Chefs Eric Patterson and Jennifer Blakeslee on leaving Las Vegas and a Michelin star behind to cook their own way in Traverse City, Michigan

Chefs Eric Patterson and Jennifer Blakeslee on leaving Las Vegas and a Michelin star behind to cook their own way in Traverse City, Michigan

From Culinary Characters Unlocked by Culinary Characters Unlocked

March 31, 2026 · 38 min

About this episode

Chefs Eric Patterson and Jennifer Blakeslee discuss their journey from Las Vegas to Traverse City, focusing on local ingredients and their culinary vision.

Chefs Eric Patterson and Jennifer Blakeslee met in the kitchen of an haute cuisine landmark in Las Vegas. After winning a Michelin star there, the friends decided to move on to open a place of their own. They chose the town Jennifer grew up in, Traverse City, Michigan where Eric says the bounty of local ingredients is second only to California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Guests: Eric Patterson, Jennifer Blakeslee

Topics covered

  • cooking
  • Michelin star
  • local ingredients
  • Traverse City
  • chefs
  • Las Vegas

Keywords

  • chefs
  • Michelin star
  • Traverse City
  • Las Vegas
  • local ingredients
  • cooking

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Michelin

Places: Las Vegas, Traverse City, California

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