Discover Lafayette

By: Jan Swift
Listen for free

  • Summary

  • The Gateway to South Louisiana
    Discover Lafayette©
    Show More Show Less
Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Show More Show Less
activate_samplebutton_t1
Episodes
  • Hollie Girouard – Ton’s Drive-In and Ton’s Downtown

    Hollie Girouard – Ton’s Drive-In and Ton’s Downtown
    Sep 28 2024
    Hollie Girouard, proprietor of Ton’s Drive-In and Ton's Downtown joins Discover Lafayette in partnership with Eat Lafayette to discuss her family's multigenerational success in the restaurant business. While Hollie is known for her dedication to Ton's, she is also well-known for her athletic prowess, having been a volleyball player for teams at ESA and UL - Lafayette, the latter of which she graduated from with a degree in Graphic Design. She is a third-generation proprietor of Ton's, following in the footsteps of her hardworking grandparents and parents. Hollie knows the restaurant business inside and out, having grown up in it and working from a young age, as soon as her grandmother gave her permission to clean tables and help out doing whatever was needed. Ton's in Broussard is beloved for its classic American and Cajun comfort food, including fried chicken, hamburgers, and regional favorites. Hollie's grandparents, Rosemary and Alton Girouard, originally opened Ton's in May of 1963. At that time, Rosemary left her job at a downtown Lafayette dress shop to run the restaurant full time. Alton stayed on working for the Lafayette Hardware Store (located then at the corner of Vermilion and Buchanan in downtown Lafayette) during the day, joining Rosemary in the evenings at the restaurant. Their children, Karl and Yvette Girouard, also worked at Ton's, and when Karl married Hollie's mom, Juanita, in 1973, she became an integral part of the family business. Rosemary and Alton Girouard. Hollie Girouard describes her grandmother as "a business woman. She was the heart and soul driving the restaurant. It was her dream." As Ton's attracted more business in the decade after its founding, the restaurant expanded in 1973 to a new location across the street in Broussard in what had originally been Bonin's Bar. Hollie shared that when her grandparents were remodeling the space to accommodate their new restaruant, they paid for the demolition work by giving the beautiful oak bar in Bonin's to the contractor as a payment for services. "The original oak bar is somewhere in New Orleans," says Hollie. The new Ton's restaurant was equipped with a drive-thru window, the first in Lafayette Parish, and also offered indoor dining and outdoor seating. Ton's has maintained many of its original menu items offered from its first day of operation. The chili, seasoning blend, and hamburgers which attracted avid fans still taste the same to someone visiting after forty years away. Hollie says the original pizza pans are now used as pot lids. And many of the employees' families have worked at Ton's over the years; Danielle, the general manager and head cook at the Broussard location, is a third generation employee as her grandmother, Edna, worked with Hollie's grandmother in the early days. Regina, Danielle's mother, worked with Hollie's mother, Juanita, in Ton's second generation of operations. Yvette, Alton, Rosemary, Juanita (holding Hollie) and Karl Girouard. Eat Lafayette honored Ton's Drive-In as it celebrated its 60th anniversary of successful business operations. Pictured are Hollie Girouard along with her parents, Karl and Juanita Girouard. Hollie calls herself "a glorified errand girl, running back and forth between the restaurants. I take my cues from the general managers!" Both restaurants source their food as local as possible, and Hollie says, "The crawfish are always being within 10 miles of the restaurant. We grow things in the garden." The top seller is the burger and plate lunches at the Broussard location have the same rotation each week as people expect the continuity. So on Tuesday, you can expect to see calf liver and onions as a plate lunch option, with the usual classic comfort foods offered each day. Catering is offered and Ton's provides food for sports tournaments, as well individuals looking for great comfort food. "Miss Laura," who has worked at Ton's since before Hollie was born,
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • Peggy Feehan – Executive Director of CODOFIL

    Peggy Feehan – Executive Director of CODOFIL
    Sep 21 2024
    Peggy Feehan, Executive Director of CODOFIL (Council for the Development of French in Louisiana), an organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the French language and culture in Louisiana, joins Discover Lafayette to discuss the agency's mission and work. Born and raised in the New Brunswick province of Canada, Peggy grew up speaking French, enjoying the outdoors with deer and moose in her backyard. Fishing and hunting activities were prevalent, just like in Louisiana. While her region of Canada was predominantly Francophone, she learned English in school; some of her family spoke English, but it was not her first language. Peggy admits that she still thinks and dreams in French. And interestingly, she remembers watching American television and enjoying English-speaking shows such as Growing Pains and Family Ties which helped her in learning the English language. While Louisiana, and South Louisiana in particular, had many French-speaking citizens, the language was looked upon as uneducated and backward by some sectors of society. In 1921, a new Louisiana Constitution was adopted that mandated English as the official language of instruction in public schools. This effectively banned the use of French in classrooms. Many old-timers and their descendants clearly remember the shame felt when being ridiculed by teachers for using their native French language in school. The number of French-speaking people in Louisiana began to dwindle drastically as the decades passed. James "Jimmy" Domengeaux, a prominent Lafayette attorney and former U.S. Congressman, was instrumental in founding CODOFIL as a means to stop the loss of French-speaking Louisianians. CODOFIL was established in 1968 with the goal of preserving and promoting the French language and culture in the state. The council played a key role in advocating for French education and cultural programs, particularly in the Acadiana region of Louisiana. CODOFIL was empowered to “do any and all things necessary to accomplish the development, utilization, and preservation of the French language as found in Louisiana for the cultural, economic and touristic benefit of the state". Appointed by then Louisiana Governor John McKeithen, Domengeaux served as CODOFIL's first president from its creation until his death in 1988. Domengeaux was passionate about revitalizing French language education, and under his leadership, CODOFIL helped reintroduce French into Louisiana public schools. His work faced challenges, such as a lack of qualified teachers and resistance from some English-only advocates, but Domengeaux's efforts laid the foundation for a French cultural renaissance in the state. CODOFIL is an agency of the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, under the direction of Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. It is the only agency physically situated outside of Baton Rouge and is housed in the former Lafayette City Hall across the street from our Lafayette Parish Court House. COD)FIL has been housed there since the mid-1980s except for a period (2014 - 2019) when extensive renovations were undertaken. It is a bright, beautiful space which delights visitors and employees alike. The hiring of international French teachers began in 1972. The recruitees from France and Belgium were flown to Louisiana in chartered planes and landed in Baton Rouge where they were met by yellow school buses and driven to their respective parishes. Approximately 100 teachers would be hired each year. One teacher from Belgium was Phillippe Gustin, who moved here in 1974 from Belgium. He ended up staying and went on to lead the Lafayette International Center for 28 years, serving as an outstanding ambassador for Lafayette and Acadiana in promoting business and cultural opportunities. Peggy moved to Louisiana 25 years ago to teach French in the St. Martin school system for CODOFIL. At the time, CODOFIL advertised in Canada to recruit French teachers,
    Show More Show Less
    Less than 1 minute
  • NOMAD Music Festival – Seth Ransonet

    NOMAD Music Festival – Seth Ransonet
    Sep 13 2024
    Seth Ransonet joins Discover Lafayette to discuss the third annual NOMAD Music Festival to be held on September 21, 2024 at Warehouse 535. NOMAD is a wholesome music event emphasizing family-friendly values and aiming to promote truth, goodness, and beauty through music. It's mission is to glorify God and inspire people to find their true home, spiritually and emotionally, through the power of music and community. The name "NOMAD" was selected because the event strives to inspire all wanderers to find their true home. A graduate of UL-Lafayette and a theology teacher at Teurlings Catholic High School, Seth Ransonet co-founded the NOMAD Music Festival with Jude Lecompte. The two were roommates when they attended a performance in Houston by Caamp, an American folk band from Ohio, which Seth calls a "top 10" band. They had so much fun it inspired them to start their own music festival here in Lafayette LA. Seth recalled Jude saying, "We need to start an event that's wholesome, family-friendly, and a nice hang out." The young men were 22 and 23 years old at the time of NOMAD's inception. The third annual NOMAD Music Festival will be held on September 21, 11:00 a.m to 9 p.m. at Warehouse 535 in Lafayette, and features a variety of local and visiting artists, providing them with a platform to grow and reach a wider audience. Working to create a vibrant community experience, the event kicks off with a Catholic mass which is open to the people of all faiths. Games for the kids will be provided and anyone who loves dancing is sure to enjoy NOMAD. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eLZLYAhwms&t=64s The headliner band is Happy Landing, and NOMAD 2024 also includes artists such as Zach Edwards and the Medicine, Kaleb Oliver, Swampland Stringband, Amis Du Teche, Mia Montero, Crosby & Ellender, Gabe Parsons, and Eden. General admission tickets are $39.99 (with family discounts provided to families attending with their children) and food trucks will be onsite offering meals for purchase. Parking is available onsite. To find out more, visit https://www.nomadmusicfest.com/. Discover Lafayette would like to thank Seth Ransonet, as well as NOMAD co-founder Jude LeCompte, for endeavoring to bring wholesome family entertainment to Acadiana. Seth is now only 24 years old and has taken on not only full-time teaching at Teurlings Catholic High School, but learning entrepreneurship as a festival organizer trying to break even, if not make a profit. An eagle scout who grew up singing Irish folk songs around the campfire, Seth has always been a person of faith who wanted to serve his Catholic church. Best wishes on a successful 2024 NOMAD Music Festival!
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins

What listeners say about Discover Lafayette

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.co.uk reviews

Amazon reviews
No Reviews are Available