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PODCAST

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast

Foodies Of Lafayette

Welcome to the official podcast of Foodies of Lafayette—where flavor meets community! Hosted by founder Heidi McDonald and partner Jason Stoner, each episode brings you inside the kitchens, stories, and lives of the people who make Lafayette’s culinary scene unforgettable. From behind-the-scenes chats with local chefs and restaurant owners to stories of food-driven charity, culture, and celebration, this is where Acadiana"s food spirit comes to life—one delicious conversation at a time.

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All Episodes

37:42

From Roofing To Boudin: How Karchener’s Built A Cajun...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2026/03/04

The smell of fried ribs hits first, then the line of boudin links, and finally the feeling that you’ve stepped into a modern Cajun country store where everything just works. We sat down with Doug Miller to unpack how Karchener’s grew from a bold bet in Scott, Louisiana into a thriving, multi-location market without sacrificing flavor, warmth, or control. The story winds through roofing crews in August heat, an oilfield scare, and a roadside realization: if you meet people where traffic stalls...

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43:34

From Dishwasher To 17 Restaurants: Nidal Balbisi’s...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2026/02/25

What makes a restaurant unforgettable isn’t the plate, it’s the person who serves it. We sit down with Nidal Balbisi—founder behind Zeus, Agave, Baba Kebab, and more—to unpack how people-first hospitality, relentless presence, and creative fusion built some of Acadiana’s most-loved dining rooms. Nidal takes us from Kuwait to LSU, through his first shifts as a dishwasher assistant, and into the front-of-house lessons that shaped everything to come. He explains why a Bud Light tastes better wh...

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31:57

How A Family Grocer Built Cajun Classics And Community

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2026/02/11

A lively lounge across from a canning factory turned into a grocery where regulars grabbed bread, eggs, and ketchup after a beer—and that simple pivot launched a 70-year family legacy. We sit down with Blaine and Braden Broussard of Nunu’s to unpack how a third- and fourth-generation team built a beloved Acadiana staple known for bold boudin, cracklins, plate lunches, and the kind of customer care that makes a store feel like home. We trace the early days from the Blue Room Lounge to a small...

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40:26

A Sit Down With Gene Todaro and Hunter Moody of...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2026/02/04

A house behind a tiny Lafayette restaurant once held a secret kitchen where a mother simmered sauces that would shape a city’s palate. From that backyard ingenuity to a French Quarter liquor store with the rare ability to sell both to-go and across the bar, Gene shares how grit, community, and a deep love for wine became the backbone of his restaurants. We walk through live-music nights at Time Plaza, the pivot that turned an oil bust into a wine education boom, and the mentorship ethos that ...

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25:23

A Sit Down With CuGino, Part One

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2026/01/28

A stranger in a Pueblo cafe hears the name “Todaro” and replies, “Don Calogero.” In a heartbeat, Gene’s family lore tilts from mystery to revelation, and what begins as a search for relatives becomes a tour of Prohibition-era Colorado, early Las Vegas watchmen, and the way immigrant networks quietly shaped American towns. We follow that thread back to Palermo, where a boy counts 44 steps down to the markets, learns ingredients by touch, and stores away recipes he never writes—just lives. We ...

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37:01

Five Generations, One Oven: The Keller’s Bakery Story

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2026/01/21

A near-miss with Alexandria, a sold family farm, and a steel-framed building that became Lafayette’s unofficial compass—turn left by Keller’s. We sit down with the Keller family to trace five generations of baking craft, from French roots in the 1700s to a downtown landmark that still runs on touch, timing, and tradition. This is a story about more than pastries; it’s about a living starter that links decades, antique machines that still work daily, and a team that keeps flavor anchored to pl...

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34:17

From Freetown Roots To A City Favorite: How Taco...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2026/01/14

A small Freetown counter, a line out the door, and a brisket burrito people plan their day around—this is how Taco Sisters built a loyal following without losing their soul. We sit down with Lynn Jenkins to unpack the real story behind a 17-year run marked by steady quality, creative specials, and a culture that turns first jobs into careers. Lynn takes us back to 407 Johnston Street where Katie and Molly set the standard: simple, fresh ingredients handled with care. That foundation became t...

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32:18

From Lab Coat To Line Cook, They Built A Community...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2026/01/07

A legendary steakhouse doesn’t need hype when the grill speaks for itself. We sit down with Phoebe and Clint Moe of A-Bears to unpack how a small, historic spot in the Nunez community keeps winning hearts: fresh-cut ribeyes every day, a ribeye-based grind that turns hamburger steaks and rice dressing into must-orders, and a consistency you can taste from first bite to last. Taking the reins at 26, they protected the classics, learned from the previous owners, and then layered in smart changes...

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47:14

Inside Catholic Charities: From Hot Meals To Housing...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2025/12/17

The smell of coffee hits at 6:30 a.m., kettles are already warm, and plates for the shelters go out before the doors open—that’s how a community feeds itself every single day. We sit with Catholic Charities of Acadiana to pull back the curtain on St. Joseph Diner, the shelters next door, and the volunteers who keep the line moving with a smile and a name. From the first cup poured to the last tray stacked, the goal stays simple and bold: serve people with dignity and make sure no neighbor goe...

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31:27

From Butcher Shop To Beloved Buffet, a chat with Toby...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2025/12/10

A meat market where farmers waited for their cuts with po-boys. A fire that leveled the building—and friends who rebuilt it in weeks. A buffet born in a recession that saved a family restaurant and turned it into a Lafayette staple. We sat down with Toby from Lagneaux's Seafood to tell the full story: grit, community, and a kitchen that still tastes every dish before it reaches your plate. We walk through the roots, from slaughterhouse days in 1965 to today’s bustling dining room that still ...

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53:52

From Lafayette Roots To Netflix Lights: Nina Charles...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2025/12/03

A backyard line so long the neighbors thought there was a funeral—that’s when Nina Charles knew it was time to buy a food truck. What started as a craving for balance in a too-sweet world became a movement powered by Mama’s pralines, crawfish boudin king cake, and Creole egg rolls that skip the cabbage and go straight for flavor. We sit down with Nina to trace the journey from Lafayette’s north side to Dallas lofts and back again, where healing during COVID opened a door to bold, community-l...

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32:00

How A Tribal Chef Turns Simple Corn And Onions Into...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2025/11/26

A pot of corn and onions can hold an entire history when the hands guiding it know the land, the language, and the stakes. We head to Chitimacha country with chef and cultural leader Al LeBlanc to make traditional maque choux the way it’s been done for generations: trim the ears for easy silk removal, shave the kernels in layers to “milk” the corn, fold in a fine dice of sweet onions, then slow-cook until the sugars caramelize and the mixture turns glossy and rich. No cream needed. Just patie...

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33:59

How One Child’s Question Built a Community: Dreams...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2025/11/19

A single question from a ten-year-old—“When do I get to play baseball?”—set off a chain reaction that reshaped a community. We trace that spark to the creation of the Dreams Foundation, the launch of a USDA-inspected meat pie factory employing adults with special needs, and the next leap: transforming the beloved Shade Tree Cafe into Dreams Shade Tree Cafe, a living, working space where inclusion isn’t just promised, it’s visible. We talk with Danielle and Chef Brandon about building program...

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39:24

Community Is a System: Seth & Robin on Recovery,...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2025/11/12

Two local legends sit down to prove that community isn’t a slogan—it’s a system you build. Seth from Logic Refrigeration and HVAC shares the raw arc from a 2005 crash and fentanyl patches to recovery, responsibility, and a trade that keeps restaurants—and families—fed. When he spotted a tired residential fridge serving the neighborhood, he rebuilt and donated a double commercial unit, then pledged maintenance so the Lafayette Community Fridge stays cold, safe, and reliable. Across the table,...

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44:00

How One Act of Service Became a Movement: John...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2025/11/05

What if generosity came with a playbook—and a production schedule? We sit with John Williams to unpack how a single act of service can turn into a system that feeds thousands, mentors creatives, and restores dignity for elders and families across Acadiana. John shares the roots of Blue Monday, a mission that began by supporting aging musicians and evolved into hands-on mentorship for younger artists—forming LLCs, understanding write-offs, and treating creativity like a business. From there w...

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45:14

A Firefighter Turns Viral Cook And PBS Champion While...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2025/10/29

Some stories start with a blaze. Ours starts on a flight deck where everything can kill you, detours through a firehouse kitchen where dinner stops for a six‑car pileup, and lands in a barn with cameras rolling and a nation watching. Meet Captain Colby, a Lafayette firefighter who found his voice by cooking for his crew, then won PBS’s Great American Recipe while staying true to the bold, honest flavors of South Louisiana. We walk through the moments that shaped him: discovering aircraft fir...

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37:20

From Dairy Queen Roots to Hub City Legacy:...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2025/10/22

The best restaurants don’t just feed people—they hold a city together. We sit down with two Lafayette legends to trace a journey that runs from counting change in a small-town Dairy Queen and running honky-tonk nightclubs to stewarding a beloved diner that locals treat like a second home. Along the way, we talk about the hospitality gene, why you don’t fix what isn’t broken, and how rigorous systems—daily walkthroughs, tasting the hot line, light bulbs and fan direction included—create the sp...

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35:53

Laura’s Legacy: Family, Faith, and a Lafayette Plate...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2025/10/15

A plate lunch can carry a city’s memory, and at Laura’s Too that memory starts with roux, water, and the kind of gravy that makes rice feel inevitable. We sit down with Madonna “Miss Laura” Broussard to trace a family story that began in a house at 918 Voris—part kitchen, part juke joint—and grew into a Lafayette landmark without trading soul for polish. From the day platters became plate lunches to the fire that forced a reset, from Wednesday‑only turkey wings to making them a daily ritual, ...

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38:15

Local Flavor, Living History: Jesse Guidry on...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2025/10/08

The best meals in Lafayette don’t need a spotlight—they’ve had one for 90 years. We sit with Jesse Guidry, VP of Communications at Lafayette Travel and the engine behind EatLafayette, to unpack what makes this place so magnetic: kitchens that taste like memory, music that stays within reach, and a community that shows up when it counts. Jesse shares how a nonprofit mindset and a love for the offbeat shaped fresh ways to support local restaurants, from food trails that actually move people to ...

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39:54

How a Missing Burger Bun Sparked a Lafayette Food...

Foodies Of Lafayette Podcast ·

2025/10/01

A missing bag of buns turned into a signature dish and, eventually, a brand. We sit down with Lafayette’s own Shane Vallot to unpack how a walk-on center who almost quit transformed pressure into momentum—first on the field at UL, then in the kitchen with a quesadilla-burger that sold 75 out of his backyard in an hour. From there, the playbook expanded: a no-loan opening with five dollars left in the account, a sold-out first weekend, late-night prep, and a loyalty to freshness that meant shu...

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34 results

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