Culinary Confidential with Christina Cates

Reimagining Hospitality from the Ground Up with Ryan Wagner

Hospitality is often described as an industry. But for Ryan Wagner, it's always been a discipline. One that's shaped by curiosity, precision, and the ability to make peop

100th Episode Special: Chef Ivy Stark, City Harvest, and the Fight to Feed New York

It's official. Culinary Confidential has hit 100 episodes! And to celebrate this landmark episode, Christina Cates turns to a cause with a lasting impact across the five

Meet the Oyster Sommelier - Virginia Shaffer!

What does it really mean to know an oyster? On this week's Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes the oyster sommelier herself, Virginia Shaffer, a true author

Bret Thorn On What’s Shaping The Future Of Restaurants

Looking for a clear view of an entire industry while it’s still shifting under your feet? This week, Christina Cates is joined by Bret Thorn, Senior Food & Beverage Edi

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Why Is It Liquid Gold?

What does it really mean to rethink of the ways we renourish ourselves? On this week's Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes Susan Julia - olive oil sommelier

Americana 250: Speakeasy Stories So Good They Should Be Illegal

What happens when a nation tries to ban its own spirit? This week, Culinary Confidential's Americana Series wraps up with one of the most dramatic and flavorful chapter

Americana 250: Patriots Meet Cowboys!

For Week Three of Culinary Confidential's Americana 250 series, patriots meet cowboys! Not the football teams but rather, two icons who embody patriotism, resilience, and

Americana 250: Food, Purpose, and the Power of Giving Back with Robert Irvine

In Week Two of Culinary Confidential's Americana 250 series, Christina Cates is honored to welcome Chef Robert Irvine - entrepreneur, best-selling author, veteran advocat

Americana 250: A Culinary Time Capsule (1776 - 2026)

Culinary Confidential's Americana 250 series kicks off on the right foot, as culinary historian Jay Reifel returns to the show with a sweeping, historically grounded expl

Brad Prose Brings The Fire

This week, Culinary Confidential lights up the grill and dives straight into the art and heat of summer barbecue! Brad Prose, founder of Chiles and Smoke and author of

When Passion Becomes A Pizzeria

Chicago, we are so back. This week, Culinary Confidential heads back to the Windy City for a conversation with Robert Garvey and Dana Hokin, the founders of Robert's Pi

Beyond Sushi: The Real Story of Japanese Cuisine with Massud Ghaussy aka TokyoManhattan

This week on Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates travels from the ramen alleys of Tokyo to the hidden izakayas of Manhattan with Massud Ghaussy, the creator of the fas

Sam Bakhshandehpour

On this week's Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates sits down with Sam Bakhshandehpour, President of Merchants at Bilt, and one of the rare executives who has shaped ho

The Hamptons' Most Charming Boutique Stay

Sun-drenched mornings, linen curtains drifting in the breeze, hydrangea-lined lanes that feel like they were pulled from a film reel - that's the world Lucy Swift Lemonid

American Spirits, American Stories with Noah Rothbaum

This week on Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates sits down with Noah Rothbaum, one of the sharpest minds in whiskey and the cultural history behind it. As the author o

Jared Rouben

When a brewery stops acting like a brewery and starts thinking like a culinary institution, the entire industry shifts. This week, Culinary Confidential is proud to spo

Culinary Confidential's Mother's Day Spotlight with Jody & Richard Kreush

This Mother’s Day on Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates steps inside a story built on warmth, grit, and the kind of family chemistry you can taste. Joining the show i

Brandon Manly & Casey Cooley

While some restaurant groups add locations, The Foundry Group builds engines. This week, Christina Cates welcomes Brandon Manly, CEO of The Foundry Group, and Casey Coo

Steve Lombardo III and the Lombardo Legacy

Some restaurant families build businesses. The Lombardos built a city’s identity. This week on Culinary Confidential, Steven Lombardo III of Gibsons Restaurant Group join

The Power of Latin Cuisine with Joe Cordero

Some cuisines don't just feed the body, they carry entire cultures, stories of migration, resilience, and innovation that are reshaping how the world eats. On this week's