CULINARY CONFIDENTIAL: WEDDINGS, RINGS AND SWEET BEGINNINGS
Sunday at 9 PM (Eastern) on AM 970 The Answer
Each week on Culinary Confidential, Christina Cates—a seasoned hospitality professional who has worked at some of New York City’s top restaurants—shares her passion for the culinary world, exploring the trends, triumphs, and challenges facing the food-service profession and spotlighting some of the most interesting and influential industry voices. Culinary Confidential airs Sunday nights at 9 PM, exclusively on AM 970 The Answer, with episodes also available on major podcast platforms.
We’re kicking off the first Culinary Confidential of the new year with a celebration of love, craft, and the unforgettable details that turn “I do” into a moment that lasts forever.
With holiday engagements at their peak, this episode dives into the artistry behind modern weddings—from the menu to the rings to the cake—and the experts who make each celebration uniquely personal.
FEATURED GUESTS AND THEIR STORIES
RICH LEVY — Founder and CEO, Butter & Vine
Rich Levy is the founder of Butter & Vine, a full-service catering and events company based in Chicago, Illinois, launched in January 2020. Eight weeks after opening, the pandemic brought events to a standstill, and Levy quickly pivoted Butter & Vine into a meal-delivery service to keep the business alive.
With the resurgence of large social gatherings, Butter & Vine has returned to its original mission, thriving as a premier catering service for weddings, corporate events, fundraisers, and more throughout Chicagoland. Levy now employs a core team of 12 full-time staff and hires up to 75 temporary staff for events, many of whom have worked together in the industry for over 20 years.
Butter & Vine is known for custom menus, elevated beverage programs, and hospitality-driven service, with a focus on delivering best-in-class catering experiences. Levy’s long-term vision includes expanding the business to own and operate a dedicated event venue in Chicago.
MICHELLE LUCHESE — Chief Executive Officer and Co‑Founder, Manly Bands
Michelle Luchese is the Chief Executive Officer and co‑founder of Manly Bands, a wedding-ring company that has reimagined men’s rings with innovative styles, inclusive sizing, and materials that reflect customers’ passions and personalities. Since 2016, Manly Bands has offered rings made from meteorite, dinosaur fossils, whiskey barrels, guitar strings, and more, positioning the brand as a disruptor in a traditionally conservative category.
Luchese, who has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, helped build Manly Bands from a scrappy startup shipping rings out of a garage into a company operating out of a 35,000-square-foot facility in Utah, where more than 80 percent of its rings are produced in-house.
As CEO, she oversees brand, product, and operations, drawing on her background in performance, entrepreneurship, and customer experience. Together with co‑founder John Ruggiero, Luchese has grown Manly Bands into a multimillion-dollar business known for bold design, storytelling-driven marketing, and a commitment to making wedding rings feel personal, not generic.
ARLENE MURRAY — Owner and Lead Cake Designer,Polkadot Cake Shop
Arlene Murray is the owner and lead cake designer of Polkadot Cake Shop, a full-service custom bake shop located at 137 Stuyvesant Avenue in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. Polkadot specializes in desserts that impress both the eye and the palate, baking from scratch in small batches with high-quality ingredients such as real butter and pure Madagascar vanilla beans.
Murray, a self-taught baker and cake designer, launched Polkadot in 2011 after previously working in human resources management and earning an M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy. What began as a stress-relieving hobby became a full-time endeavor as she turned her passion for baking into a business. She works in both buttercream and fondant to create custom cakes and edible works of art for weddings, backyard gatherings, large-scale food truck events, and more.
Polkadot Cake Shop has expanded over the years to include the Polkadot Cupcake Truck and a custom cake studio, and later a vintage vending camper for private events. The business has earned numerous accolades, including The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame, and has been featured on Food Network, The Drew Barrymore Show, The Cooking Channel, NBC New York Live, and in multiple regional and national publications.
ABOUT THE HOST
Culinary Confidential is hosted by Christina Cates, a seasoned hospitality professional with over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry. She holds a Restaurant Management degree from The Art Institute of New York City and has served as Assistant Restaurant Director at Tavern on the Green, as well as General Manager at The Palm Restaurant and Almond Tribeca.
Cates brings a global perspective and an elevated approach to every dining experience, shaped by her work in some of New York City’s most notable restaurants and her passion for travel. On Culinary Confidential, she dives into the heart of hospitality, leading thoughtful, informed conversations with chefs, founders, artisans, and innovators across the food and beverage world.
WHY LISTEN
From curated menus to custom rings to unforgettable cakes, this episode explores how today’s couples are rewriting the rules of wedding tradition—and why personalization has become the heart of modern celebrations.
Whether you’re planning a wedding, love great food, or simply enjoy a good love story, this conversation offers insight, creativity, and inspiration from three experts who help turn “I do” into something deeply personal and memorable.
TUNE IN
Culinary Confidential
Sunday at 9 PM (Eastern) on AM 970 The Answer am970theanswer.com
Episodes are available on major podcast platforms -- including Amazon, Apple, iHeart, and Spotify -- with on-demand listening for those who want to revisit the stories, strategies, and flavors shaping today’s culinary and hospitality landscape.
You can also stream a replay here:
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