On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates showcases Indian cuisine's impact on the global scale by welcoming in Chef Vikas Khanna and Sameer Bhatt of the East Village's own, Bungalow. From Amritsar to Michelin Stars, Vikas is more than just a celebrity chef. He's also a filmmaker, author, humanitarian, and ambassador of Indian cuisine, who blends tradition with global impact - one dish, one story, one soul at a time.

Bhatt is currently General Manager and Partner of Bungalow. From his New Delhi roots to the high standards of New York City, Sameer brings a rich global perspective to modern Indian dining.

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates showcases Indian cuisine's impact on the global scale by welcoming in Chef Vikas Khanna and Sameer Bhatt of the East Village's own,&nbsp;Bungalow. From Amritsar to Michelin Stars, Vikas is more than just a celebrity chef. He's also a filmmaker, author, humanitarian, and ambassador of Indian cuisine, who blends tradition with global impact - one dish, one story, one soul at a time.
Bhatt is currently General Manager and Partner of Bungalow. From his New Delhi roots to the high standards of New York City, Sameer brings a rich global perspective to modern Indian dining.

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

Chef Vikas Khanna & Sameer Bhatt

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.

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.

Spooky Season 2026 with Jeff Belanger and Katie DeCapria

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.

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 &amp; Barrel, El Toro Blanco, and Bowery Meat Company, to becoming an eight-time People's Choice winner at the New York City Wine &amp; 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.

Bringing the Energy for Season 3! Featuring Chef Josh Capon

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!

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!

Chef Vikas Khanna & Sameer Bhatt

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