Brothers in Business: Building Taco Broz One Taco at a Time

In this episode of Coulee Region Cooks, host Courtney Vaaler welcomes Eric Mora, one of the brothers behind Taco Broz. Eric shares how the family’s love of cooking—first inspired by his father’s meals around the family table—grew into a food truck bringing Mexican street-food flavors to the La Cros…

Crunching the Code: Ruth's Granola Success and Cottage Food Insights

In this episode of Coulee Region Cooks, host Courtney Vaaler sits down with Ruth, the passionate owner of Good Granola, LLC. Ruth shares her inspiring journey from a happy accident at a local farmer's market to building a thriving granola business over the past six years. She explains how the Wisco…

From Competition to Collaboration: Chef Jimmy Wilson's Culinary Journey

In this episode of Coulee Region Cooks, host Courtney Vaaler welcomes Chef Jimmy Wilson, a culinary dynamo and recent competitor in the Favorite Chef competition. Chef Jimmy shares his journey from a classically trained chef to a local culinary influencer, highlighting his experiences at Bay Harbor…

The Art of Adaptation: Lindsay Moe on Vegetarian Cooking and Creative Baking

In this episode of Coulee Region Cooks, host Courtney Vaaler welcomes Lindsay Moe, the creative force behind The Live-In Kitchen, a vibrant food blog that goes beyond recipes to explore the art of vegetarian and vegan cooking. Lindsay shares her journey as a food photographer and the challenges she…

From Creamery to Cocktail: Exploring Milk-Based Spirits with Birch Point

In this episode of Coulee Region Cooks, host Courtney Vaaler welcomes Scott and Stacy Kring, the co-owners of Birch Point Distillery located in Westby, Wisconsin. This innovative distillery is making waves in the spirits world by utilizing milk sugars from local creameries to produce their unique v…

Beyond the Plate: Chef and the Foodie's Guide to Holistic Eating and Living

In this episode of Coulee Region Cooks, host Courtney Vaaler is joined by the dynamic duo Chef Poe and Dr. Alvie Ernest, the faces behind the innovative lifestyle brand known as "The Chef and the Foodie." With a unique blend of culinary expertise and holistic health knowledge, they share their jour…

Baked with Love: Shayla's High Hydration Sourdough Journey

In this episode of Coulee Region Cooks, host Courtney Vaaler welcomes Shayla, the passionate owner of The Crafted Crust, a cottage bakery specializing in high hydration sourdough. Shayla shares her inspiring journey into the world of baking, which began as a personal escape during challenging times…

From Family Legacy to Flavor: The Augie's Bar and Grill Experience

In this episode of Coulee Region Cooks, host Courtney Vaaler welcomes Ryan, the fourth-generation owner of Augie's Bar and Grill in Bangor, Wisconsin. Ryan shares his family’s rich history in the bar and restaurant industry, detailing how he took the reins from his father and transformed Augie's in…

Rooted in Community: Discovering the Flavors and Fun at Schwertel Family Farms

In this episode of Coulee Region Cooks, host Courtney Vaaler is joined by Kristine Schwertel from Schwertel Family Farms in Trempealeau, Wisconsin. As the first farm to grace the show, Kristina shares the rich history of the farm, which began with her husband's grandmother, Grandma Millie, who star…

“Beer-Flavored Beer”: Inside the World of Turtle Stack Brewery

In this episode of Coulee Region Cooks, host Courtney Vaaler welcomes Esther, the General Manager and Production Assistant at Turtle Stack Brewery in La Crosse, Wisconsin. As the first brewery to join the show, Esther shares the story behind Turtle Stack, which has been crafting quality beers for o…