Culinary Confidential with Christina Cates

We're now well into January, and with that comes the growing movement many are partaking in called  Dry January . For Culinary Confidential's second show of 2026, Christina Cates brings clarity, balance, a fresh look at how and why we drink, and why this movement towards more mindful drinking keeps growing in popularity. She also looks into how the beverage world and how our personal wellness...

Culinary Confidential opens 2026 with a celebration of love, craft, and the details that make "I do" unforgettable. Christina Cates dives into the artistry behind modern weddings, from the menu to the rings to the cake, with three wedding experts shaping how couples personalize their big day. Rich Levy is Founder & CEO of Chicago's acclaimed catering company, Butter and Vine ( https://butteran...

To close out 2025, Christina Cates brings on a chef whose work, heart, and perseverance has shaped the soul of Los Angeles dining: Chef Jason Neroni. Known for his soulful, ingredient-driven cooking and his leadership at some of LA's most beloved restaurants including  Superba Food  + Bread ,  Rose Cafe , and  Best Bet Pizza , Jason has built a career defined by intention....

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates brings on one of the sharpest voices in food journalism today - Andy Wang, contributing writer for Forbes and a leading storyteller on how America eats, drinks, and plays. Andy has covered restaurants, bars, dining culture, and nightlife for Food & Wine , Robb Report , Los Angeles Magazine , Observer , The New York Times , New Yo...

This week on Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates unwraps the holiday season's most thoughtful gourmet gifts - delicious and tasty finds that are perfect stocking stuffers for the foodie in your life! Featured brands on this week's show are  Arbo's Cheese Dip ,  HASSY Avocado Oil ,  Blume Honey Water , and  Projo Coffee . Arbo's Cheese Dip : Founded by Andrew Arbogast, a...

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates explores how food and drink become extraordinary gifts to give during the holiday season, and how they can transform into tokens of luxury, thoughtfulness, and lasting memory. Two remarkable voices join the show: Petra Highby and Priscilla Jimenez. Petra Higby, CEO and Co-Founder of  The Caviar Co . , has redefined how Americans...

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates is joined by two guests that bring family, fashion, and Campbell's products to the table. Celebrated New York fashion designer Cynthia Rowley is known for fearless use of color, surf-chic aesthetic, and decades of shaping American style. From ready-to-wear to swimwear and accessories, Cythnia has transformed everyday inspiration into...

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes in the duo behind Bridgehampton's own  Almond , Chef Jason Weiner and restauranteur Eric Lemonides. For two decades plus, Almond has been the East End's gathering place where farmers, fishers, and foragers aren't just suppliers - they are all partners at the same table. Its chalkboard menus shift like the soil and...

Culinary Confidential takes to the seas this week as Christina Cates dives into the world of luxury hospitality on the water! Joining this week's show is Captain Hugo Ortega and Chief Stewardess Bee Hayn, two seasoned pros whose careers were shaped by the tides. Hugo, well known to fans of Bravo's  Below Deck , shares his journey from deckhand to captain, and the leadership skills required to...

On this week's Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates dives into the tasty and savory intersection that is sports and food - the part of the fan experience where game day passion meets plate worthy flavor. Returning to the show is Chef Joey Fortunato of  The Splendid , known for elevating comfort food with soul and precision. Also joining the show is Martin Whelan of  Stout NYC Hospitali...

On this week's Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates explores the dining scene and culture in Hong Kong with Ronald Asher, founder and chief pie maker of Tai Tai Pie Pies - one of Hong Kong's most beloved dessert brands. Known for his handmade pies and nostalgic comfort flavors, Ronald has carved out quite the unique space in the city's competitive culinary scene by blending American-style baking...

Better not ghost this week's spooktacular edition of Culinary Confidential! Christina Cates is serving up a special Halloween treat that you won't want to miss. She dives into the sweet side of spooky season with Katie DeCapria, Senior Brand Manager for the Halloween portfolio at  The Hershey Company . Katie takes us behind the scenes of Hershey's largest season of the year. From the creative...

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential , Christina Cates welcomes Zamir Gotta - Russian-born producer, cultural diplomat, and longtime travel companion of the late great Anthony Bourdain - for a powerful and insightful conversation on food, friendship, and the art of connecting with others. Zamir's unique journey spans from classrooms in the Soviet Union, to global film sets, to unforgett...

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates celebrates the strength, creativity, legacy, and hospitality that family-run food businesses have to offer, by featuring three inspiring guests whose brands are built on parent-child relationships. Linnie and Morgan Gold, the mother-daughter duo behind  NOSH NYC , have turned candy into a personalized experience by specializing...

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates continues the tradition of spotlighting women who are hard at work shaping culture and community through passion, creativity, and purpose. Joining the show is Judia Black, founder of enJoie - a lifestyle, media, events, and gifts company that celebrates wine culture and shared experiences, and Maricel Gentile of Maricel’s Kitch...

This week marks the start of Season 2 of Culinary Confidential, and there's no better way to kick that off than by opening with the world's best bar! Handshake Speakeasy out of Mexico City is not just the world's best bar - it's redefining cocktail culture worldwide. Hidden behind an unmarked door in Colonia Juarez, this intimate lounge's recent accolades speak for itself. Christina Cates goes beh...

This week on Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates celebrates a huge milestone in the finale of season one. We're celebrating ONE YEAR of pulling back the curtain on the culinary world! Sharing the unforgettable stories, voices, and flavors that have shaped our dining experiences today. From luxury dining to behind-the-scenes grit, Christina has brought heart, humor, and insight to all 52 episode...

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes hospitality power duo Kevin and Janine Fenton to talk all things private dining and luxury hotel culture. With decades of experience managing and curating guest experiences in branded NYC properties, the Fentons have seen firsthand just how intimate dining spaces are reshaping the hotel industry. Kevin, General Manager at a...

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes extraordinary culinarian Christian J. Fischer, whose journey began in a family-run hotel in eastern Austria, surrounded by ten siblings and the hum of a busy kitchen. By age 14, he became a certified Master Chef, baker, and butcher. At 19, he opened his first restaurant and by 23, he was overseeing six successful establishme...

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes Emmy Award-winning chef Frankie Celenza to celebrate the launch of his brand new Tastemade series ' Let Frankie Cook ', which premiered earlier this week just in time for Pizza Week. Born and raised in New York City, Frankie studied music at NYU before turning his college-era budget cooking into a full-blown culinary movemen...

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, it's a courtside conversation blending in tennis with taste and talent. Christina Cates welcomes hospitality legend Nick Mautone, the creative force behind the US Open's official cocktail - The Honey Deuce. Made with Grey Goose vodka, lemonade, raspberry liqueur, and honeydew melon balls made to resemble tennis balls, this viral drink has generated...

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes in Dillon Baxter, Dominic Russo, and Jodi Moreno. Baxter is the CEO of PlantSwitch , a biodegradable plastics company specializing in turning agricultural waste into compostable plastic alternatives. He was featured in Forbes' 30 Under 30, and is changing the game in sustainability. Russo is the owner and mastermind of Squar...

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes Dr. Julie Gatza, founder of the Florida Wellness Institute, to discuss how certain foods may be triggering stress and anxiety, and what you can eat to feel calmer and more at ease. Anxiety isn't just emotional, it's biological. Your gut produces 90% of your serotonin, the neurotransmitter regulating your mood. What you feed...

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes Jay Reifel, co-author of  A History Of The World In 10 Dinners: 2,000 Years, 100 Recipes . Published by Rizzoli Books, this cookbook combines narrative history and food anthropology with hands-on cooking - designed to be accessible and scholarly for home cooks doubling as curious historians. A History of the World is a...

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates explores generational recipes and the cultural roots they preserve. Joining the show is Frank Iovine and Mariano Graus. A retired NYPD officer turned mindfulness coach, Iovine will share his cookbook-memoir  Ricette e Ricordi di Nonno (Meals and Memories with Nonno)  inspired by his grandfather Angelo, Iovine's guiding ligh...