Teacher Turned Whiskey Tastemaker with Nikki Armento

Teacher Turned Whiskey Tastemaker with Nikki Armento

Teacher Turned Whiskey Tastemaker Before Nikki Armento was guiding guests through some of Kentucky’s most memorable whiskey experiences, she was a teacher learning how to connect with people, hold a room, and make complex ideas feel approachable. In this episode of Kentucky’s Wandering Realtor, Nikki shares the journey that took her from the classroom to becoming Director of Whiskey Experiences at Kentucky Peerless and now Director of Kentucky Whiskey Operations and Experiences for Onyx & Amber. We explore what teaching prepared her for, how she found her voice in the whiskey industry, and what separates an unforgettable tasting from a rehearsed tour. Nikki also takes us inside the story of Onyx & Amber, a brand born from more than 150 single-barrel selections, a community that raised over half a million dollars for charity, and years of studying what Colorado’s dry climate and dramatic pressure swings can bring to a barrel. We also discuss the private Onyx & Amber experience in Louisville, the art of building your own whiskey blend, why patience is part of true luxury, and what Nikki has learned about people from the other side of the glass. This is a conversation about teaching, taste, hospitality, reinvention, and the person Nikki has become beyond the pour. Come curious. Leave changed.

Food With A Mission with Emmaly Saliga & Rhona Kamar

In this episode of Kentucky’s Wandering Realtor, we sit down with Rhona Kamar, Founder and Executive Director of Feed Louisville, and Chef Emmaly Saliga, Head Chef of Zest, for a powerful conversation about food, dignity, community, and mission-driven hospitality in Louisville, Kentucky. Feed Louisville is celebrating 6 years of rescuing food, nourishing people, and strengthening community by transforming surplus food into nutritious, chef-prepared meals for people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. What started as a simple conversation during the early days of COVID has grown into a daily mission powered by chefs, volunteers, hospitality workers, and more than 200 local food partners. We also dive into the story behind Zest, Feed Louisville’s plant-forward grab-and-go meal line celebrating its 1-year anniversary. Zest proves that good-for-you food can still be exciting, flavorful, craveable, and community-driven. Every Zest bowl purchased helps support the larger mission of Feed Louisville and creates a way for people to eat well while doing good. This conversation goes below the surface into the realities of food insecurity, the dignity of a thoughtful meal, the role of Louisville’s hospitality community, and how food can become more than something we eat — it can become connection, comfort, purpose, and hope. Huge thank you to Whirling Tiger for opening their doors and allowing us to shoot this episode in such a great Louisville space. Episode Title: Food With A Mission Guests: Rhona Kamar of Feed Louisville and Chef Emmaly Saliga of Zest Location: Whirling Tiger in Louisville, KY Watch now and learn how Feed Louisville and Zest are using food to serve a bigger mission.

Dessert Has a New Voice with Ben Deutsch

Dessert Has a New Voice. In this episode of Kentucky’s Wandering Realtor, we sit down with Chef Ben Deutsch, chef and owner of Retta’s on Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky. Retta’s is one of Louisville’s most creative dessert experiences, blending seasonal desserts, ice cream, cocktails, natural wine, vinyl records, and Kentucky-grown ingredients into a concept rooted in a true sense of place. Ben’s journey started in Manhattan and Brooklyn, continued through the Culinary Institute of America, and led him into Michelin-starred kitchens in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Aqua, La Folie, Plumed Horse, and Quince. Now, he’s bringing that experience to Louisville through Retta’s, where dessert becomes more than the final course. In this conversation, Ben shares the story behind Retta’s, why he moved to Louisville with his partner Taylor, what inspired the restaurant’s unique mix of dessert, music, wine, and local sourcing, and how Kentucky ingredients shape the menu. We also talk about the pressure of fine dining, building trust in a new city, the role of humor in serious food, and what it means to create a restaurant that reflects both the chef and the region. If you love Louisville restaurants, Kentucky food culture, chef stories, dessert bars, natural wine, local ingredients, or creative dining experiences, this episode is for you.

Rollin’ for a Cause with Todd Antz & Kelly Conn

The 3rd Annual Rollin’ on the River Fest is more than just a good time, it’s a celebration of community, purpose, and bringing people together for something bigger. In this episode, I sit down with Todd Antz and Kelly Conn, the co-organizers behind Rollin’ on the River Fest benefiting the WHAS Crusade for Children. We dive into how this festival came to life, the vision behind it, and what makes it stand out from every other event you could spend your weekend at. From Todd’s journey building one of the region’s most recognized craft beer events to Teri and Kelly’s work restoring Pearl Street Taphouse into a local staple, this conversation goes deeper than the surface. We talk about what it really takes to build something meaningful, the power of community-driven experiences, and why this event continues to grow. We also break down what to expect this year, from the atmosphere at Big Four Station Park, to the VIP experience hosted at Pearl Street Taphouse, to the food, drinks, music, and overall vibe that make this festival more than just a beer fest. If you’re on the fence about going, this episode might be the reason you show up. Full episode available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

From Appalachia to Red Yeti with Michael Bowe

Chef Michael Bowe of Red Yeti in Jeffersonville, Indiana joins Kentucky’s Wandering Realtor for a conversation about the journey behind the title. From Appalachia to becoming a James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef: Great Lakes, Michael shares the path, pressure, and purpose that shaped him along the way. In this episode, we talk about his culinary journey, building Red Yeti, leadership in the kitchen, and what it means to help elevate the food scene across Southern Indiana and Louisville. We also get into regional food culture, the realities of restaurant life, and a few food opinions that might get him in trouble. And yes, the food showed up too. The buttermilk fried chicken, mac and cheese, and braised kale greens all made their mark, with those greens bringing back a core memory of the ones my dad used to make. If you’re into chef stories, Southern food, restaurant culture, and conversations that go deeper than the surface, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more conversations around food, culture, community, and the people behind the work. #ChefMichaelBowe #RedYeti #SouthernIndianaFood #LouisvilleFoodScene