MONTICELLO — A Texas native who made a life change ended up on a Monticello farmette with her husband years ago and often rocked on her front porch, dreaming big dreams.
She found herself staring off into a 250-year-old warped tree in her yard.
“It looks like it got struck by lightning, which may have caused the twist,” Cherri Bell said. “The ideas of the baking and smoking meats happened while rocking on the front porch and dreaming big dreams, under that twisted tree.”
Bell may not have any formal training in the restaurant business, but after admittedly “falling in love with the state of Wisconsin,” she began catering and is now realizing her dream after opening the Twisted Tree Eatery in Monticello.
She said she lost her job with Promega in biotechnology which is when Bell began making kolache like the ones she once loved at the Czech Stop bakery in West, Texas.
“Kolaches are cushions of dough filled with fruit or cheese,” said Bell.
She sold them for $1 each at a roadside stand on Wisconsin 69 where Charlie’s Warehouse once stood. The owner of the Cottage Goddess in Paoli, Lori McGowan, befriended Bell and helped her out by recommending her as a caterer and finding a store for the business.
With only a 300-foot space in Paoli, Bell expanded her catering business in 2017 by renting the kitchen at 209 North Main in Monticello, formerly the Dining Room. She catered weddings and many other events as rave reviews circulated.
As the catering business grew, Bell moved forward, eventually received a loan, and was able to purchase the building in December 2017. For the next several months, Bell, staff and friends would renovate the building, adding tables and a bar to prepare for opening.
May 13, 2018, the Twisted Tree Eatery opened in time for Mother’s Day. Bell and her staff of 16 offer up Texas-style smoked meats at a place that’s set up for celebration.
“My goal is to serve delicious food, bring people together to share special moments, and to celebrate life,” Bell said. “And to promote employment and prosperity in as many people as I can.”
The restaurant also has beer from Hop Garden Brewing of Belleville, owned by Rich and Michele Joseph, and offers flights for tasting. Bell has worked with the brewing company since she was in Paoli, and was happy to continue the arrangement.
“We compliment each other, Rich has the beer and the bathroom, and I have the bread and BBQ,” laughed Bell.
“Cherri encouraged us to open a Tap Room at the Mill and we have had great success there,” Joseph said. “She has been a great supporter of our business and an inspiration to many people.”
Bell feels sourcing menu items locally adds a special touch to her restaurant. Seafood comes from Bering Bounty LLC in Verona, the elk from Hawks Hill Elk Ranch in Monticello, grass-fed beef from Greenfire Farm in Monticello and fruits, vegetables and herbs from New Beginnings Farm in Monticello. Hydroponic salad greens come from Clean Fresh Foods in Belleville.
“It’s that local mentality that you take the gifts that you are given and perpetuate them and be a resource for your neighbors,” Bell said.
Other meats are sourced from the meat market in Gempeler’s Supermarket in Monticello.
“We slow smoke our meats with hickory and other hardwoods to develop a true Texas BBQ flavor,” added Bell.
Bell pays tribute in honoring her husband, who died in 2013 of complications from exposure to agent orange while serving in Vietnam. His sacrifice, she feels, is part of her success.
“He was a three-purple heart, two bronze stars, and one silver star Vietnam Veteran and without his bravery and sacrifice, and the survivorship benefits, I couldn’t be doing what I’m doing,” Bell said.
Staff with the Green County Development Corporation also provided resources through the Small Business Development Center and a loan from the Revolving Loan Fund.
“Our work with Cherri at Twisted Tree Eatery showcases the resources Green County Development Corporation can provide for businesses,” said Cara Carper, executive director of the Green County Development Corporation.
The Twisted Tree Eatery is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. There are seafood specials every Friday night and smoked prime rib every Saturday night.
