June/July 2012 - Coulee Region Women Magazine

A movable Feast
Find the best the Coulee Region has to offer at these culinary destinations.
BY cHAriSH BADzinSKi
contributed photos
recipes analyzed by Gundersen Lutheran registered dietitians
Foodies the world over have begun to take their meals
more seriously than ever before. Yet those in search of excellent food
don’t have to travel far for a great meal; from scratch-made food
to locally sourced ingredients and innovative approaches to cuisine,
destination restaurants can be found right here, in the Coulee
Region. Here is just a sampling of some of the area’s most popular
destination restaurants, and what makes them special.
fayze’s—an air of happiness
With a casual, welcoming atmosphere and made-from-scratch
goodies including delectable bakery items, Fayze’s appeals to a crowd
that appreciates locally owned, small businesses and the buzz of
downtown La Crosse. Their philosophy and food seem to be working;
just try getting a table for breakfast on the weekend. Customers include
the regulars who come in for coffee and conversation, college students,
families enjoying downtown and couples going to live theater.
The homey feel of Fayze’s, says co-owner Kelsey Williams, starts
with its employees. “At the core of it all, we want to make our
| FOOD |
employees happy so there is just an air of happiness in this restaurant.”
The most popular items on the menu are homemade, “All of our
burgers are served on our Talame bun, which makes that pop for
lunch. Our soups are homemade, so a lot of people look forward to
them. Our Friday fish fry is popular, and we just added perch to our
fish fry.” Williams says breakfast highlights their baked goods, like
their apple cinnamon French toast. Luckily, customers who don’t get
their fill at the restaurant can also take baked goods home.
While Fayze’s doors opened in 1987, Kelsey Williams and her
husband, Drew, took over ownership of the downtown institution
in 2008. Drew started his career at Fayze’s 15 years ago as a busboy.
Somehow, like so many customers, he couldn’t resist the urge to keep
coming back. Visit Fayze’s at 135 Fourth St. S. in La Crosse.
signatures Restaurant—locally grown goodness
For fine dining with a focus on locally grown goodness, Signatures
Restaurant in Winona has a decidedly getting-away-from-it-all feel.
The restaurant overlooks a golf course, lush landscaping, herb and
www.crwmagazine.com JUNE/JULY 2012 43