Culinary Confidential Hits 100: Chef Ivy Stark, City Harvest, and the Fight to Feed New York
This Sunday marks a major milestone.
Culinary Confidential, the weekly radio show that peels back the curtain on New York’s food world, reaches its 100th episode. From the very first broadcast, host Christina Cates has focused on the people, stories, and organizations that shape the industry—not just the plates that land on the table, but the hands and hearts behind them. For this landmark episode, the conversation turns to a cause with lasting impact across the five boroughs: the ongoing battle against hunger in New York City.
Joining Christina is chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author Ivy Stark—a recognized force in modern Mexican cuisine and a dedicated member of City Harvest’s Food Council.
The Guest: Ivy Stark
Ivy 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 more than 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 (Dos Caminos Mexican Street Food, Dos Caminos Tacos, and Whole Food Vegetarian Cookbook), 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.
The Host: Christina Cates
Christina Cates is a true industry insider. A Restaurant Management graduate of The Art Institute of New York City, she has more than 20 years of experience in the city’s most demanding kitchens and dining rooms. She began at Tavern on the Green at age 20, rising from hostess to Assistant Restaurant Director. She later served as General Manager at The Palm Restaurant in Tribeca and at Almond Tribeca. A passionate foodie and world traveler, Christina now uses Culinary Confidential to spotlight the people and pressures shaping hospitality today—always with an insider’s clarity and a storyteller’s warmth.
The Cause: City Harvest
For more than four decades, City Harvest has operated on a simple but powerful principle: 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.
The need remains urgent. More than 1.4 million New Yorkers currently 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.
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.
Why This Episode Matters
Some shows chase trends. Culinary Confidential follows the people and pressures that shape them. Episode 100 is both a celebration and a call to attention—an hour that honors a milestone while shining a light on a cause that continues to define the soul of New York’s food community.
Tune in live
Sunday, August 23
9:00 PM Eastern
AM 970 Radio and the AM 970 mobile app
Replays available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, Amazon Music, and all major platforms.
For more information, visit culinaryconfidentialchristina.com or follow @am970theanswer.
Culinary Confidential — the stories behind the plates, and the people who nourish the city.
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