This week, Luke sits down with Bernadette Faasen, owner of Cobalt Smoke & Sea, to talk about what it really takes to run a restaurant, build a loyal community, and create a dining experience that feels “worth it” every single time.

They get into:

• How Cobalt was designed to feel like an experience, not just dinner
• Balancing restaurant life with being a mom of three boys, and never missing a game
• Why the Let’s Get Cupid pop-up exists, and how it turns February into something fun
• What people misunderstand about owning a restaurant, and Bernadette’s advice for women building businesses
• Her STL favorites, from Katie’s Pizza & Pasta and Napoli to women-owned staples like Genovese Jewelers and Ju Ju Bs

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday.
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📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO