A couple in Grand Rapids is cooking up homemade corn masa that’s garnered the attention of true tortilla lovers from all over the country. Madre Masa is one of the few Mi