Americana 250: Food, Purpose, and the Power of Giving Back with Robert Irvine

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 import…

Americana 250: A Culinary Time Capsule (1776 - 2026)

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,” Reife…

Brad Prose Brings The Fire

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 spi…

When Passion Becomes A Pizzeria

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…

Beyond Sushi: The Real Story of Japanese Cuisine with Massud Ghaussy aka TokyoManhattan

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…

Sam Bakhshandehpour

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 moder…

The Hamptons' Most Charming Boutique Stay

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…

American Spirits, American Stories with Noah Rothbaum

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 gl…

Jared Rouben

When a brewery stops acting like a brewery and starts thinking like a culinary institution, the entire industry shifts. This week, Culinary Confidential is proud to spotlight Moody Tongue Brewing Company - the Chicago original rewriting the rules of flavor, technique, and hospitality. Founded by J…

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

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…