One way or the other, if you’re in business in the 21st century, you’re selling yourself. That’s true whether you’re selling crafts or services. Social platforms like TikTok, Instagram or YouTube are basically all marketplaces of personality. 

You still need a product that people want, but that’s not really enough. You need to connect with people if you want folks to buy what you’re selling.

When it works. It works. For many entrepreneurs today, the game is about virality. But lightning in a bottle isn’t a business model. At some point, you’ve got to have structure to be sustainable. Ask Colette Bernard.

Colette first went viral in 2021 selling two thousand t-shirts on TikTok. She was living in New York at the time just after graduating from the Pratt Institute. She paid off a little bit of her student debt and got out of the city. By the time she landed back in Lafayette where she grew up, she had a burgeoning online business with hundreds of thousands of followers craving her quirky, playful designs. 

Colette now owns three businesses. A gift shop called Cocodrie, a vintage clothing shop called Retreaux and her design label, the Artist Colette. Social media is her fourth business, Colette says, and the one taking up most of her time. 

An online presence is useful, of course, if you want to reach people. But if you want to help them, you’ll need a more personal touch. Shalonda Thibeaux is a Christian Life Coach and she uses YouTube to spread her message. But most of her work is high touch. Clients book one on one sessions with her to get advice on navigating challenges and changes in their lives.

Shalonda, who grew up in New Iberia and lives in Lafayette,  got into Life Coaching after working to move past trauma and confidence problems in her own life. Helping people has been at the center of every job choice she’s made in her life. She spent eight years working in foster care for the state government and now works with a faith-based foster care service. 

Shalonda also spent years as a jail minister for incarcerated women. In 2023, she got her life coaching certification and launched her coaching business, Talks with Shay, in 2024. 

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.

One way or the other, if you’re in business in the 21st century, you’re selling yourself. That’s true whether you’re selling crafts or services. Social platforms like TikTok, Instagram or YouTube are basically all marketplaces of personality. 
You still need a product that people want, but that’s not really enough. You need to connect with people if you want folks to buy what you’re selling.
When it works. It works. For many entrepreneurs today, the game is about virality. But lightning in a bottle isn’t a business model. At some point, you’ve got to have structure to be sustainable. Ask Colette Bernard.
Colette first went viral in 2021 selling two thousand t-shirts on TikTok. She was living in New York at the time just after graduating from the Pratt Institute. She paid off a little bit of her student debt and got out of the city. By the time she landed back in Lafayette where she grew up, she had a burgeoning online business with hundreds of thousands of followers craving her quirky, playful designs. 
Colette now owns three businesses. A gift shop called <a href="https://cocodriecollective.com/">Cocodrie,</a> a vintage clothing shop called <a href="https://www.instagram.com/retreauxbycolette/">Retreaux</a> and her design label,<a href="https://artistcolette.com/"> the Artist Colette</a>. Social media is her fourth business, Colette says, and the one taking up most of her time. 
An online presence is useful, of course, if you want to reach people. But if you want to help them, you’ll need a more personal touch. Shalonda Thibeaux is a Christian Life Coach and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEWRqo-6MWNe_wY4tsN98dA?view_as=subscriber">she uses YouTube to spread her message</a>. But most of her work is high touch. Clients book one on one sessions with her to get advice on navigating challenges and changes in their lives.
Shalonda, who grew up in New Iberia and lives in Lafayette,  got into Life Coaching after working to move past trauma and confidence problems in her own life. Helping people has been at the center of every job choice she’s made in her life. She spent eight years working in foster care for the state government and now works with a faith-based foster care service. 
Shalonda also spent years as a jail minister for incarcerated women. In 2023, she got her life coaching certification and launched her coaching business, <a href="https://www.talkswithshay.org/">Talks with Shay</a>, in 2024. 
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by <a href="https://www.astormorgan.com/">Astor Morgan</a> at <a href="https://itsacadiana.com/2024/11/11/artrepreneur-unstuck/">itsacadiana.com</a>.

Artrepreneur Unstuck

If you're looking for an optimum time to do something difficult, it's easy to find excuses to procrastinate. When you're a habitual smoker is there ever "a good time" to quit smoking? When you prefer sloth, is there ever "a good time" to start working out? The answer is, of course, it's always a good time, and it's never a good time. 

It's the same with starting a business. There’s never really a good time to start a business. The common wisdom is, life happens. Don’t let it get in the way of the opportunity you see in front of you. 

Rhonda Dalquist found her way to selling ice cream after a series of life altering disruptions.  Her husband lost a leg, and they sold their veterinary practice. She spent time caring for her parents through terminal cancer and her mother-in-law through a stroke.

Rhonda came out on the other side of it with entrepreneurial spirit intact and an idea for a business that would satisfy her love of ice cream, nostalgia and people. In April 2024, she launched Creamery Coaster — a mobile ice cream service. The concept hearkens to a time when her mom sold homemade freeze-pops for a nickel. 

Creamery Coaster sells ice cream cones, chocolate dipped cones, ice cream cups, sorbet, cookies, push-pops and more. And like her mother did it, the push-pops are homemade. 

Rhonda sells the treats out of a bicycle cart named Magnolia.

About 10 years into running a massage therapy business, Donna Wilson went back to school. She was looking for something that could balance with her home life.  Donna kept on the nursing path and became a nurse practitioner. When the opportunity came up to buy an occupational medicine practice, she jumped on it. 

in June 2024, Donna launched her own clinic, Occupational & Integrative Medicine. The practice is unique in that it offers essentially two lines of health services — conventional medical treatment like check-ups and lab work and “integrative” treatment like nutrition coaching and hydration therapy. 

Donna sees about 12-18 patients a day with a staff of three.

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.

If you're looking for an optimum time to do something difficult, it's easy to find excuses to procrastinate. When you're a habitual smoker is there ever "a good time" to quit smoking? When you prefer sloth, is there ever "a good time" to start working out? The answer is, of course, it's always a good time, and it's never a good time. 
It's the same with starting a business. There’s never really a good time to start a business. The common wisdom is, life happens. Don’t let it get in the way of the opportunity you see in front of you. 
Rhonda Dalquist found her way to selling ice cream after a series of life altering disruptions.  Her husband lost a leg, and they sold their veterinary practice. She spent time caring for her parents through terminal cancer and her mother-in-law through a stroke.
Rhonda came out on the other side of it with entrepreneurial spirit intact and an idea for a business that would satisfy her love of ice cream, nostalgia and people. In April 2024, she launched <a href="https://creamerycoaster.com/">Creamery Coaster</a> — a mobile ice cream service. The concept hearkens to a time when her mom sold homemade freeze-pops for a nickel. 
Creamery Coaster sells ice cream cones, chocolate dipped cones, ice cream cups, sorbet, cookies, push-pops and more. And like her mother did it, the push-pops are homemade. 
Rhonda sells the treats out of a bicycle cart named Magnolia.
About 10 years into running a massage therapy business, Donna Wilson went back to school. She was looking for something that could balance with her home life.  Donna kept on the nursing path and became a nurse practitioner. When the opportunity came up to buy an occupational medicine practice, she jumped on it. 
in June 2024, Donna launched her own clinic, <a href="https://oimed.org/">Occupational &amp; Integrative Medicine</a>. The practice is unique in that it offers essentially two lines of health services — conventional medical treatment like check-ups and lab work and “integrative” treatment like nutrition coaching and hydration therapy. 
Donna sees about 12-18 patients a day with a staff of three.
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by <a href="https://www.astormorgan.com/">Astor Morgan</a> at <a href="https://itsacadiana.com/2024/11/04/feel-good-eat-ice-cream/">itsacadiana.com</a>.

Feel Good, Eat Ice Cream

Sometimes in business you just need to go in a different direction. Maybe you’re a victim of your own success. Maybe your work-life balance is out of whack. Maybe you’re bored or maybe you just need a little extra cash on the side. 

Recognizing the change is probably the easy part. Changing is the hard part — especially if you like what you do. 

Rachel Sam figured out the change part the hard way. She built a successful program at UL. Got promoted. Had a daughter. But things got hard. Anxiety flared up and so did back pain. She took some time to heal and had an epiphany. She wrote it down in a book called “Hello, My Name is Happy.” 

The experience moved her in a new direction. Rachel resigned from her role at UL in 2024 and went into consulting as Dr. Rachel Sam. 

Rachel’s consulting work is broad. She helps nonprofits lead workshops for teenagers. She consults with colleges and universities on academic success for students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. Some of the organizations she works with include SafeHavyn, the Lafayette Juvenile Justice Center and the Boys and Girls Club. 

Sometimes a change can be a side-hustle. Maybe things are going pretty well, but you’re looking for a little extra cash or a chance to pursue your dream. 

That can all be daunting. And adding a new business to your workload is stressful. So why not try a taste of the sweet life with a franchise? 

Kylie Roussell took that path with her husband and bought into the sweet tea life. Kylie is part-owner and operator of Lafayette’s HTeaO franchise. HTeaO is a beverage company that specializes in iced teas — and they have lots of them, 26 flavors of iced tea alone. They also sell chais, coffees and espressos, drinks and a line of snacks. And that’s before you get to the secret menu

Kylie and her husband settled on HTeaO after first considering a restaurant. The franchise option presented an attractive alternative. Plus, she figured it wouldn't be hard to find a thirsty customer in sweltering Louisiana. Kylie lives in Iowa and originally looked at starting the tea shop in Lake Charles. They opted for Lafayette instead and launched with a location in River Ranch. 

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette.

Sometimes in business you just need to go in a different direction. Maybe you’re a victim of your own success. Maybe your work-life balance is out of whack. Maybe you’re bored or maybe you just need a little extra cash on the side. 
Recognizing the change is probably the easy part. Changing is the hard part — especially if you like what you do. 
Rachel Sam figured out the change part the hard way. She built a successful program at UL. Got promoted. Had a daughter. But things got hard. Anxiety flared up and so did back pain. She took some time to heal and had an epiphany. She wrote it down in a book called “<a href="https://a.co/d/0XA0ARV">Hello, My Name is Happy</a>.” 
The experience moved her in a new direction. Rachel resigned from her role at UL in 2024 and went into consulting as <a href="https://www.doctorrachelsam.com/">Dr. Rachel Sam</a>. 
Rachel’s consulting work is broad. She helps nonprofits lead workshops for teenagers. She consults with colleges and universities on academic success for students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. Some of the organizations she works with include <a href="https://safehavynn.org/">SafeHavyn</a>, the Lafayette Juvenile Justice Center and the<a href="https://www.bgca.org/"> Boys and Girls Club</a>. 
Sometimes a change can be a side-hustle. Maybe things are going pretty well, but you’re looking for a little extra cash or a chance to pursue your dream. 
That can all be daunting. And adding a new business to your workload is stressful. So why not try a taste of the sweet life with a franchise? 
Kylie Roussell took that path with her husband and bought into the sweet tea life. Kylie is part-owner and operator of <a href="https://hteao.com/">Lafayette’s HTeaO franchise</a>. HTeaO is a beverage company that specializes in iced teas — and they have lots of them, 26 flavors of iced tea alone. They also sell chais, coffees and espressos, drinks and a line of snacks. And that’s before you get to the secret menu
Kylie and her husband settled on HTeaO after first considering a restaurant. The franchise option presented an attractive alternative. Plus, she figured it wouldn't be hard to find a thirsty customer in sweltering Louisiana. Kylie lives in Iowa and originally looked at starting the tea shop in Lake Charles. They opted for Lafayette instead and launched with a location in River Ranch. 
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette.

Don't Worry, Tea Happy

At this point, alternative foods aren’t really alternative anymore. It’s like music in the 1990s. What was sort of underground has really become mainstream as more and more people have changed their diets to be healthier or to eat more ethically. 

Gluten free or vegan foods aren’t just for speciality aisles anymore. They’re marketed aggressively for what they are — or what they aren’t — because companies know there are buyers out there. 

Bianca Francis found her way to veganism by accident, she says. She was traveling for work and bought what turned out to be some meat gone bad. It put her on a path to finding some meatless recipes. By 2019, she was a full-on vegan.

Now here’s the thing. Bianca is a baker. She’s always been a baker; it’s something she learned from her mom. She started publishing vegan tips on a blog, and that became a springboard for her bake shop: Bianca Bakes Bliss. It’s a home-based business that sells vegan gingerbread, cinnamon rolls, wedding cakes and more. You can order her cakes online or find her at local pop ups and farmers markets. 

Creole cooking has never and will never go out of style. It’s bold, it’s playful, it’s flavorful — it’s addicting. That is if you try Logan Alfred’s signature dish - crack wings. Folks line up outside his food truck — Southern Kreole Cravings — to get their hands on his spin on fried chicken wings with his own special sauce.

Logan first created them while working as an offshore caterer. Rig workers gobbled up so many that Logan’s onshore bosses took notice of the commissary invoices and flew to the rig to see what the fuss was about. Crack wings stayed on the rig menu from then on out. 

In 2020, Logan launched Southern Kreole as both a food truck and a catering operation. Of course, Logan is more than just a wings guy. But the dish has become a runaway hit: He sells as many as 12,000 in a single year. 

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Giada Morgan at itsacadiana.com.

At this point, alternative foods aren’t really alternative anymore. It’s like music in the 1990s. What was sort of underground has really become mainstream as more and more people have changed their diets to be healthier or to eat more ethically. 
Gluten free or vegan foods aren’t just for speciality aisles anymore. They’re marketed aggressively for what they are — or what they aren’t — because companies know there are buyers out there. 
Bianca Francis found her way to veganism by accident, she says. She was traveling for work and bought what turned out to be some meat gone bad. It put her on a path to finding some meatless recipes. By 2019, she was a full-on vegan.
Now here’s the thing. Bianca is a baker. She’s always been a baker; it’s something she learned from her mom. She started publishing vegan tips on a blog, and that became a springboard for her bake shop: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BiancaBakesBliss/">Bianca Bakes Bliss</a>. It’s a home-based business that sells vegan gingerbread, cinnamon rolls, wedding cakes and more. You can order her cakes online or find her at local pop ups and farmers markets. 
Creole cooking has never and will never go out of style. It’s bold, it’s playful, it’s flavorful — it’s addicting. That is if you try Logan Alfred’s signature dish - crack wings. Folks line up outside his food truck — <a href="https://www.southernkreolecravings.com/">Southern Kreole Cravings</a> — to get their hands on his spin on fried chicken wings with his own special sauce.
Logan first created them while working as an offshore caterer. Rig workers gobbled up so many that Logan’s onshore bosses took notice of the commissary invoices and flew to the rig to see what the fuss was about. Crack wings stayed on the rig menu from then on out. 
In 2020, Logan launched Southern Kreole as both a food truck and a catering operation. Of course, Logan is more than just a wings guy. But the dish has become a runaway hit: He sells as many as 12,000 in a single year. 
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/giadamorganphotography/">Giada Morgan</a> at <a href="https://itsacadiana.com/2024/10/14/vegan-cakes-crack-wings/">itsacadiana.com</a>.

Vegan Cakes,  Crack Wings

Running a business is usually an exercise in multitasking. Whatever your one real gift is — that thing that got you into business in the first place — there’s a pretty good chance you won’t be doing it anymore once you’ve become successful enough.

That can be bittersweet. But it’s the way of the world. So it would make sense that what often separates good operators from great operators is the ability to do lots of different things well. 

Sometimes it’s better to be a jack of all trades, especially when you’ve got a lot to do. Take the music business. It’s never enough to be proficient at an instrument. At some point, you gotta manage your act — get booking done, promote it, advance the show logistics, arrange rehearsals, setlists, egos, riders, the whole nine. 

That gets much more complicated when you’re in a wedding band. You’re the soundtrack to someone’s special day. So the stakes are high. That’s why wedding bands can command top dollar. It’s a smart business. But a tough one. Especially if you’re like Matt Cobb and play 110 gigs a year. 

Matt runs two different groups — Rouge Krewe and Parade Route. And, yes, he runs them. Besides bringing the hype to your cousin’s wedding or your aunt’s company Christmas Party, Matt is doing the books and managing the when, where and how of his band’s hectic schedule.

He started RougeKrewe in 2019 after graduating from UL with a degree in music education. The band got to be so in demand, that they couldn’t fill all the bookings. So he started a second band: Parade Route. 

Matt and his bands spend most of their time playing in Louisiana, but they’ve been booked out of state and abroad. Wherever they go, their motto is “We don’t just play music. We bring life to the party.” 

If playing hundreds of gigs sounds exhausting. Try managing properties. It’s easy to get spread thin in the development business, and it’s one of those industries that you learn by doing, not in business school.

Ravi Daggula has been connected to several high profile developments in Lafayette. He got his start flipping residential properties after college and cutting his teeth in hospitality by working at a hotel. He got into historic revitalization with Maison Mouton, a restored Creole manor he converted into a bed & breakfast. It gave him the bug for more ambitious development projects, so Ravi kept at historic preservation concepts. Today his portfolio of properties are gathered under the banner of Belle Vie Hospitality. 

Ravi is originally from India and moved to Lafayette to get a degree in computer engineering. He thinks of himself as an impact investor and looks for projects that will have value that extend beyond the property itself, and its return on investment.  

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.

Running a business is usually an exercise in multitasking. Whatever your one real gift is — that thing that got you into business in the first place — there’s a pretty good chance you won’t be doing it anymore once you’ve become successful enough.
That can be bittersweet. But it’s the way of the world. So it would make sense that what often separates good operators from great operators is the ability to do lots of different things well. 
Sometimes it’s better to be a jack of all trades, especially when you’ve got a lot to do. Take the music business. It’s never enough to be proficient at an instrument. At some point, you gotta manage your act — get booking done, promote it, advance the show logistics, arrange rehearsals, setlists, egos, riders, the whole nine. 
That gets much more complicated when you’re in a wedding band. You’re the soundtrack to someone’s special day. So the stakes are high. That’s why wedding bands can command top dollar. It’s a smart business. But a tough one. Especially if you’re like Matt Cobb and play 110 gigs a year. 
Matt runs two different groups —<a href="https://www.rkpartyband.com/"> Rouge Krewe</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/paraderoute1/">Parade Route</a>. And, yes, he runs them. Besides bringing the hype to your cousin’s wedding or your aunt’s company Christmas Party, Matt is doing the books and managing the when, where and how of his band’s hectic schedule.
He started RougeKrewe in 2019 after graduating from UL with a degree in music education. The band got to be so in demand, that they couldn’t fill all the bookings. So he started a second band: Parade Route. 
Matt and his bands spend most of their time playing in Louisiana, but they’ve been booked out of state and abroad. Wherever they go, their motto is “We don’t just play music. We bring life to the party.” 
If playing hundreds of gigs sounds exhausting. Try managing properties. It’s easy to get spread thin in the development business, and it’s one of those industries that you learn by doing, not in business school.
Ravi Daggula has been connected to several high profile developments in Lafayette. He got his start flipping residential properties after college and cutting his teeth in hospitality by working at a hotel. He got into historic revitalization with <a href="https://moutonplantation.com/">Maison Mouton</a>, a restored Creole manor he converted into a bed &amp; breakfast. It gave him the bug for more ambitious development projects, so Ravi kept at historic preservation concepts. Today his portfolio of properties are gathered under the banner of<a href="https://belleviehospitality.com/"> Belle Vie Hospitality</a>. 
Ravi is originally from India and moved to Lafayette to get a degree in computer engineering. He thinks of himself as an impact investor and looks for projects that will have value that extend beyond the property itself, and its return on investment.  
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by <a href="https://www.astormorgan.com/">Astor Morgan</a> at <a href="https://itsacadiana.com/2024/10/07/see-you-at-the-wedding/">itsacadiana.com</a>.

See You At The Wedding

Hank Williams’ 1952 song, Jambalaya On The Bayou, was the first time much of the world heard anything about us. What at first-listen to most people sounded like a bunch of nonsense syllables like Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky, turned out to be a menu of Cajun dishes – Jambalaya, crawfish pie, file gumbo.

Today, if you’re from Acadiana and you travel the world, when you’ve been away from home long enough you might find yourself tempted to try Cajun food someplace else. And, though you may be in a pretty Parisian bistro, or a cool café in Quebec, you feel confident declaring the jambalaya or the gumbo doesn’t taste right.

Because we invented these dishes, we set the standard for this kind of cuisine. But what happens when you strip away our homefield advantage? When it comes to other types of consumables, how do we stack up here in Acadiana? 

Let’s start with the two most popular and universally consumed human-made libations: coffee and beer. Is it fair to compare Acadiana coffee to, say, Colombian coffee? Or our local brew to German beer? Well, if we’re going to hold them to our Jambalaya and Gumbo standard, they’re entitled to hold us to their beer and coffee standard.

Colombia is one of the coffee capitals of the world. So, if you live in Abbeville Louisiana, with a population of around 12,000, you couldn’t expect to get a cup of fine Colombian coffee. Right? 

Wrong.

Because one of those 12,000 people in Abbeville is Natalia Hernandez Choate, who happens to be from Colombia, you can go to Nube9 Coffee, or visit Nube9 online, and get yourself a cup - or a gallon - of genuine Colombian coffee. You can also get a bag of Natalia’s freshly imported Colombian coffee beans. Or you can pick up a bag of Nube9 beans at a number of select stores across Acadiana.

By and large here in Acadiana, we like things the way they are. We don’t like change. Maybe you grew up in Calcasieu Parish drinking Budweiser, believing it’s “The king of beers.” In that case your concept of monarchy might need a little re-education. That was the program Eric Avery found himself embarking on in 2016 when he opened Crying Eagle Brewing Company in Lake Charles.

Today Crying Eagle is a local staple. They have 20 craft beers on tap at their brew pub. They have a bistro, a beer garden, a tap room, and live music most nights. They introduce at least one new beer to the lineup every week. And they have 8 beers for sale in cans.

The brewery employs 40 people.

And how are they doing on the beer equivalent of the Jambalaya and Gumbo Scale? Pretty darn good. The Independent Craft Brewer’s Association described Crying Eagle’s “Divine Imagination” Double IPA as a "world class beer of superlative character and flawless execution."

When someone calls you up and suggests going to get a cup of coffee or a beer, you know they don’t mean it literally. The coffee or the beer are a reason to get together and socialize. 

But the coffee on the table or the beer on the bar are far from irrelevant. I’m not sure that anyone’s done a study on this, but I think you’ll agree, it seems like better coffee and better beer make for better conversation and better occasions.

So, Natalia and Eric, are not just responsible for producing thirst-quenching liquids, they’re contributing to our happiness, and enhancing our relationships.

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Giada Morgan at itsacadiana.com.

Hank Williams’ 1952 song, Jambalaya On The Bayou, was the first time much of the world heard anything about us. What at first-listen to most people sounded like a bunch of nonsense syllables like Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky, turned out to be a menu of Cajun dishes – Jambalaya, crawfish pie, file gumbo.
Today, if you’re from Acadiana and you travel the world, when you’ve been away from home long enough you might find yourself tempted to try Cajun food someplace else. And, though you may be in a pretty Parisian bistro, or a cool café in Quebec, you feel confident declaring the jambalaya or the gumbo doesn’t taste right.
Because we invented these dishes, we set the standard for this kind of cuisine. But what happens when you strip away our homefield advantage? When it comes to other types of consumables, how do we stack up here in Acadiana? 
Let’s start with the two most popular and universally consumed human-made libations: coffee and beer. Is it fair to compare Acadiana coffee to, say, Colombian coffee? Or our local brew to German beer? Well, if we’re going to hold them to our Jambalaya and Gumbo standard, they’re entitled to hold us to their beer and coffee standard.
Colombia is one of the coffee capitals of the world. So, if you live in Abbeville Louisiana, with a population of around 12,000, you couldn’t expect to get a cup of fine Colombian coffee. Right? 
Wrong.
Because one of those 12,000 people in Abbeville is Natalia Hernandez Choate, who happens to be from Colombia, you can go to <a href="https://www.nube9coffee.com/">Nube9 Coffee</a>, or visit Nube9 online, and get yourself a cup - or a gallon - of genuine Colombian coffee. You can also get a bag of Natalia’s freshly imported Colombian coffee beans. Or you can pick up a bag of Nube9 beans at a number of select stores across Acadiana.
By and large here in Acadiana, we like things the way they are. We don’t like change. Maybe you grew up in Calcasieu Parish drinking Budweiser, believing it’s “The king of beers.” In that case your concept of monarchy might need a little re-education. That was the program Eric Avery found himself embarking on in 2016 when he opened <a href="https://www.cryingeagle.com/">Crying Eagle Brewing Company</a> in Lake Charles.
Today Crying Eagle is a local staple. They have 20 craft beers on tap at their brew pub. They have a bistro, a beer garden, a tap room, and live music most nights. They introduce at least one new beer to the lineup every week. And they have 8 beers for sale in cans.
The brewery employs 40 people.
And how are they doing on the beer equivalent of the Jambalaya and Gumbo Scale? Pretty darn good. The Independent Craft Brewer’s Association described Crying Eagle’s “Divine Imagination” Double IPA as a "world class beer of superlative character and flawless execution."
When someone calls you up and suggests going to get a cup of coffee or a beer, you know they don’t mean it literally. The coffee or the beer are a reason to get together and socialize. 
But the coffee on the table or the beer on the bar are far from irrelevant. I’m not sure that anyone’s done a study on this, but I think you’ll agree, it seems like better coffee and better beer make for better conversation and better occasions.
So, Natalia and Eric, are not just responsible for producing thirst-quenching liquids, they’re contributing to our happiness, and enhancing our relationships.
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/giadamorganphotography/">Giada Morgan</a> at<a href="https://itsacadiana.com/2024/09/23/calcasieu-beer-colombian-coffee/"> itsacadiana.com</a>.

Calcasieu Beer & Colombian Coffee

It’s getting easier by the day for your average person to become a graphic designer. Fire up a Canva account, and you can have  a logo in minutes. And Lord knows AI is only making that easier, and more surreal. 

But, as things get easier for the masses, it puts a premium on stuff made by hand. Time was that it took blood and sweat to make the world beautiful. But, today? Well, imagine a robot trying to paint a boombox on a brick wall or the hood of a car. Foe some things, technology and machines won't do. For those occasions, you need an airbrusher. Like, for example, John Zant.

John is celebrated in Lafayette for his hand painted designs. He likes the tough jobs and has developed a knack for painting on any kind of surface, like signs and glass and metal and brick. He grew up in New Mexico and moved to Lafayette in the 1980s to go college and picked up an airbrush when a fraternity brother got him a job at a local store. 

John spent years honing the skill and went on to launch a career in exterior art. He painted his first mural at Pioneer Park in Jennings and today gets contracts from local businesses looking for signage or designs that will help them stand out. 

John’s also very active in the local skater community and is known by the moniker Bag of Boards. 

Standing out is the name of the game in the high-end shoe business. Kids line up around the block to get the first shot at a limited edition sneaker. But if you want your footwear to be truly limited, you might hire Brandy Cavitt to paint your shoes. 

Brandy is a graphic designer by trade. But her obsession is shoes. In 2024, she launched Shoe Fly Dirty Coast, a company that customizes sneakers on demand. The work is intensive. She conditions, massages, strips and softens shoe fabrics of all types — canvas, leather, you name it — so they can properly take paints. And she uses the high-end stuff to make the colors pop and stick. The process takes days but it can add years to the life of a shoe once properly treated with sealant. 

Brandy’s play is to cash in on sneaker culture, which puts a big emphasis on one-of-a-kind, hard-to-find wearables. 

Brandy grew up in the Lafayette area and started her career in graphic design at 21. She’s also a musician and previously worked for the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office.

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com.

It’s getting easier by the day for your average person to become a graphic designer. Fire up a Canva account, and you can have  a logo in minutes. And Lord knows AI is only making that easier, and more surreal. 
But, as things get easier for the masses, it puts a premium on stuff made by hand. Time was that it took blood and sweat to make the world beautiful. But, today? Well, imagine a robot trying to paint a boombox on a brick wall or the hood of a car. Foe some things, technology and machines won't do. For those occasions, you need an airbrusher. Like, for example, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/john.zant1">John Zant</a>.
John is celebrated in Lafayette for his hand painted designs. He likes the tough jobs and has developed a knack for painting on any kind of surface, like signs and glass and metal and brick. He grew up in New Mexico and moved to Lafayette in the 1980s to go college and picked up an airbrush when a fraternity brother got him a job at a local store. 
John spent years honing the skill and went on to launch a career in exterior art. He painted his first mural at Pioneer Park in Jennings and today gets contracts from local businesses looking for signage or designs that will help them stand out. 
John’s also very active in the local skater community and is known by the moniker Bag of Boards. 
Standing out is the name of the game in the high-end shoe business. Kids line up around the block to get the first shot at a limited edition sneaker. But if you want your footwear to be truly limited, you might hire Brandy Cavitt to paint your shoes. 
Brandy is a graphic designer by trade. But her obsession is shoes. In 2024, she launched<a href="https://www.facebook.com/brandycavittcompany"> Shoe Fly Dirty Coast</a>, a company that customizes sneakers on demand. The work is intensive. She conditions, massages, strips and softens shoe fabrics of all types — canvas, leather, you name it — so they can properly take paints. And she uses the high-end stuff to make the colors pop and stick. The process takes days but it can add years to the life of a shoe once properly treated with sealant. 
Brandy’s play is to cash in on sneaker culture, which puts a big emphasis on one-of-a-kind, hard-to-find wearables. 
Brandy grew up in the Lafayette area and started her career in graphic design at 21. She’s also a musician and previously worked for the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office.
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by <a href="https://www.astormorgan.com/">Astor Morgan</a> at <a href="https://itsacadiana.com/2024/09/16/stand-out-from-the-crowd/">itsacadiana.com</a>.

Stand Out From The Crowd

Do you think maybe it's time we dispense with the myth of the starving artist? There are more than enough ways to make money in creative industries these days. And not just in applied arts like graphic design or architecture.

"Marketability" can be a dirty word for some artists, but for others it’s a goal that isn’t at odds with expression. Even abstract expressionism.  Or as Andy Warhol put it, "The business of art requires strategy and analysis." 

OK, you're right, that’s not Warhol. That’s a bit of wisdom from Lafayette artist Lynn Sanders. 

Lynn is an abstract expressionist artist with a head for business. Before she carved out a career as a painter, she worked as a shopping center executive. That gave her insight into how retailers and consumers think. Once she picked up a brush, she applied that knowledge to her art business.

Lynn first sold pieces out of a store she opened in a mall, making works for kids’ rooms. She quickly figured out the money was in the rest of the house. Flash forward about 20 years, and Lynn sells pieces through galleries across the South. A lot of Lynn’s work is purchased for interior design, and she produces some pieces on commission. 

Lynn produces about 18 paintings a month and employs a full-time assistant in her Lafayette-area studio. 

If you work in fashion, the idea that art and consumerism don’t mix would seem insane. Clothing designers have long blended expression and marketability, selling the idea that what we wear can be a part of who we are. 

Nothing makes you stand out quite like a custom hat.

If that’s something you’re looking for, you might turn to Mia Montero, owner of the Montero Hat Company. Mia makes custom, hand stitched hats out of rabbit, nutria and beaver felts. Her hats are show pieces in a southwestern style. And she’s made them for some high profile folks: Lauren Daigle and Louisiana First Lady Sharon Landry have Montero hats. 

Mia got into the business while looking for ways to make a little extra money before moving to Nashville for a career in music. She learned the trade from Lafayette hatter Colby Hebert and struck out on her own. 

Mia looked at planting roots in Music City, but a surprise offer to work as a worship leader in Lafayette brought her home. Music is Mia’s first love and she released her debut record Sweeter Than Honey in 2023. 

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Astor Morgan at itsacadiana.com. 

Do you think maybe it's time we dispense with the myth of the starving artist? There are more than enough ways to make money in creative industries these days. And not just in applied arts like graphic design or architecture.
"Marketability" can be a dirty word for some artists, but for others it’s a goal that isn’t at odds with expression. Even abstract expressionism.  Or as Andy Warhol put it, "The business of art requires strategy and analysis." 
OK, you're right, that’s not Warhol. That’s a bit of wisdom from<a href="https://www.lynnsandersart.com/"> Lafayette artist Lynn Sanders. </a>
Lynn is an abstract expressionist artist with a head for business. Before she carved out a career as a painter, she worked as a shopping center executive. That gave her insight into how retailers and consumers think. Once she picked up a brush, she applied that knowledge to her art business.
Lynn first sold pieces out of a store she opened in a mall, making works for kids’ rooms. She quickly figured out the money was in the rest of the house. Flash forward about 20 years, and Lynn sells pieces through galleries across the South. A lot of Lynn’s work is purchased for interior design, and she produces some pieces on commission. 
Lynn produces about 18 paintings a month and employs a full-time assistant in her Lafayette-area studio. 
If you work in fashion, the idea that art and consumerism don’t mix would seem insane. Clothing designers have long blended expression and marketability, selling the idea that what we wear can be a part of who we are. 
Nothing makes you stand out quite like a custom hat.
If that’s something you’re looking for, you might turn to Mia Montero, owner of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/monterohatco/">Montero Hat Company</a>. Mia makes custom, hand stitched hats out of rabbit, nutria and beaver felts. Her hats are show pieces in a southwestern style. And she’s made them for some high profile folks: Lauren Daigle and Louisiana First Lady Sharon Landry have Montero hats. 
Mia got into the business while looking for ways to make a little extra money before moving to Nashville for a career in music. She learned the trade from Lafayette hatter <a href="https://www.colbyhebert.com/">Colby Hebert </a>and struck out on her own. 
Mia looked at planting roots in Music City, but a surprise offer to work as a worship leader in Lafayette brought her home. Music is Mia’s first love and she released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgb73jBekDw">her debut record Sweeter Than Honey </a>in 2023. 
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by<a href="https://www.astormorgan.com/"> Astor Morgan </a>at itsacadiana.com.

The Myth of the Starving Artist

Summer is a tough time to be a parent. School is out. The sun is scorching. You need a break for your kids. Maybe they need a break from you.  That’s why they created summer camp, a Godsend for working parents if there ever was one.

Kids get a lot out of camp: time to play and be curious, maybe a chance to learn new skills and meet some new friends. Summer camp is time-honored. It’s important. And if you’re in St. Martin Parish, you might send your kid to camp at Teche Center for the Arts. 

TCA is the primary historical and cultural center for the Teche area of Acadiana. Jeanne Blanchard McBride is the executive director. 

TCA has a wide range of year-round programs. They put on chicken runs, concerts, cooking classes and other cultural encounters. A big part of their business is camps. They run art camps, fall camps and summer camps, all of which are priced to be affordable. 

TCA is a nonprofit, so besides running the organization, Jeanne spends a lot of time raising money.  Jeanne grew up in Breaux Bridge. Before starting at TCA in 2021, she worked as an attorney and clerked for state and federal judges. 

Summer camp is pretty much a universal childhood experience at this point. And there’s a lot of demand for enrichment programming throughout the year. Especially for kids who could use some special attention to thrive. 

Kali Picard is the founder of Borderless Color, a studio and enrichment center designed to include kids on the autism spectrum. Programs are individually customized and are open to the neurodivergent and neurotypical alike. 

Kali was born and raised in Lafayette. Besides running Borderless, she works as a speech and language pathologist.

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by Giada Morgan at itsacadiana.com.

Summer is a tough time to be a parent. School is out. The sun is scorching. You need a break for your kids. Maybe they need a break from you.  That’s why they created summer camp, a Godsend for working parents if there ever was one.
Kids get a lot out of camp: time to play and be curious, maybe a chance to learn new skills and meet some new friends. Summer camp is time-honored. It’s important. And if you’re in St. Martin Parish, you might send your kid to camp at <a href="https://artsatteche.com/">Teche Center for the Arts</a>. 
TCA is the primary historical and cultural center for the Teche area of Acadiana. Jeanne Blanchard McBride is the executive director. 
TCA has a wide range of year-round programs. They put on chicken runs, concerts, cooking classes and other cultural encounters. A big part of their business is camps. They run art camps, fall camps and summer camps, all of which are priced to be affordable. 
TCA is a nonprofit, so besides running the organization, Jeanne spends a lot of time raising money.  Jeanne grew up in Breaux Bridge. Before starting at TCA in 2021, she worked as an attorney and clerked for state and federal judges. 
Summer camp is pretty much a universal childhood experience at this point. And there’s a lot of demand for enrichment programming throughout the year. Especially for kids who could use some special attention to thrive. 
Kali Picard is the founder of <a href="https://www.borderlesscolor.com/">Borderless Color</a>, a studio and enrichment center designed to include kids on the autism spectrum. Programs are individually customized and are open to the neurodivergent and neurotypical alike. 
Kali was born and raised in Lafayette. Besides running Borderless, she works as a speech and language pathologist.
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/giadamorganphotography/">Giada Morgan</a> at <a href="https://itsacadiana.com/2024/08/20/borderless-teche/">itsacadiana.com</a>.

Borderless Teche

There’s a saying in the music industry: You have your whole life to make your first record. But one shot at making your second. 

Novelist Jennifer Moorhead, wrote three books before publishing her debut, Broken Bayou in 2024. It’s a thriller inspired by a real murder mystery, tapping into the nation’s ongoing obsession with true crime. 

Jennifer has always been a bookworm. She grew up in Shreveport and went to LSU, later moving to Dallas where she took up a novel  writing class at Southern Methodist University. That’s when she wrote her first unpublished novel.

She paused to have her first child and wrote a second book when her kids were old enough to go to school, shelving it after a couple of edits. 

Jennifer dove into the publishing world with her third novel. She hired an editor. Worked with a literary agent and spent a year shopping the book. Unsuccessfully. 

Along the way, she had written the first draft of a fourth novel, Broken Bayou — in 2015. Inspired by the story of a missing teacher who police believed drove her car into the bayou, Broken Bayou is a crime thriller that follows a child psychologist thrust into a grisly mystery in small town Louisiana.

The book was published by publishing imprint Thomas & Mercer and released in 2024, almost ten years after that first draft. 

Jennifer's story of tenacity in the face of the relentless rejection of the publishing industry is almost a novel in itself.

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show at itsacadiana.com.

There’s a saying in the music industry: You have your whole life to make your first record. But one shot at making your second. 
<a href="https://www.jennifermoorhead.com/">Novelist Jennifer Moorhead</a>, wrote three books before publishing her debut, Broken Bayou in 2024. It’s a thriller inspired by a real murder mystery, tapping into the nation’s ongoing obsession with true crime. 
Jennifer has always been a bookworm. She grew up in Shreveport and went to LSU, later moving to Dallas where she took up a novel  writing class at Southern Methodist University. That’s when she wrote her first unpublished novel.
She paused to have her first child and wrote a second book when her kids were old enough to go to school, shelving it after a couple of edits. 
Jennifer dove into the publishing world with her third novel. She hired an editor. Worked with a literary agent and spent a year shopping the book. Unsuccessfully. 
Along the way, she had written the first draft of a fourth novel, Broken Bayou — in 2015. Inspired by the story of a missing teacher who police believed drove her car into the bayou,<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1662518773?tag=&amp;linkCode=osi&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1"> Broken Bayou is a crime thriller that follows a child psychologist thrust into a grisly mystery in small town Louisiana.</a> 
The book was published by publishing imprint Thomas &amp; Mercer and released in 2024, almost ten years after that first draft. 
Jennifer's story of tenacity in the face of the relentless rejection of the publishing industry is almost a novel in itself.
Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at <a href="https://lafayette.servingsushi.com/">Tsunami Sushi</a> in downtown Lafayette. You can find photos from this show at<a href="https://itsacadiana.com/2024/07/29/your-debut-novel/"> itsacadiana.com</a>.

Your Debut Novel

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

OUT TO LUNCH finds The Current Publisher and Editor Christiaan Mader conducting business Acadiana style: over lunch. Each week Aileen invites guests from Acadiana's  business community to join her. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

It's Acadiana: Out to Lunch

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan Mader invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

OUT TO LUNCH Business over lunch. Each week Christiaan Mader invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

It's Acadiana: Out to Lunch

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