Culinary Confidential with Christina Cates

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 exploration of the food traditions that shaped the United States as we know it today. In “A Culinary Time Capsule: 1776–2026,” Reifel traces the evolution of American cuisine from the Revolutionary War to the pr...

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 Epic BBQ Sandwiches , joins the show to break down the methods behind unforgettable barbecue: building flavor through smoke and spice, mastering heat control, using fresh ingredients to balance richness, and crafting sandwiches that...

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 Pizza & Dough Company , the acclaimed riverfront pizzeria that’s redefined what artisan thin‑crust can be. The husband‑and‑wife team behind one of Chicago's most celebrated pizzerias, has overseen what began as a home‑kitche...

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 fast-growing TokyoManhattan platform. Ghaussy has become a trusted bridge between Tokyo's culinary traditions and a global audience hungry to understand them. Not as trends but as living cultural practices rooted in discipline, preci...

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 hospitality from every angle: luxury, lifestyle, loyalty, and the evolving business of belonging. Sam's path cuts across the modern hospitality map, helping steer the Jose Andrés Group's global rise as CEO, and leading...

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 Lemonides has created at A Room At The Beach , the Bridgehampton hideaway redefining the concept of boutique luxury. Lemonides has built more than a hotel. She's crafted a unique atmosphere - one that's intimate and quietly indulgent, on...

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 of  The Whiskey Bible and Spirits Editor at  Men's Journal , Rothbaum has spent years tracing how America's native spirit became a global force. This conversation goes far beyond the glass. Rothbaum unpacks the people, re...

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 spotlight Moody Tongue Brewing Company - the Chicago original rewriting the rules of flavor, technique, and hospitality. Founded by Jared Rouben, the brewery's "culinary brewmaster," Moody Tongue stands alone as the only Michelin-starr...

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 is Jody Kreush and her son Richard Kreush, the duo behind Columbia, South Carolina’s beloved Cinnamon Roll Deli for a conversation on how simple homemade comfort became a destination, ritual, and a national obsession. T...

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 Cooley, Chief Development Officer of Foundry Development - two great operators who treat growth like a discipline, not a gamble. They're redefining what it means to scale in hospitality. Not by chasing unit counts but by designing syst...

Some restaurant families build businesses. The Lombardos built a city’s identity. This week on Culinary Confidential, Steven Lombardo III of Gibsons Restaurant Group joins the show! It all started in 1989, when Steve Lombardo Jr. and Hugo Ralli opened Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse on Rush Street. What looked like a bold gamble turned into one of the highest grossing independent restauran...

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 Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates sits down with Joe Cordero of Rosa: Agave & Wine Lounge in Tribeca to explore the vibrant world that is Latin cuisine. From the soulful kitchens of Mexico and Peru to its growing influen...

Legacies can anchor cities, yes, but rare ones go much further - they shape people who grow up inside their glow. And few legacies have left a deeper imprint on American culture than the LeRoy dynasty, whose influence stretches from the soundstages of Hollywood to the shimmering lights of Tavern On The Green, the New York landmark that turned dining into pure spectacle. This week, Christina Cates...

Passover isn't just another date on the calendar. It's a ritual that carries memory forward - a night where symbols turn into stories and the journey from slavery to freedom is retold so each generation can feel it anew. On this week's Culinary Confidential, we gather at the Seder table with voices bridging past and present. Spencer, a Hebrew school student, brings the clarity and curiosity of the...

Dining Rooms. Some of them become neighborhood favorites. A few of them become institutions. Then you have the rare ones that turn into something larger than life. One of them was situated just outside of Pittsburgh, PA in McKees Rocks - The Primadonna. Opening in 1986, The Primadonna reshaped Pittsburgh's dining identity, blending ambition, elegance, and Italian American tradition into a restaura...

Some places don't just feed you; they shape you. The old-school red sauce joints of North Jersey and New York are more than just restaurants, they're cultural landmarks where Sunday gravy simmers for hours, families gather in dining rooms, and entire communities find their identity one plate at a time. On this edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes in Tony Mangia, creator and h...

For the St. Patrick's Day 2026 edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates looks into an art that refuses to disappear.  It's an art that has survived not just because it's easy, but because of a select few people that still believe it is worth protecting. Meet Sean Daly, one of the last master crystal cutters in Ireland and the founder of Dingle Crystal , a workshop built on precision,...

This week on Culinary Confidential, it’s all about where craft meets courage! Dee Robinson, the visionary behind Good Trouble Bourbon , joins the show to explore what happens when a brand is built with purpose at its core. Robinson’s journey is a masterclass in intentional entrepreneurship. Good Trouble was created to honor legacy, spark dialogue, and remind us that challenging the sta...

Ever watch someone lick their knife at the dinner table and thought, “Humanity is doomed,” Culinary Confidential has just the episode for you! Christina Cates welcomes Thomas Farley, better known as “Mr. Manners” for a chat all about etiquette at the dinner table and beyond. Farley has spent years helping people navigate the social, professional, and cultural moments that m...

Christina Cates closes out the Spotlight On Hospitality Entrepreneurs series with a true force in New Jersey's brunch culture: Amy Russo, the visionary behind  Toast City Diner . What began in Montclair in 2007 with a simple, joyful mantra - 'Peace, Love, & Pancakes' - has grown into one of New Jersey's most beloved community-driven hospitality brands. In that time, Amy has created spaces...

Week 3 of the  Spotlight On Hospitality Entrepreneurs series brings along one of the most imaginative forces in modern dining: Steve Schussler, the visionary behind  Rainforest Cafe and founder of  Schussler Creative . Schussler's career reshaped what a restaurant could be. From globally recognized concepts like Rainforest Cafe to immersive destinations like  T-Rex Cafe, Yak &n...

On this week's Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates continues the 'Spotlight On Hospitality Entrepreneurs' series in France by welcoming in Thierry Vale - the entrepreneur behind BAGELSTEIN (www.bagelstein.in), the Paris-born bagel concept that turned sharp branding, disciplined systems, and a fearless voice into a fast-casual powerhouse operating across multiple countries. Together, Christina a...

On this week's Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates kicks off her 'Spotlight On Hospitality Entrepreneurs' series by welcoming in Max Tucci - third generation partner and Global Ambassador of Delmonico's , THE restaurant that helped define American fine dining. Since 1837, Delmonico's has shaped the way we eat by introducing dishes such as Demonico Steak, Eggs Benedict, and Baked Alaska whi...

This week on Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes back Dr. Ian K. Smith - physician, bestselling author, and a trusted voice in health and nutrition - for a clear and grounded look at one of the biggest shifts in American dietary policy in years. With the release of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the traditional food pyramid has now been inverted, prioritizing protein a...

As we continue to roll into 2026, Culinary Confidential helps rethink one of the most misunderstood parts of the modern day diet: carbohydrates. This week, Christina Cates dives into how better carbs - not fewer - can transform your pantry, your meals, and your energy. Joining tonight's show is Alicia Lang and Marisol Villalobos. A Community Manager and Nutrition Expert at Queen Street Bakery , Al...