MediterraneanGrocery Wholesalers in Detroit, MI

When it comes to Michigan musicians, Don Was may not be a household name but he’s about as big as they come. Over the course of his 50-plus year career, he’s collaborated either as a musician, producer, or filmmaker with everyone from The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, and Bonnie Raitt to Ziggy Marley, Grateful Dead, and The B-52s. As the executive for Blue Note Records, one of the most prestigious labels in jazz, he’s ear-wormed his way into even more heads.

It should be no surprise then that when Was decided to bring his latest project to Lansing, Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, the show was packed with the who’s who of the capital city’s music scene. Local radio hosts and bar band stars packed the room alongside jazz fans and Dead Heads to get a chance to see what Was and his fellow Detroit musicians had to offer.

The nine-member ensemble brought energy right from the start, with a funky-jazz number that allowed vocalist Steffanie Christi’an to show off her pipes, and gave trumpeter John Douglas the opportunity for a lively solo right out of the gate. From there it was a mix of originals, Was (Not Was) tracks, and other covers all done through a very Detroit lens of jazz.

It was during the ensemble’s cover of Hank Williams’ “I Ain’t Got Nothing But Time” that the band really showed their credentials and got into an extended conversational jam. Trumpeter John Douglas and keyboardist and Eminen collaborator Luis Resto would alternate some of the spotlight and then guitarist Wayne Gerard would take some bars, all while Christi’an’s powerful voice added depth to a song that was about as far from the original version as it could get – but in the best way possible.

After that, it was more funk-laced jazz that included incredible renditions of two Grateful Dead tracks, “Loser” and the fan-favorite “Shakedown Street.” Was had toured and performed with Bob Weir several times over the past few years and, given how enthusiastically the “woos!” rang out from the crows on the latter song, it was clear quite a few folks were hoping to hear a sample from this part of Was’ musical history.

Whether playing interesting covers or original songs, the one thing that stood out was the fact that, despite Don Was’ name being in the title of the band, it was clear this show wasn’t about him. Yes, he was positioned center stage and his baselines always laid a solid groove. Yes, it was likely his legacy that drew the majority of the crowd. But, like any good producer, he knew when to get out of the way and let his fellow bandmates demonstrate their own talents and lead the musical conversation.

Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble don’t have any more shows booked after this week, but he said they are working on a new album so fans should stay tuned for updates and hopefully, the opportunity will come back to see how this all-star cast evolves.

DON WAS & THE PAN-DETROIT ENSEMBLE Website Facebook

GREWAL HALL Website Facebook

METRO DETROIT — Two metro Detroit lottery clubs each won a $1 million prize, according to Michigan Lottery officials.

A Wayne County group said they are looking forward to being debt-free after winning $1 million mega millions prize, according to lottery officials.

The group matched the five white balls (02-24-25-52-58) in the Nov. 5 Mega Millions drawing to win $1 million, according to lottery officials.

They bought the winning ticket at the Wayne Med Mart, located at 417 South Wayne Road in Westland, according to lottery officials.

"The club doesn’t play Mega Millions often, but felt lucky and decided to buy a ticket," the club’s representative and spokesperson Anthony Jabbour said. "When our member with the ticket checked the numbers and saw five matches, he cried tears of joy!"

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With their winnings they plan to pay bills and then save the remainder, according to lottery officials.

"To be debt-free is what we have all dreamed about, so to see that become a reality is truly a dream come true," said Jabbour.

In Macomb County, a lottery club member bought his father a Lotto 47 ticket that ended up hitting the jackpot, according to lottery officials.

The lucky players matched the six Lotto 47 numbers drawn (09-15-16-30-40-44) in the Dec. 14 drawing to win the $1.1 million jackpot, according to lottery officials.

The group bought the winning ticket at Liquor Land, located at 17934 East 9 Mile Road in Eastpointe, according to lottery officials.

The club's representative said he bought the ticket for his father as a birthday gift.

"I don’t buy tickets often, but when I do, I always buy them at Liquor Land because I remember my father always bought tickets there when I was a kid," the club's representative said. "When my dad checked the ticket after the drawing, he had to look at it more than a few times to believe what he was seeing."

They chose to receive the prize as a one-time lump sum of about $763,000 rather than annuity payments for the full amount, according to lottery officials.

With their winnings, the club members plan to pay bills and invest the remainder in a business, according to lottery officials.

Korea is one of the most interesting culinary countries in the world, with a variety of fermented and spicy foods to please any palate. Until a few years ago, Korean restaurants were few and far between in metro Detroit. But as Korean food and culture continue to thrive here, kimchi, bulgogi, and japchae now appear more often than ever before alongside Korean barbecue and fried chicken on menus. From modern takes on traditional Korean dishes to Korean restaurants pumping K-Pop through the sound system or tuning into K-dramas on TV, here are a few spots to check out around town.

— Additional reporting by Monica Williams

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

The menu at Soora is long, with a solid selection of bibimbap, fried rice, and fish and chicken entrees all accompanied with small plates of banchan. Be sure to start with a beef hot stone bowl, popular among customers at this Korean Chinese institution. No choice is a bad one here, and the hospitality is top-notch, too.

Located inside New Seoul Plaza, a complex with Korean restaurants and stores, Daebak Korean BBQ is a great place for group gatherings. All platters (pork belly, pork jowl, beef rib-eye, chicken, and tofu) are served raw and meant to be cooked by patrons on the grills built into the dining tables. Finish things off with soju, an Asian beer, or maekgeolli.

Also located in Southfield’s New Seoul Plaza, pop into Myomee for a bubble tea or mid-day or after-dinner bingsu, a shaved ice dessert that’s popular in South Korean cafes. Myomee’s version uses a thinly shaved frozen milk and sugar base (instead of ground ice), which results in a snowlike consistency.

Sambong in Troy is metro Detroit’s first cold noodle restaurant, and that’s a big deal. The restaurant serves naengmyeon, a chewy potato starch noodle usually served in a chilled broth resulting in a wildly popular dish in Korea. The noodles are extremely refreshing in the summer, but just as good in the winter. It’s a self-serve restaurant, so be sure to take advantage of the huge thermos of hot broth available to customers. Sambong also serves short ribs, dumplings, and an excellent mung bean pancake.

Noori Pocha in Clawson exploded onto the scene in 2024 due to its late-night Korean decor, thumping music, and its comforting, flavorful, neo-classical take on Korean food. Named one of the best new restaurants in America by The New York Times, Noori is a feast for the senses. Wait times can be long, but there’s no better place in metro Detroit to grab some beer, soju, and bulgogi with friends. The Korean fried chicken is always excellent (don’t miss the Magic Sprinkle), but be sure to check out the chicken gizzards, shrimp pancake, and braised pork hocks.

Next to the H-Mart in Troy, you’ll find Dae Jang Keum, a Korean barbecue restaurant that serves a wide selection of grilled meat, bento boxes, and soups. The move here, however, is the Korean barbecue combo platters. This is a spacious restaurant with a bar stocked with soju, beer, vodka and whiskey. In short, it’s a great spot for a night out with friends. Be warned: It can get pretty busy on the weekends. They take reservations by phone, but only for groups of five or more.

In addition to being a go-to grocery store for Korean provisions, few places serve a consistent, comforting Korean meal like H-Mart’s cafeteria. Lunch can get pretty busy, but there’s plenty of communal-style seating available, and a wide menu including vermicelli noodles, soondubu, fried dumplings, bulgogi, and bibimbap.

Step into the Korea Palace, a family-owned Korean barbecue restaurant established in 2004, to be treated like a king or queen. Service here is fast and friendly and accompanied by a delightfully thorough menu on which everything is homemade. Korea Palace classics include bo ssam (steamed pork belly meat with kimchi and oysters on the side), gamja tang (pork and potato soup), and LA kalbi (prime beef ribs simmered in honey soy sauce). To make a reservation, call the restaurant directly.

A restaurant specializing in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, Chung Ki Wa has been a staple for Asian Americans in the Detroit metro area for over a decade, and for good reason. The restaurant’s claim to fame is its Korean barbecue, with plenty of combo options filled with marinated galbi, brisket, bulgogi, pork, and shrimp. The squid salad, soondubu, kimchi jjigae, and jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) are also tasty. Portions are generous, so take friends, or depart with leftovers that will last a few days.

Fried chicken sandwiches, tofu bibimbap, popcorn chicken, and bulgogi tacos are the stars at this fast-casual restaurant, which has 9 locations across Michigan. The chicken is double-fried and comes with a choice of Korean sassy, soy garlic, or half-and-half sauce.

Seoul meets Tokyo in this cozy neighborhood spot conveniently located across from the Detroit Institute of Arts. Order from the sushi and sashimi selections or from a full Korean Japanese menu that includes many favorite dishes from both nations (as well as some Chinese dishes) — beef bulgogi, shrimp shumai, tteokbokki, katsu, and teriyaki.

The menu at Soora is long, with a solid selection of bibimbap, fried rice, and fish and chicken entrees all accompanied with small plates of banchan. Be sure to start with a beef hot stone bowl, popular among customers at this Korean Chinese institution. No choice is a bad one here, and the hospitality is top-notch, too.

Located inside New Seoul Plaza, a complex with Korean restaurants and stores, Daebak Korean BBQ is a great place for group gatherings. All platters (pork belly, pork jowl, beef rib-eye, chicken, and tofu) are served raw and meant to be cooked by patrons on the grills built into the dining tables. Finish things off with soju, an Asian beer, or maekgeolli.

Also located in Southfield’s New Seoul Plaza, pop into Myomee for a bubble tea or mid-day or after-dinner bingsu, a shaved ice dessert that’s popular in South Korean cafes. Myomee’s version uses a thinly shaved frozen milk and sugar base (instead of ground ice), which results in a snowlike consistency.

Sambong in Troy is metro Detroit’s first cold noodle restaurant, and that’s a big deal. The restaurant serves naengmyeon, a chewy potato starch noodle usually served in a chilled broth resulting in a wildly popular dish in Korea. The noodles are extremely refreshing in the summer, but just as good in the winter. It’s a self-serve restaurant, so be sure to take advantage of the huge thermos of hot broth available to customers. Sambong also serves short ribs, dumplings, and an excellent mung bean pancake.

Noori Pocha in Clawson exploded onto the scene in 2024 due to its late-night Korean decor, thumping music, and its comforting, flavorful, neo-classical take on Korean food. Named one of the best new restaurants in America by The New York Times, Noori is a feast for the senses. Wait times can be long, but there’s no better place in metro Detroit to grab some beer, soju, and bulgogi with friends. The Korean fried chicken is always excellent (don’t miss the Magic Sprinkle), but be sure to check out the chicken gizzards, shrimp pancake, and braised pork hocks.

Next to the H-Mart in Troy, you’ll find Dae Jang Keum, a Korean barbecue restaurant that serves a wide selection of grilled meat, bento boxes, and soups. The move here, however, is the Korean barbecue combo platters. This is a spacious restaurant with a bar stocked with soju, beer, vodka and whiskey. In short, it’s a great spot for a night out with friends. Be warned: It can get pretty busy on the weekends. They take reservations by phone, but only for groups of five or more.

In addition to being a go-to grocery store for Korean provisions, few places serve a consistent, comforting Korean meal like H-Mart’s cafeteria. Lunch can get pretty busy, but there’s plenty of communal-style seating available, and a wide menu including vermicelli noodles, soondubu, fried dumplings, bulgogi, and bibimbap.

Step into the Korea Palace, a family-owned Korean barbecue restaurant established in 2004, to be treated like a king or queen. Service here is fast and friendly and accompanied by a delightfully thorough menu on which everything is homemade. Korea Palace classics include bo ssam (steamed pork belly meat with kimchi and oysters on the side), gamja tang (pork and potato soup), and LA kalbi (prime beef ribs simmered in honey soy sauce). To make a reservation, call the restaurant directly.

A restaurant specializing in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, Chung Ki Wa has been a staple for Asian Americans in the Detroit metro area for over a decade, and for good reason. The restaurant’s claim to fame is its Korean barbecue, with plenty of combo options filled with marinated galbi, brisket, bulgogi, pork, and shrimp. The squid salad, soondubu, kimchi jjigae, and jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) are also tasty. Portions are generous, so take friends, or depart with leftovers that will last a few days.

Fried chicken sandwiches, tofu bibimbap, popcorn chicken, and bulgogi tacos are the stars at this fast-casual restaurant, which has 9 locations across Michigan. The chicken is double-fried and comes with a choice of Korean sassy, soy garlic, or half-and-half sauce.

Seoul meets Tokyo in this cozy neighborhood spot conveniently located across from the Detroit Institute of Arts. Order from the sushi and sashimi selections or from a full Korean Japanese menu that includes many favorite dishes from both nations (as well as some Chinese dishes) — beef bulgogi, shrimp shumai, tteokbokki, katsu, and teriyaki.

BAY CITY, MI — A Saginaw man has been federally indicted with flying from Los Angeles to Michigan with 15 kilograms of cocaine.

A grand jury on Jan. 7 indicted 41-year-old Woodrow Campbell Jr. on one count of possessing 500 or more grams of cocaine with intent to distribute.

The felony is punishable by 10 years to life in prison.

Campbell’s charge stems from a June 7, 2024, incident.

According to an affidavit authored by a special agent with the Department of Homeland Security, authorities received a tip from a reliable source that Campbell may be trafficking narcotics through the Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) on a Delta Air Lines flight inbound from Los Angeles. The source previously contributed information resulting in several drug-related arrests and seizures in recent years.

Investigators determined Campbell on June 6 booked a last-minute, one-way flight from the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Michigan. He checked three bags and was to have a layover at DTW before taking a connecting flight to Saginaw County’s MBS International Airport, the affidavit states.

The agent wrote drug traffickers sometimes book such last-minute flights to try thwarting law enforcement.

DTW officials responded to the gate of Campbell’s inbound flight and located his checked bags. A U.S. Border Patrol agent’s K9 sniffed the bags and hit on an odor of drugs, the affidavit states. Officials obtained a warrant to search Campbell’s bags.

Bolstering the warrant was Campbell’s history of flying with illicit drugs and that he was “traveling from a narcotics source state (California) to a consumer state (Michigan),” the agent wrote.

Officials searched the bags and found each contained five packaged bricks of suspected cocaine totaling 15 kilograms. The bricks were wrapped in over-sized men’s clothing that appeared too large to fit Campbell, the agent wrote.

Investigators approached Campbell as he was boarding his connecting flight to MBS. They arrested him without resistance. A preliminary test of one of the bricks tested positive for cocaine, the affidavit states.

The agent noted this isn’t Campbell’s first time flying with contraband. In May 2023, Campbell “ghosted” or abandoned a checked bag at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. This bag contained 4.82 kilograms of cocaine, the agent wrote.

“Ghosting” involves drug traffickers ditching luggage containing drugs for someone else to retrieve.

“Based on my experience and knowledge, narcotic traffickers will use the ‘ghosting’ method to disassociate themselves from the checked bag(s) containing narcotic(s) when they are concerned law enforcement may be aware of them and or the trafficker’s mules,” the agent wrote.

Campbell is free on a $10,000 unsecured bond. His next court date is pending.

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