Tour Guides & Office Team
Walk Eat Nashville guides include the city’s top food writers, music industry insiders and hospitality pros. We share a passion for Nashville food, culture and storytelling. We don’t have any scripts and cater every experience to the interest of our guests. We know all the best places to eat, the can’t-miss sights, and insider knowledge that surprises even our locals guests.
Shannon Largen - CEO | Chief Eating Officer, Walk Eat Nashville
Shannon Largen, Walk Eat Nashville’s CEO (Chief Eating Officer), grew up in Nashville. Early on, her grandfather introduced her to travel and fine dining, and she was hooked! After college, her career took her all across the United States, and she vacationed in France, England and her favorite, Italy. She took advantage of her time in every locale, discovering what made it unique and exploring the area’s food and wine scene.
One of her trips took her to New York City the week of 9/11. While not in harm's way, it sparked a shift in priorities. She chose to leave her jet-setting career and find something that would allow more time at home. She landed at the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. where she led the hospitality training program for 16 years. Shannon loved promoting Music City as a destination by training the industry on customer service and Nashville information, including its evolving neighborhoods and restaurants. In 2017, she launched Music City Greeter, part of the International Greeter Association, to guide first-time visitors around Nashville and provide suggestions on the best ways to enjoy the city.
At the height of the pandemic, the industry downsized. Shannon had the chance to spend more time with her husband, children and mother, all while reflecting on what made her happy. The answer was clear. Shannon loves people, food, and travel. She decided to share her passion for introducing people to her city and her favorite restaurants at the helm of Walk Eat Nashville.
Want to send Shannon a gratuity? Shannon's Venmo
Karen-Lee Ryan - Founder, Walk Eat Nashville
Walk Eat Nashville founder Karen-Lee Ryan is a lifelong explorer and storyteller. She moved to Nashville in 2005 after falling in love with the city during a cross-country road trip to find a new place to live. Nashville’s creativity and collaborative spirit drew her in like a warm embrace.
Despite her love affair with Music City, she relocated to San Antonio, Texas, in 2012. She couldn’t pass up the opportunity to become a newspaper executive—the culmination of a 15-year career in digital and print media. But, she left her heart in Nashville and returned after 18 months. She launched Walk Eat Nashville in October 2014 to share her passion for her adopted hometown.
Karen-Lee is a member of the Nashville Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, a philanthropic society of women in food, wine and hospitality. She’s also a Platinum Ambassador for The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. Before delving into hospitality, she was a frequent contributor to The Washington Post and also wrote for National Geographic Traveler, Backpacker, Shape and other magazines.
Tondra Arrendale
Born in Louisiana and raised in Texas, the love for food and drink comes naturally to Tondra Arrendale. She still calls herself a Texan, but she has been in Nashville since 1998 and has watched Nashville grow into a destination city.
Although not a chef herself, Tondra is no stranger in the kitchen or at the grill. She loves challenging herself with new recipes and sharing her food with friends. In order to enjoy the food she loves, Tondra has found another passion with Russian style kettlebell training and became a certified instructor in 2015.
Tondra currently lives in Brentwood, TN with her husband and two girls, and as Director of Household Operations for her family, she is often referred as the snack dispenser, the lady with the food, the cook, the meal planner, the grocery getter, and the food inventory manager. Her background with food and Nashville is deep, so if Tondra is your tour guide be prepared to hear all about it because she has never met a stranger.
Want to send Tondra a gratuity? Tondra’s Venmo
Chris Chamberlain
A food, drink and travel writer, Chris Chamberlain has lived in Nashville his entire life, except for four years in California where he studied liberal arts at Stanford University and learned how to manipulate chopsticks.
He is a regular writer for the Nashville Scene and its “Bites” food blog, as well as Nashville Lifestyles magazine. Chris is the Southern correspondent for FoodRepublic.com and often writes travel pieces for Thrillist and GetawaysForGrownups.com, while serving as a local editor for Google, Zagat, Conde Nast Traveler and The Local Palate. Several national television shows have sought his expert opinions, including Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, Eat Street, Unique Eats and Best in Chow. And, Chris has judged more culinary and cocktail competitions than he can remember.
His travel guide and cookbook, The Southern Foodie: 100 Places to Eat before You Die and The Recipes That Made Them Famous was released in 2012 by Thomas Nelson Publishing. The sequel The Southern Foodie’s Guide to the Pig was released in 2014, the same year History Press published his book “Nashville Beer: A Heady History of Music City Brewing.”
Despite the fact that his doctor follows him on Twitter and occasionally offers unsolicited advice about his lifestyle choices, Chris has been known to drive more than three hours for a barbecue sandwich. Smoked meat is a passion—to travel for, to cook at home and to judge as a professional KCBS-certified judge.
Want to send Chris a gratuity? Chris' Venmo
Teresa Currey
For nearly 30 years, Teresa Currey has called Nashville home. She spent much of this time exploring Music City’s many neighborhoods and hip hangouts while helping visitors create their perfect Nashville experience. As a Hospitality Expert with the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp., she led hundreds of classes teaching the city’s amazing hospitality staffers how to show their guests a great time.
Designated a Platinum Ambassador, she has taken many visitors from around the world on walking tours throughout the city. And, she has served as the keynote speaker for tour groups, realty associations, nursing groups and many others. Teresa never meets a stranger and her enthusiasm will leave her guests sharing her passion about good food, fellowship and fun!
Teresa lives 5 miles east of downtown Nashville with her husband, son, and two crazy dogs. When she isn't trying new places to eat or helping out as a substitute high school teacher, she is treasure hunting in East Nashville vintage shops. Many Friday nights she heads to her favorite karaoke dive bar, indulging in her favorite guilty pleasure besides tacos.
Teresa also owns “Service to a T” customer service consulting and training. She works with businesses in the Nashville area to identify opportunities to improve and enhance their service. She likes to classify her classes as “edutainment” and enjoys sharing her passion for putting the customer first.
Want to send Teresa a gratuity? Teresa's Venmo
Sterling Dumbovich
A 17-year Nashvillian, Sterling Dumbovich is originally from the Steel City of Pittsburgh. She’s a proud alumni of Nashville’s Belmont University, and enjoyed a 10-year professional run in the music industry. But it was the three years she spent working at the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation when she was introduced to—and fell in love with—guiding visitors from around the world to Music City.
As a Walk Eat Nashville guide, Sterling’s joyful soul shines through while she shares insight about the city. She mixes interesting historical nuggets with her behind-the-scenes knowledge of the music industry. And, she loves bringing new people together over exceptional food and drinks to find common ground and swap stories
On days when she's not leading tours, Sterling owns and operates a Pillar to Post Home Inspection franchise with her husband, Matt. She has a rescue weiner dog named Nina (nicknamed Nina the Weena), enjoys the excitement of trying something for the first time, and is grateful for her daily yoga and meditation practice.
Want to send Sterling a gratuity? Sterling's Venmo
Sabrina Jewell
Growing up food was the epicenter of Sabrina's home. In her family's Scottish-French kitchen she was an eager taste tester of her dad's Appalachian and her mom's Coastal Deep Run Roots cuisine - both were full of flavor and calories! In her early adult years, Sabrina lived in Japan where she picked up a few recipes from her landlady, "Mamasan". Then in the late nineties she owned and operated a cafe and coffeehouse where she incorporated some of the culinary practices she had gleaned from her mom, grandmothers, aunts, and of course, "Mamasan".
In addition to cooking and eating, Sabrina loves to travel. To date she has knocked 47 states, 6 countries and the Caribbean from her travel bucket list. During these adventures her favorite things to do include meeting fabulous people, visiting top rated restaurants, taking food and architecture tours, and simply meandering through the many beautiful places in this world. Typically, when she and her husband are returning from a trip, they laughingly start planning their next one.
In 2000, Sabrina and her husband left the bluegrass of Kentucky to make Nashville their family's home. When she isn't out seeing the world, you'll find Sabrina hanging out with her husband, three children, dog, and five chickens or in a gymnasium, yelling her brains out, at her children's basketball games. When she’s not out having the most fun ever giving Nashville food tours, Sabrina sells real estate, consults learning and development professionals, and leads a small nonprofit whose mission is helping families afford the cost of adoption.
Sabrina is proud of Nashville's culinary scene and looks forward to having you join her for a tour you will not soon forget!
Want to send Sabrina a gratuity? Sabrina's Venmo
Emily McMillan
As a true Nashville native, Emily was raised with a love and appreciation of all the food Nashville has to offer. Whether it was going to the local farmers market to get something to cook at home, or adventuring out to try something new, Nashville was where Emily’s love for food began. That love of Nashville restaurants has stayed with her, and she is known by the people who know her best as the go-to person for finding a place to eat in the city. When she’s not trying a new restaurant or recommending one to someone else, she enjoys cooking for her family and friends, watching the Vols, and planning her next vacation. If you get Emily as a guide, be sure you ask her where she’s planning to go next!
Want to send Emily a gratuity? Emily's Venmo
Rebekah Parker
Rebekah Parker is a middle Tennessee native. She grew up Columbia (home of Mule Day) then attended college in Nashville and decided to stay! She has enjoyed living in various areas of town and is currently raising her family in the suburb of Brentwood. When she was in school, she fondly remembers field trips to Nashville for walking tours and was always fascinated by the facts and history on those.
Rebekah’s first job was as a server at a locally owned meat and three in the square in Columbia. That catapulted her love for food and the joy a good meal with others can bring. Since that first job, she has worked for other restaurants and caterers. For almost 20 years, she has been directing weddings and private events in the greater Nashville area.
Rebekah and her family enjoy traveling and have a goal to visit all 50 states. She is currently at 43 states and has enjoyed the local flavors and cuisines on her travels. When visiting a new city, she loves to find a good tour of the local highlights. No matter where her travels take her, she is always ready to come home to Nashville. Since joining Walk Eat Nashville, she is thrilled to show people around her incredible city and sample the delicious flavors offered here.
Want to send Rebekah a gratuity? Rebekah's Venmo
Mandi Rogers
Mandi is a first generation Nashvillian, born to California transplants who moved to Nashville for, you guessed it, the music business. Having grown up with this city they’ve been through a lot together. Mandi specializes in the East Nashville tour, where she has lived with her husband and pup for the last 10 years.
Mandi is a veteran of the hospitality industry but is retired (for now)— thanks Covid. People who know Mandi would say her favorite things, after family and friends of course, are eating good food, drinking good drinks, Disney, 90’s country, and traveling. While she specializes in the East Nashville tour, she is happy to answer any questions about this beautiful city. And, if you’re looking for a dive bar she is your go to girl.
Want to send Mandi a gratuity? Mandi's Venmo
Paige Ross
Growing up in Kennett, Missouri, Paige Ross dreamt of going to culinary school. Paige’s grandmother, “Mimi”, instilled in her the importance of preparing and sharing food with loved ones. At Mimi’s kitchen counter, Paige learned the “proper” way to sift flour, measure dry (and wet) ingredients and that “under-salted” food was never acceptable.
Nourishing others, through food, is in her soul. Never wanting someone to feel hungry, Paige has prepared countless fellowship meals at her church as well as started a casserole ministry, volunteered in the food pantry, and spearheaded Angel Food Ministries, a program that helped folks stretch their “grocery” dollar.
Paige has a passion for travel and food tours are always a highlight when she visits new areas. From Seattle to Charleston, learning about local culture, history, people, and food absolutely delights her.
A few years ago, while working as a Visitor Services Specialist in Nashville, Paige ventured on her first Walk Eat Nashville food tour… and loved it. Paige was blessed to meet and work with Walk Eat Nashville’s CEO, Shannon, and fellow tour guides Teresa and Sterling, during her time at the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation. Hospitality is a huge part of Paige’s life. She has welcomed numerous visitors to Nashville and has been able to share her favorite city and everything she loves about it. Being a Platinum Ambassador and a Music City Greeter gave Paige a knowledgeable background of Music City which she loves to share with all her friends, old and new alike.
Paige moved to Nashville in 2015; her son and daughter-in-love live in Dallas; and her daughter and son-in-love live north of Nashville. Paige upgraded to "Bossy" in 2023 when her first grandchild was born; he is the love of her life!
Want to send a gratuity to Paige? Paige's Venmo
Nancy Vienneau
Nancy Vienneau expresses her passion for food wearing many hats: chef, recovered caterer, food educator and activist, writer and cookbook author.
A New York transplant to Nashville as a child, she began cooking professionally in 1980. Twenty-five years and ten thousand cream cheese brownies later, she sold her catering company to turn her attention to food writing and education. She has worked in her community promoting local farmers, urban gardens, healthy affordable cooking, and food security.
She is an active member of Les Dames d’Escoffier, a philanthropic organization mentoring women in food, fine beverage, farming and hospitality.
Food is at the heart of her stories and poetry. Her work appears in Alimentum:The Literature of Food, Relish Magazine, Nashville Lifestyles Magazine, Tennessee Craft Beer Magazine, Edible Nashville, her weekly restaurant column for The Tennessean and her blog Good Food Matters. In 2014, Harper Collins published her first cookbook, the Third Thursday Community Potluck Cookbook, based on a delectable monthly gathering she co-hosted with a local urban farmer.
Downtown Nashville holds a special place in her heart. She ran a small cafe in its warehouse district back when it was populated with artists and urban pioneers and the riverfront still had a barge building company. She’s been amazed to see its trajectory of growth and is excited to share the melding of the old and the new of our city.
Want to send Nancy a gratuity? Nancy's Venmo
Laura Blomberg, Operations Manager
Born in Georgia and raised in California, Laura Blomberg has only been a Nashvillian since 2009, however, she has deep Tennessee roots, her ancestors having roamed the state for 100 years after first setting foot in Greene County around 1790 prior to Tennessee statehood. Her Granny Keathley, a descendant of those rugged Tennessee pioneers, instilled in her granddaughter a love for Southern food and culture during summer visits to her Oklahoma farm when she served up the world’s best fried chicken, black eyed peas, biscuits and gravy, warm pecan pie, and bottomless sweet tea.
Laura has been blessed to travel, eating her way through 48 states and savoring the cuisine in 23 countries, sampling the pesto in Liguria, the poffertjes in Holland, the borscht in Ukraine, and the Gallo Pinto in Costa Rica. As often as she and her husband, Sven, can slip away from their busy household and the duties of raising 8 children, they enjoy trying a variety of local restaurants in and around Nashville. When not homeschooling or driving her children to their myriad of activities, Laura enjoys genealogical research and tracing the Tennessee paths of her ancestors, cooking huge pots of food for her enormous family, and bottomless sweet tea.
Want to send Laura a gratuity? Laura's Venmo