Culinary Confidential with Christina Cates

Christina Cates
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Food
  • Updated Weekly

Each week, on CULINARY CONFIDENTIAL, Christina Cates - a seasoned foodie who has worked at some of the New York City's top restaurants, will share her passion for the culinary world. Whether you're a professional chef, a restaurant enthusiast, or a lover of good food, Christina dives into the heart of hospitality - exploring the trends, triumphs, and challenges facing the food service profession...And you won't want to miss her chats with some of the most interesting and influential industry voices. CULINARY CONFIDENTIAL, Sunday nights, at 9PM... exclusively on AM 970 The Answer.

  1. 2d ago

    Spooky Season 2026 with Jeff Belanger and Katie DeCapria

    It's officially October, which means it's time to dim the lights, pull up a chair, and explore the two things making this time of year irresistible: the stories that haunt us and the treats we wait all year for. First, Christina is joined by Jeff Belanger, one of the most fascinating voices in the world of folklore, legends, and the unexplained. An author, adventurer, podcaster, and longtime storyteller of all things strange and supernatural, Jeff has spent years travelling in search of the stories that live inside old places. What happens when those stories meet hospitality? You have an in-depth conversation on haunted restaurants, historic inns, ghost stories passed down through generations, and why the places we eat, drink, sleep, and gather often have some of the best stories to tell. Then from tricks to treats, Katie DeCapria of Hershey's returns to Culinary Confidential to discuss the world of Hersheyween and everything that goes into America's love affair with Halloween candy - the trends, traditions, nostalgia, what we're reaching for this year, and how Halloween has grown from one night of trick or treating into an entire season. Because some of our strongest food memories aren't made around a dinner table, it can be made running from house to house with a pillowcase full of candy. Ghost stories, haunted hospitality, Halloween nostalgia, and of course, candy. Spooky Season has never been more back. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. Sep 28

    Bringing the Energy for Season 3! Featuring Chef Josh Capon

    Season 3 of Culinary Confidential is here! And what better way to kick off the season than with someone who can own and bring a unique kind of energy to the dining room. Chef Josh Capon has the kind of energy that just can't be manufactured. He's loud, passionate, unapologetic, and underneath it is a guy who understands that the dining room matters. The food matters. The energy matters. And making someone feel like they belong at your table? It matters. For over 25 years, Capon has built a career across some of the most recognizable names in hospitality from Lure Fishbar, Burger & Barrel, El Toro Blanco, and Bowery Meat Company, to becoming an eight-time People's Choice winner at the New York City Wine & Food Festival Burger Bash. Today, he's a cofounder of VCR Group alongside David Rodolitz, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Conor Hanlon - the team behind ITO, Little Maven, Flyfish Club, Capon's Burgers, Capon's Chophouse, and a growing hospitality portfolio spanning New York, New Jersey, Las Vegas, and beyond. This conversation isn't just about restaurants though, it's one on energy, ambition, reinvention, building an empire, the pressure that comes with always being "on", and what really goes into creating a dining room people want to come back to. Capon brings exactly this, and then some. And he's kicking off season 3 of Culinary Confidential. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. Sep 21

    The Two Year Anniversary Show! Featuring Shaina Nestor and Tony Mangia

    Two years, 100+ episodes, countless conversations, and so many people that have helped shape Culinary Confidential along the way. Season 2 wraps up this week, and rejoining Culinary Confidential for a recap of the season are Shaina Nestor and Tony Mangia - two people who championed this show in ways that happen in front of the microphone and far beyond it. Shaina is constantly thinking about the show - making introductions, connecting with various people in the industry, recommending guests, and opening doors simply because she believes in what this show is building. Tony has become such a special part of the show. Beyond being an incredible supporter of the show, him and Christina share the same love for hospitality, old-school places, great stories, nostalgia, and the people who make this industry what it is. Those are the people you want around your table. This anniversary isn't just about looking back at two years of Culinary Confidential. It was about celebrating the people, relationships, and conversations that have made these two years mean something. Here's to two years at the table - and everything still to come! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. Sep 14

    The Fascinating World of Honey with Carla Marina Marchese

    Honey: it's much more than just something sweet. This week on Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates dives into the world of honey with Carla Marina Marchese - beekeeper, author, honey sommelier, and one of the leading voices in honey sensory education. Carla founded the American Honey Tasting Society, bringing the Italian tradition of professional honey sensory analysis to the United States. She's also an accredited instructor with the Italian National Register of Experts in the Sensory Analysis of Honey, founder of Red Bee Honey, and author of four books - including Honeybee: Lessons from an Accidental Beekeeper, The Honey Connoisseur, Honey for Dummies, and her latest, The World Atlas of Honey. Just like wine, honey has terroir, varietals, aromas, textures, and completely different flavor profiles depending on where it comes from and what the bees are foraging. We're tasting, pairing, and discovering what makes a truly great honey - and why you may never look at that little jar in your pantry the same way again. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  5. Sep 7

    From Recovery to Longevity, What Peptides May Mean Now

    What are you putting in your body and what can it actually do for you?This week on Culinary Confidential, we’re taking that conversation to a whole new level with peptides, creatine, performance and longevity.First, we’re diving into one of the hottest and most talked-about areas of wellness right now: peptides.Christina is joined by Koehl Robinson, founder & CEO of Celia, a personalized longevity platform bringing together peptides, telehealth, prescribing and pharmacy infrastructure. We get into why peptides have exploded into the wellness conversation, what they may mean for longevity, recovery and performance, and why medical oversight, quality and transparency matter as this space grows.Then, Eli Tyo, founder of Denver-based Flux Creatine, joins the show to rethink one of the most researched supplements in the performance world. We’re talking creatine beyond the weight room, from strength and recovery to energy and cognitive performance, and why Eli set out to make taking it consistently a whole lot easier (and tastier).Peptides. Creatine. Longevity. Performance.What’s science? What’s hype? And what could be the future of how we think about feeling and performing at our very best? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. Aug 31

    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 people feel anchored in a moment. This week, we spotlight Ryan's journey through some of the most influential corners of the hospitality world. His career has taken him from the design‑driven environments of Ralph Lauren and RH to the high‑touch, detail‑obsessed culture of Hogsalt Hospitality. In New York, he played a key role on the opening team of 4 Charles Prime Rib, a dining room that quickly became synonymous with warmth, exclusivity, and impeccable execution. But Ryan’s story isn’t defined by the logos on his résumé. It’s defined by the through‑line that connects them: an unwavering belief that hospitality begins long before a guest arrives and continues long after they leave. The ability to read a room, anticipate a need, and create a sense of belonging is not a tactic, but a craft. Said craft is exactly what Ryan has carried into his next chapter, as the founder of Off Map Glamping. What began as a curiosity about outdoor experiences has evolved into a hospitality‑driven venture focused on connection, comfort, and intentional design. Off Map isn’t just a place to stay; it’s an environment built to slow people down and bring them closer to nature, to each other, and to themselves. This week’s episode explores how Ryan’s philosophy has shaped his leadership, his entrepreneurial approach, and his understanding of what modern guests truly value. As consumers increasingly seek experiences that feel meaningful rather than transactional, Ryan’s perspective offers a blueprint for where hospitality is heading. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  7. Aug 24

    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 boroughs of New York City: the battle against hunger. To discuss this battle against hunger, Christina welcomes chef, restauranteur, and cookbook author Ivy Stark - a recognized force in Mexican cuisine and a dedicated member of City Harvest's food council. Stark has spent her career elevating Mexican flavors while championing thoughtful, ingredient-driven cooking. After earning a history degree from UCLA and training at the Institute of Culinary Education, she cut her teeth at Border Grill under Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger. She went on to hold executive chef and corporate roles at Zócalo, Rosa Mexicano, and Dos Caminos, helping define upscale Mexican dining in New York for over a decade. Today she channels that expertise into plant-forward, health-conscious Mexican cuisine through Ivy Stark MEXology and BKLYN Wild at Time Out Market New York. A three-time cookbook author, Stark brings both culinary authority and a deep personal commitment to the table. As a member of City Harvest’s Food Council, she helps guide efforts to rescue surplus food and deliver it to New Yorkers who need it most, operating on the simple but powerful principle that City Harvest has championed for over four decades: that perfectly good food should never go to waste while New Yorkers go hungry. The organization rescues surplus food from restaurants, grocers, manufacturers, and farms, then delivers it to community programs across the city. Right now, the need is urgent. Over 1.4 million New Yorkers face food insecurity, including one in every four children. In a city celebrated for its restaurants and culinary innovation, these numbers are a stark reminder of the gap between abundance and access. City Harvest's work bridges that gap, turning potential waste into real meals, dignity, and hope. Some shows chase trends. Culinary Confidential follows the people and pressures that shape them. In this 100th episode, Christina and Ivy explore the human side of that mission: the logistics of large-scale food rescue, the role chefs and restaurants can play, and the daily realities faced by families who rely on these programs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  8. Aug 17

    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 authority on one of the most seductive, mysterious, and surprisingly complex foods we eat! Ordering oysters is one thing, but knowing them? Much different story. Virginia has built a world around the shellfish: leading immersive tours and tastings through Lady Oyster, and now bringing her adventures to the page in Oyster Society: Adventures with the Shellfishly Motivated, a journey into the people, places, and obsession behind oyster culture. This conversation goes well beyond the raw bar. They explore why two oysters harvested just miles apart can taste completely different, what merroir really means, whether you should chew an oyster, what to notice first when you taste one, whether size matters, and what you’re actually tasting when someone describes an oyster as briny, buttery, vegetal, or mineral. They’ll also discuss what the shell itself tells you before you ever take a bite - covering etiquette, flavor, farming, pairing, provenance, and more. Oyster 101... just with a bit more sophistication. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Each week, on CULINARY CONFIDENTIAL, Christina Cates - a seasoned foodie who has worked at some of the New York City's top restaurants, will share her passion for the culinary world. Whether you're a professional chef, a restaurant enthusiast, or a lover of good food, Christina dives into the heart of hospitality - exploring the trends, triumphs, and challenges facing the food service profession...And you won't want to miss her chats with some of the most interesting and influential industry voices. CULINARY CONFIDENTIAL, Sunday nights, at 9PM... exclusively on AM 970 The Answer.

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