Culinary Confidential with Christina Cates

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.

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.

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!

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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 Editor at Nation’s Restaurant News, and one of the most reliable chroniclers of American hospitality. Day after day, he speaks with chefs, operators, beverage directors, and executives that are quietly rewriting the rules of dining. His reporting reaches far beyond any single restaurant review - he tracks the ideas, pressures, and cultural currents that shape how America eats and drinks.

After years spent on the front lines of food journalism, Bret has sharpened an uncommon instinct for spotting what comes next. Whether the conversation turns to changing guest expectations, the economics of running a restaurant, creative menu development, workforce realities, or the broader forces reshaping hospitality, he delivers perspective rooted in real reporting rather than hype.

What sets Bret apart from other food journalists? The breadth of his vantage point. Bret isn’t tied to one kitchen, one brand, or one city, but rather a rare industry-wide view that allows him explain what’s happening now but also why it matters and where it may lead. Listeners gain a behind-the-scenes look at the forces that ultimately determine what lands on the plate and why.

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, educator, wellness advocate, and one of the most passionate voices championing the power of exceptional extra virgin olive oil.

While most people think of olive oil as an ingredient, Susan sees it as a living, breathing expression of culture, agriculture, and health. In this conversation, she explains why truly premium olive oil deserves the same respect we give fine wine - its terroir, its craftsmanship, its chemistry, and its ability to elevate both flavor and wellbeing.

As America continues rediscovering the value of real food and intentional living, this episode explores the principles that have defined the Mediterranean lifestyle for centuries: slowing down, cooking with purpose, eating with community, moving daily, and choosing ingredients that support longevity. We’ll talk about polyphenols, heart‑healthy fats, anti‑inflammatory benefits, and why one bottle of exceptional olive oil can transform your kitchen, your wellness routine, and even your skincare.

This is more than a conversation about cooking. It’s about living deliberately, honoring tradition, and understanding how one ancient ingredient can still teach us how to care for ourselves today.

If you believe that food is medicine, and that the smallest choices can shape a healthier life, you won’t want to miss this one!

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 chapters in American history: Prohibition.

From 1920 to 1933, the 18th Amendment outlawed the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. Instead of sobering up the country, it sparked an explosion of speakeasies, bootleggers, organized crime, and creative rebellion. Out of that era came a cocktail revolution and a whiskey culture that still defines American bars, innovation, and resilience today.

Joining Culinary Confidential once more is Noah Rothbaum - James Beard Award-winning author, whiskey historian, and Spirits Editor at Men’s Journal. One of the world’s foremost authorities on whiskey and cocktails, Noah is the author of the acclaimed new book, The Whiskey Bible, a definitive guide to the history, craft, and culture of America’s greatest spirit.

Whether you’re a history buff, a whiskey lover, a cocktail enthusiast, or simply fascinated by stories of defiance and ingenuity, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.

This is more than a conversation about drinks. It’s about rebellion, resilience, American ingenuity, and how a “dry” law forever changed the way we celebrate, create, and come together.

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 heritage in their own powerful ways!

Scott LoBaido is a renowned American artist, activist, and creative patriot best known for his powerful paintings and murals of the U.S. flag. Born in Staten Island, LoBaido has spent 30+ years painting thousands of renditions of Old Glory on schools, firehouses, police stations, homes, and public buildings across all 50 states. His work honors veterans, first responders, and the American spirit, often dedicated to those who serve. A vocal advocate for patriotism and national unity, LoBaido’s art blends creativity with activism, turning public spaces into bold celebrations of freedom and pride.

Kent Rollins is a legendary chuckwagon cook, cowboy, bestselling author, and storyteller from Oklahoma. With over 34 years of experience cooking outdoors over live fire for ranches across America, he preserves the authentic traditions of the Old West. Raised around cattle and ranching, Kent bought his first chuckwagon in 1993 and has since become a beloved figure through his YouTube channel, cookbooks, and appearances on Food Network shows like Chopped Grill Masters and Beat Bobby Flay. He travels the country alongside his wife Shannon to share hearty recipes, frontier wisdom, and the camaraderie of cowboy life from their cast-iron skillet.

From bold strokes of red, white, and blue to the sizzle of cast-iron skillets over open flames, this conversation dives into the people, places, and traditions that continue defining our nation. 

And it's more than just flags and food. This conversation is all about patriotism in practice, heritage with heart, and the shared values that bind us: pride, perseverance, community, and the joy of serving something bigger than ourselves.

If you believe America’s soul shines brightest through its creators, its workers, and its unwavering spirit, you won’t want to miss this one.

In Week Two of Culinary Confidential's Americana 250 series, Christina Cates is honored to welcome Chef Robert Irvine - entrepreneur, best-selling author, veteran advocate, and one of the most respected leaders in hospitality today.

Most people know him from television, but some of his most important work happens far from the cameras. Through the Robert Irvine Foundation, he’s dedicated his life to supporting our nation’s service members, veterans, first responders, and their families, reminding us that leadership is all about showing up for others when it matters most.

As America celebrates 250 years, this conversation explores the values that have always defined our nation: service, resilience, sacrifice, grit, and the power of giving back. Christina and Robert discuss building teams, leading with purpose, supporting those who’ve worn the uniform, and why hospitality is ultimately an act of caring for people.

This is not just a conversation about food. It's one about patriotism in action, leadership with heart, and the responsibility we all share to leave our communities stronger than we found them.

If you believe the American story is still being written every day by people prioritizing service over themselves, this episode is one you definitely won't want to miss.

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 present day, examining the dishes that defined early American life, the communities that forged regional flavors, and the modern forces reshaping how America eats. It’s a candid, deeply informed conversation about heritage, change, and the stories our food continues to tell.

Because when a conversation carries this much history, it becomes part of the story.

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 turn a cookout into an event. We’ll also explore the inspiration behind his latest cookbook, a collection of inventive, crave‑worthy recipes designed to make your summer grilling unforgettable.

Prose is a live‑fire specialist known for blending bold chile peppers, global influences, and inventive techniques that push backyard barbecue far beyond the usual suspects. His work has been featured across major food platforms, and his signature style — smoky, spicy, layered, and fearless — has earned him a devoted following of home cooks and pitmasters looking to elevate their game.

Through Chiles and Smoke, Brad has built a brand rooted in creativity, precision, and the belief that great barbecue is equal parts craft and curiosity.

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‑kitchen experiment into a chef‑driven restaurant that's now recognized among the Top 50 Pizzas in the USA and Top 100 in the World. Their signature “Za Dough,” a meticulously engineered sourdough‑based crust, is the product of relentless testing, fermentation discipline, and a belief that a proper slice should crack, not break.

Garvey, a New York native and certified pizzaiolo, spent decades deconstructing pizzas, turning their home into a test lab before opening their first small shop in 2016. By 2019, they expanded into their now‑iconic Streeterville location along the Ogden Slip — a neighborhood spot built for locals, regulars, and anyone who believes pizza can be both craft and culture.

Today, Robert’s Pizza & Dough Co. is known for its riverfront patio, brick‑oven artistry, bold flavor profiles, and a community‑driven mission that includes partnerships with Slice Out Hunger and local nonprofits. It’s Chicago hospitality at its most intentional — and most delicious.

Yes, Chicago keeps pulling us back, and for good reason! It’s a city where tradition meets reinvention, where chefs push boundaries without losing their roots, and where a single slice can tell a whole story.

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, precision, and history. His work blends travel, anthropology, and culinary storytelling, offering a rare insight into ramen culture, omakase philosophy, and the quiet rituals that define Japanese dining.

From omotenashi hospitality to the worldwide rise of Japanese food culture, this conversation goes way beyond sushi. It's one of craftsmanship, restraint, storytelling, and the deep respect that shapes every plate.

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 SBE Entertainment as President & CEO in a defining era of lifestyle, dining, and nightlife. But well before that, Sam got his start in the engine room of JPMorgan's real estate and lodging investment banking division, working at the intersection of strategy, scale, culture, and community.

This conversation looks forward. How loyalty shifts from transactions to identity, how technology rewrites the guest journey, how brands build communities that feel lived-in as opposed to manufactured, and why the next era of hospitality will reward connection, trust, and emotional intelligence as much as design and service. Sam brings clarity, candor, and a sharp read on where the industry goes from here!

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, one where every detail feels intentional, and every moment feels personal. No pretense or overproduction - just serenity, style, and that unmistakable East End ease.

Lucy breaks down why travelers are moving away from mega resorts and towards curated, human scaled escapes, and how the Hamptons have become the blueprint for this new era of elevated travel.

Sunlight, Style, and Serenity. Now that's the Hamptons: redefined.

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, regions, traditions, and reinventions shaping American whiskey, and why, as the nation approaches its 250th birthday, the story of our spirits is one on identity, craft, and the people that built both.

From bourbon country to the rebirth of classic cocktails, from heritage distillers to the new guard rewriting the rules, this episode explores how whiskey became its own cultural language.

In other words, rich, layered, and unmistakably American.