Author: Ashley Pemberton

Editor's Note: Fall Feasting

I’m always excited when we get that first cool snap in the weather, usually in late October. Though our fall is short and inconsistent, it’s still much anticipated. Moods usually lighten because the heat isn’t as oppressive, and we feel…

Best of Dining in Acadiana 2025

Famed food personality Julia Child once said, “People who love to eat are always the best people.” In this annual Best of Dining feature, we focus on the people who love to cook for those who love to eat. We…

Best Boudin

The greatest Boudin ever made can be found in the heart of Acadiana, in a cross section of towns vying for pork supremacy defined by extravagant self-appointed monikers that belie a deep cultural pride. Jennings, LA, calls itself the “Boudin…

A Season of Plays, Ballets and Art Shows Across the Region

On any given year, Louisiana’s blessed with a rich tapestry of culture, filled with both popular and classical concerts, lively dance and theater and vibrant visual art. This fall, South Louisiana adds to that repertoire, reaching into the past and…

Mawmaw’s Kitchen: Straddling Two Eras

Mémère (“Grandma”) ran a kitchen that in many ways straddled two different eras: sometimes, arriving at her house for le dîner de dimanche (“the Sunday lunch”) that followed morning mass, the deep, almost palpable aroma of strong coffee that seized…

531 Liberty Café’s Twist on a Classic Old Fashioned

The seasonally inspired Banana Nut Old Fashioned is the perfect cocktail for crisp autumn days. Created at 531 Liberty Café by mixologist Gina Domangue, it echoes the warm and inviting flavors of fall baking with cinnamon, brown sugar, nuts and…

Treasure Hunting in Breaux Bridge

Breaux Bridge is home to several outstanding antique shops so whatever you’re searching for, the odds are good you’ll find it here. Lagniappe Antique Mall located in the old Domingue Motor Co. reigns as the largest, with 17,000 square feet…

Enticing Fall Festivals Around Acadiana

Lafayette ‘Tis the season of bountiful harvests and fall festivals celebrating everything from gumbos, gravies and gratons to bourbon, boucheries and blackpot cookoffs with a side of pumpkin pie. Brisk weather invigorates two-stepping fans at Festivals Acadiens et Créoles (October…

Masala Indian Kitchen is Naan-Stop Flavor

Dr. Surinder Gupta still has it. More than 20 years ago, I met him at a function that he was catering in Lake Charles. After eating some of the food (I recall getting seconds), it was obvious that Gupta was…

Spend the Day in The Oil Center

Rockin’ & Rollin’ for 35 years Hub City Diner 1412 South College Rd. • Lafayette • 337-235-5683 • hubcitydiner.com Cashmere Shirt Jacket F Camalo 416 Heymann Blvd. • Lafayette • 337-233-4984 Capucine De Wulf Jewelry The Birds Nest 331 Heymann…

Advertise - Weddings

In this special wedding-focused issue of Acadiana Profile, we will showcase the best venues to inspire brides and grooms planning their big day across Acadiana. This is the perfect opportunity to put your venue, cakes, dress, or jewelry business in front of…

Free Media Arts Workshops Return to AOC Community Media

LAFAYETTE, La (press release) - AOC Community Media announced the return of its Deep Digital workshop series, monthly, hands-on media arts classes designed to spark creativity and build practical skills in adults across Acadiana. These free sessions – organizers share…

Advertise - Cultural Tours in Acadiana

Acadiana is bursting with creativity, whether it’s coming from our culture or from visiting visual and performing artists. Literally all of Acadiana offers special cultural experiences. In the October/November issue, Acadiana Profile magazine will feature a Cultural tour around the…

Editor's Note: Staying Cool

While August and September may be the start of fall in some places, here in Louisiana, we’re still dealing with summer temps. It’s pretty hot here until maybe late October, so during these months, I still wear shorts and flip…

Pools, Patios and Outdoor Spaces Around Acadiana

Summers in Acadiana are brutal, but fun in the sun is a must. This quandary leaves sunseekers in search of resort-like pools and outdoor spaces that ensure time in nature year-round. Enter the pools, patios, pavilions and pro-level outdoor kitchens…

Where to Live Next in Acadiana

One of life’s significant, yet fun, challenges is deciding what city and neighborhood to live. The region offers many places to build and grow, depending on where a person or family is in their life path. Here are three areas…

Ruffino’s on the River's The Back Porch Cocktail Recipe

As summer wanes and September ushers in the peak of hurricane season, Ruffino’s Back Porch cocktail provides a perfect counterpoint to the lingering heat. Bright, zesty notes offer a crisp, refreshing first sip. The bracing libation includes a hibiscus ice…

Where to Eat, Stay and Shop in Washington, Louisiana

It’s hard to imagine steamboats docked along Bayou Courtableau, bustling activity moving cotton, cattle, sugar and molasses into the town of Washington. Today, the sleepy St. Landry Parish town dating to 1720 French settlement boasts of historic homes and businesses…

Lafayette's Hawaii Grill Delivers on Flavor

Forty-three-year-old Sky Huang is sharing a few things in Lafayette that make diners at the Hawaii Grill happy and coming back for more. The eatery's owner cannot help himself. He has to share the most comforting smile along with a…

How 531 Liberty's Owner Traded Spreadsheets for Sauté Pans

One fateful night over a decade ago, after being called out yet again for work, Houma native and then- chemical engineer David Sonnier was feeling overworked and stressed. “My wife, [Tiffany] says, ‘Quit your job, go to culinary school’,” says…

Fall Foodie Favorites Around Acadiana

Lake Charles The third annual Louisiana Food and Wine Festival (September 18-21) brings foodies, oenophiles and cocktail enthusiasts to Lake Charles for a chance to hobnob with celebrity chefs and pitmasters, winemakers and distillers at a variety of revered tasting…

Krystal Jones

A top producer for Keller Williams Real Estate, Krystal Jones will soon be showcased nationally on The American Dream TV show, a program that highlights real estate professionals across the country as they work and grow within their local markets.…

Meet The Builder: Missy Manuel

Manuel Builders has been building homes for over 65 years, earning a reputation for both quality craftsmanship and a strong, people-first culture. Rooted in the values of community, excellence, and integrity, the company takes pride in delivering a positive homebuilding…

Fidelity Bank Launches Free Marketing Program for Local Businesses

LAFAYETTE, La (press release) – Fidelity Bank has entered an exclusive partnership with Anntoine Marketing + Design to create a brand-new program called ProMotion – a social selling program that provides new business banking customers access to free marketing consulting…

Po-boy Trail Launches Celebrating Iconic Louisiana Sandwich

LAFAYETTE, La (press release) – Lafayette Travel and EatLafayette announced the official launch of the Po-boy Trail, a new experience that shines a spotlight on one of Louisiana’s most beloved foods, the po-boy. This self-guided trail features more than 70…

Tuesday with Friends: A Summer Series of Music, Stories & Community

LAKE CHARLES, La (press release) – The City of Lake Charles presents “Tuesdays with Friends” a weekly event designed to bring the community together through live music, storytelling, and conversation. It is an intimate, laid back series where music, storytelling,…

A Tour of Literary Acadiana

In the summer of 1960, John Kennedy Toole lived in a small apartment on the corner of Convent and Lafayette streets in Lafayette. His friend and fellow writer Joel L. Fletcher remembers him describing it in Conradian metaphor as “a…

A Field Guide to Summer in Acadiana

While Acadiana is a destination that beckons any time of year, the summer is an especially great time to enjoy all that Cajun Country has to offer. In addition to authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine (and an all around stellar…

Fruit and Vegetable Smoothie Recipes

In Acadiana, we have an abundance of fresh ingredients available year-round.  If you use fresh fruits or vegetables, consider adding a few ice cubes to keep your smoothie cold. If the produce you desire isn’t in season, you can always…

Celebrating Cajun and Creole Music History in Eunice

The prairie town of Eunice bursts with Cajun and Creole music history and a good day to visit is Saturday when several museums dedicated to music are open and it’s almost a given live music will be playing somewhere. They…