On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes Austin Allan, founder and CEO of Sugar Wood, and Rachel Chitwood, VP of Marketing at Tipsy Scoop Ice Cream, to discuss their perspectives on their adults-only dessert brands and how they are redefining indulgence and creativity in the culinary space.

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes Austin Allan, founder and CEO of Sugar Wood, and Rachel Chitwood, VP of Marketing at Tipsy Scoop Ice Cream, to discuss their perspectives on their adults-only dessert brands and how they are redefining indulgence and creativity in the culinary space.

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.

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.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;CULINARY CONFIDENTIAL, Sunday nights, at 9PM... exclusively on AM 970 The Answer.

Culinary Confidential with Christina Cates

Austin Allan & Rachel Chitwood

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 restaurants in America, and the spark that redefined what a modern steakhouse could be.

From there, the Lombardos didn’t expand - they built an empire. One rooted in consistency, premium product, and hospitality that feels both polished and personal. Today, their dozen-plus concepts share the same DNA: energy, trust, occasion, and the sense that every guest is part of the family. 

This episode dives into how Gibsons became more than a dining room, a cultural institution where deals close, milestones are celebrated, and the rhythm of Chicago is felt in every booth. Now, Steve Lombardo III is carrying that legacy forward, shaping what the next era of American dining looks like.

Some legacies aren’t just preserved, they’re lived. 

Some restaurant families build businesses. The Lombardos built a city&rsquo;s identity.&nbsp;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 &amp; Steakhouse on Rush Street. What looked like a bold gamble turned into one of the highest grossing independent restaurants in America, and the spark that redefined what a modern steakhouse could be.
From there, the Lombardos didn&rsquo;t expand - they built an empire. One rooted in consistency, premium product, and hospitality that feels both polished and personal. Today, their dozen-plus concepts share the same DNA: energy, trust, occasion, and the sense that every guest is part of the family.&nbsp; This episode dives into how Gibsons became more than a dining room, a cultural institution where deals close, milestones are celebrated, and the rhythm of Chicago is felt in every booth. Now, Steve Lombardo III is carrying that legacy forward, shaping what the next era of American dining looks like.
Some legacies aren&rsquo;t just preserved, they&rsquo;re lived.&nbsp;

Steve Lombardo III and the Lombardo Legacy

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 influence on fine dining and modern menus, Joe shares insights on how Latin flavors, techniques, and traditions are becoming a powerful force of identity, legacy, and creativity in the restaurant industry.

Together they explore the deep history and cultural roots of Latin cuisine, how Mexican and Peruvian flavors are transforming fine dining, resilience, innovation, the stories ingredients tell, and the challenges and triumphs for today's Latin hospitality professionals.

Because some cuisines aren't just eaten, they're lived.

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 <a href="rosalounge.com">Rosa: Agave &amp; Wine Lounge</a> in Tribeca to explore the vibrant world that is Latin cuisine.
From the soulful kitchens of Mexico and Peru to its growing influence on fine dining and modern menus, Joe shares insights on how Latin flavors, techniques, and traditions are becoming a powerful force of identity, legacy, and creativity in the restaurant industry.
Together they explore the deep history and cultural roots of Latin cuisine, how Mexican and Peruvian flavors are transforming fine dining, resilience, innovation, the stories ingredients tell, and the challenges and triumphs for today's Latin hospitality professionals.
Because some cuisines aren't just eaten, they're lived.

The Power of Latin Cuisine with Joe Cordero

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 sits down with Jennifer Oz LeRoy, a woman who has lived her entire life at the intersection of imagination, ambition, and reinvention. Her lineage is a cultural constellation:

Jack Warner, the visionary who co-founded Warner Bros.

Mervyn LeRoy, the filmmaker behind The Wizard of Oz.

And Warner LeRoy, the showman who transformed Tavern On The Green into a world of fantasy, glamour, and unforgettable hospitality.

Jennifer didn't just inherit a legacy, she grew up inside of one.

And in this conversation, she reveals what it means to honor that history while carving out a voice that is unmistakably her own.

Jennifer shares what it felt like to grow up inside a Hollywood-New York dynasty, the weight, wonder, and responsibility of carrying a legendary name, how her father turned restaurants into theater long before the word 'immersive' existed, the evolution of the New York dining scene through her own eyes, and the moment she realized legacy is a choice and not a script.

For Christina, this episode serves as more than just a reunion. It's a return to the place where her own New York story began. For Tavern On The Green wasn't just a workplace, it was her first stage. And Jennifer wasn't just part of a storied lineage, she was Christina's first boss, the person who showed her what hospitality looks like when it's done with heart, vision, and fearlessness.

Certain legacies echo through history. Others keep evolving. One story, one voice, one generation at a time.

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 sits down with <a href="https://www.ozfarmny.com/jennifer-oz-leroy">Jennifer Oz LeRoy</a>, a woman who has lived her entire life at the intersection of imagination, ambition, and reinvention. Her lineage is a cultural constellation:
Jack Warner, the visionary who co-founded Warner Bros.
Mervyn LeRoy, the filmmaker behind The Wizard of Oz.
And Warner LeRoy, the showman who transformed Tavern On The Green into a world of fantasy, glamour, and unforgettable hospitality.
Jennifer didn't just inherit a legacy, she grew up inside of one.
And in this conversation, she reveals what it means to honor that history while carving out a voice that is unmistakably her own.
Jennifer shares what it felt like to grow up inside a Hollywood-New York dynasty, the weight, wonder, and responsibility of carrying a legendary name, how her father turned restaurants into theater long before the word 'immersive' existed, the evolution of the New York dining scene through her own eyes, and the moment she realized legacy is a choice and not a script.
For Christina, this episode serves as more than just a reunion. It's a return to the place where her own New York story began. For Tavern On The Green wasn't just a workplace, it was her first stage. And Jennifer wasn't just part of a storied lineage, she was Christina's first boss, the person who showed her what hospitality looks like when it's done with heart, vision, and fearlessness.
Certain legacies echo through history. Others keep evolving. One story, one voice, one generation at a time.

Austin Allan & Rachel Chitwood

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