On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes extraordinary culinarian Christian J. Fischer, whose journey began in a family-run hotel in eastern Austria, surrounded by ten siblings and the hum of a busy kitchen. By age 14, he became a certified Master Chef, baker, and butcher. At 19, he opened his first restaurant and by 23, he was overseeing six successful establishments.

But Christian's journey goes far beyond the kitchen. Following decades in hospitality, he saw a gap: brilliant professionals often struggling to turn their expertise into influence. So he pivoted to becoming a sought-after coach who helps leaders build personal, resonating brands. Fischer is also the voice behind The Disruptive Chef Podcast, where food meets culture and transformation is always on the menu.

Learn more about Christian at www.christianjfischer.com.

On this week's edition of Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates welcomes extraordinary culinarian Christian J. Fischer, whose journey began in a family-run hotel in eastern Austria, surrounded by ten siblings and the hum of a busy kitchen. By age 14, he became a certified Master Chef, baker, and butcher. At 19, he opened his first restaurant and by 23, he was overseeing six successful establishments.
But Christian's journey goes far beyond the kitchen. Following decades in hospitality, he saw a gap: brilliant professionals often struggling to turn their expertise into influence. So he pivoted to becoming a sought-after coach who helps leaders build personal, resonating brands. Fischer is also the voice behind&nbsp;The Disruptive Chef Podcast, where food meets culture and transformation is always on the menu.
Learn more about Christian at <a href="https://www.christianjfischer.com">www.christianjfischer.com.</a>

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 Christian J. Fischer

This Mother’s Day on Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates steps inside a story built on warmth, grit, and the kind of family chemistry you can taste. Joining the show is Jody Kreush and her son Richard Kreush, the duo behind Columbia, South Carolina’s beloved Cinnamon Roll Deli for a conversation on how simple homemade comfort became a destination, ritual, and a national obsession.

The cinnamon rolls may be the headliner, but the heart of their success is the partnership behind them: a mother with instinct and patience, a son with drive and vision, as well as a shared belief that hospitality begins long before the doors open. What started as a family tradition grew into a bakery known for consistency, generosity, and the kind of atmosphere that keeps people coming back.

This episode digs into the real work behind a “cult favorite”: early mornings, creative friction, courage to scale, and the discipline required to protect the soul of a brand as it grows. Jody and Richard speak candidly about trust, risk, and the rare dynamic allowing family and business to coexist and thrive.

It’s warm roots, real partnership, and a legacy baked with intention.

This Mother&rsquo;s Day on Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates steps inside a story built on warmth, grit, and the kind of family chemistry you can taste. Joining the show is Jody Kreush and her son Richard Kreush, the duo behind Columbia, South Carolina&rsquo;s beloved Cinnamon Roll Deli for a conversation on how simple homemade comfort became a destination, ritual, and a national obsession.
The cinnamon rolls may be the headliner, but the heart of their success is the partnership behind them: a mother with instinct and patience, a son with drive and vision, as well as a shared belief that hospitality begins long before the doors open. What started as a family tradition grew into a bakery known for consistency, generosity, and the kind of atmosphere that keeps people coming back.
This episode digs into the real work behind a &ldquo;cult favorite&rdquo;: early mornings, creative friction, courage to scale, and the discipline required to protect the soul of a brand as it grows. Jody and Richard speak candidly about trust, risk, and the rare dynamic allowing family and business to coexist and thrive.
It&rsquo;s warm roots, real partnership, and a legacy baked with intention.

Culinary Confidential's Mother's Day Spotlight with Jody & Richard Kreush

While some restaurant groups add locations, The Foundry Group builds engines.

This week, Christina Cates welcomes Brandon Manly, CEO of The Foundry Group, and Casey Cooley, Chief Development Officer of Foundry Development - two great operators who treat growth like a discipline, not a gamble.

They're redefining what it means to scale in hospitality. Not by chasing unit counts but by designing systems that make expansion repeatable, resilient, and strategically inevitable. Franchising, real estate, brand architecture, operational frameworks - they're pulling every lever turning a single successful concept into a multi-market machine.

If you've ever wondered why some brands sink and others swim, this conversation maps the difference. It's a deep dive into the mechanics behind sustainable growth, the traits of a replicable concept, and the infrastructure required to build a brand that lasts. Because the strongest brands create momentum, they don't chase it.

While some restaurant groups add locations, <a href="https://thefoundrygroup.com/">The Foundry Group</a> builds engines.
This week, Christina Cates welcomes Brandon Manly, CEO of The Foundry Group, and Casey Cooley, Chief Development Officer of Foundry Development - two great operators who treat growth like a discipline, not a gamble.
They're redefining what it means to scale in hospitality. Not by chasing unit counts but by designing systems that make expansion repeatable, resilient, and strategically inevitable. Franchising, real estate, brand architecture, operational frameworks - they're pulling every lever turning a single successful concept into a multi-market machine.
If you've ever wondered why some brands sink and others swim, this conversation maps the difference. It's a deep dive into the mechanics behind sustainable growth, the traits of a replicable concept, and the infrastructure required to build a brand that lasts. Because the strongest brands create momentum, they don't chase it.

Brandon Manly & Casey Cooley

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;

Chef Christian J. Fischer

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