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.