June/July 2012 - Coulee Region Women Magazine

flower gardens and a new pavilion. It’s a beautiful sight, rivaled only
by the food presentation.
“Our culinary team strives to use the freshest and most local
product possible,” explains David Wilson, president of Winona Golf
and Dining, which owns Signatures. “As the seasons change, naturally,
so does where we get things.” As a result, the menu changes four times
a year to reflect that focus on seasonal ingredients. “The benefit is,
naturally we have the best and freshest product possible, which is
going to produce the best product for our customers.”
Signatures and the area surrounding the restaurant have recently
undergone some renovation, including new landscaping of the
gardens and a pavilion, upgraded restrooms and the installation of a
quiet bar area just off the restaurant.
The Signatures secret, if there ever was one, is out. While the
majority of customers hail from La Crosse and Winona, Signatures
also draws groups from the Twin Cities, who enjoy a day of golf
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taking advantage of the Great River State Bike Trail, the Upper
Missisippi Wildlife refuge or Perrot State Park, as well as people who
love great food and live music. Food is made from scratch, employing
local ingredients whenever possible, and the menu is accessible for
meat lovers as well as those who favor veggies. While the Trempealeau
Hotel’s Walnut Burger is its signature dish, new menu items set to
debut this year, including the catfish cakes shared here, are sure to
keep diners coming back.
For customers hoping to truly relax, 18 hotel rooms, from historic
quarters to luxurious suites, are a bonus. “Being a hotel, restaurant and
saloon, we are a great destination for day trips, weekend escapes and
long-term vacations,” explains Amy Werner, owner of the Historic
Trempealeau Hotel. “And our eclectic lineup of weekly live music
only adds to the experience.”
In fact, live music can be heard at the hotel every Thursday and
Saturday, June through December. From Reggae Fest to Blues Bash
Left: Light, ambience and locally grown ingredients are par for the course at Signatures. Right: The little chef adds his friendly demeanor to Fayze's.
followed by an excellent meal. Those customers will notice subtle
nods to the restaurant’s name, like vintage postcards on the tables
and memorabilia on the walls, including a shirt that once belonged
to Elvis Presley, handwritten notes from Marlon Brando, scripts from
show casts and President Bill Clinton’s saxophone. The memorabilia
rotates, and customers can expect to see new items this summer.
Signatures is located at 22852 County Rd. 17 in Winona.
The Trempealeau hotel—an unmatched setting
Parked on the banks of the Mississippi River, with a breathtaking
bluff view and charming Adirondack chairs warming in the afternoon
sun, the Historic Trempealeau Hotel offers unique dining in an
unmatched setting. Part hotel, part restaurant and part saloon, the
Trempealeau Hotel is a common destination for outdoor enthusiasts
early in the season to Tremptoberfest in September, the diverse musical
selection touches nearly every music lover’s preference.
But it’s the food that commands customer loyalty, drawing people
from around the region and the globe. “Our staff prides itself on
making food from scratch and responsibly sourced ingredients, a
tradition started by Linda Jenkins who opened the Hotel, as we know
it, with her husband 26 years ago,” Werner explains. “This combined
with the love and dedication that go into the preparation of each dish,
and our friendly and attentive waitstaff, make dining at the Hotel an
experience.” Find the Hotel at 150 Main St. in Trempealeau. crw
Charish Badzinski is an independent contractor specializing in
strategic communications, media relations and writing. She dreams
about travel and great food on her blog: http://rollerbaggoddess.
blogspot.com/.