Coulee Region Cooks is your guide to discovering the people, businesses, and ideas shaping our local food and wellness community with host, Courtney Vaaler. From hidden-gem restaurants and farmers market vendors to food manufacturers, coffee roasters, and wellness experts, every episode introduces you to something new in the Coulee Region.
Catch Coulee Region Cooks on the radio Thursday mornings at 10am on WIZM, 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM and 1410 AM.
Brothers in Business: Building Taco Broz One Taco at a Time
In this episode of Coulee Region Cooks (https://www.facebook.com/CouleeRegionCooks), host Courtney Vaaler welcomes Eric Mora, one of the brothers behind Taco Broz (https://www.muycalientetacobroz.com/). 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 Crosse area. He reflects on the early learning curve, the brothers’ first festivals, and the local food-truck community that helped Taco Broz find its footing.
Listeners will get a taste of the menu, including the slow-cooked beef birria that has become a customer favorite. Eric explains how the tender, flavorful meat is served in crispy, cheesy tacos with a rich dipping broth, and how birria also stars in dishes like ramen, fries, and a crunch wrap. He also talks about the restaurant’s salsa bar, the importance of consistent food and service, and bringing the lively feel of a food truck into Taco Bros.’ open-kitchen restaurant downtown.
Eric shares how listening to customers led the brothers from a food truck to a restaurant, and how catering has become another way to bring Taco Broz to weddings, workplace events, and celebrations. Tune in to hear about their taco-bar catering, where to find the food truck, and how to visit the restaurant for tacos late into the night. It’s a tasty conversation about family, perseverance, and sharing good food with the community!
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22 Oct 2026
Crunching the Code: Ruth's Granola Success and Cottage Food Insights
In this episode of Coulee Region Cooks (https://www.facebook.com/CouleeRegionCooks), host Courtney Vaaler sits down with Ruth, the passionate owner of Good Granola, LLC (https://good-granola.com/). 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 Wisconsin cottage food code allowed her to start selling her delicious granola right from her home kitchen and the challenges she faced along the way.
Listeners will be intrigued as Ruth reveals the secrets behind her unique blends, including her top sellers like the coffee chocolate cashew granola and the Midwest Forager's favorite, packed with freeze-dried fruits and nuts. With 11 different flavors to choose from, Ruth discusses how she crafts her granola using quality ingredients like honey and coconut oil, ensuring that her products are both tasty and nutritious.
As the conversation unfolds, Ruth shares her exciting transition from a cottage baker to operating out of a licensed kitchen, highlighting the resources available for budding entrepreneurs in the Coulee region. Tune in to discover how Ruth is expanding her reach through wholesale opportunities and learn about the upcoming holiday markets where you can find her delicious granola. This episode is a delightful exploration of passion, community, and the joy of good food!
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15 Oct 2026
From Competition to Collaboration: Chef Jimmy Wilson's Culinary Journey
In this episode of Coulee Region Cooks (https://www.facebook.com/CouleeRegionCooks), 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 Senior Living and Hy-Vee where he conducts chef demonstrations. Get ready to be inspired as he discusses the challenges and triumphs of competing against over 60,000 contestants, ultimately finishing in an impressive 13th place!
Listeners will be captivated by Chef Jimmy’s passion for cooking, as he dives into his signature dishes, including a delectable salmon with bearnaise sauce and his award-winning chili recipe that has taken home trophies in various cook-offs. Discover how he creatively incorporates different chilies to elevate his chili game and learn about his upcoming participation in the Healthy America competition with Maxim magazine, where he aims to build his culinary presence even further.
As a special treat, Chef Jimmy reveals his exciting collaboration with Chef Kelly Snyder Zufelt on a new cookbook titled "A Table Between Us," which aims to bridge the gap between classical techniques and home cooking flexibility. This cookbook promises to be a delightful resource for anyone looking to enhance their culinary skills, featuring budget-friendly recipes and tips for making delicious meals with what you have on hand. Tune in for a fun and informative episode that will leave you eager to cook!
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
Who has been a guest on COULEE REGION COOKS
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Dylan
Terry Schallert
Kaitlyn Kessler
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 51 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
78
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
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Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about COULEE REGION COOKS
Who hosts COULEE REGION COOKS?
Courtney Vaaler host the show. Published by Courtney Vaaler.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does COULEE REGION COOKS take guests?
The show does not typically feature guests, based on episode analyses.
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