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

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, this is the inside look at how tradition evolves when the community decides what stays.Madonna pulls back the curtain on what makes Laura’s Too work: a family‑run kitchen where recipes are protected by trust, a line that turns strangers into tablemates, and portions that honor the way her grandmother fed people—big, generous, and meant to last. She shares the 10‑minute scramble before Anthony Bourdain walked in, the advice he left behind (“don’t change this”), and the choice to stay rooted on the north side rather than chase expansion. Along the way, we visit Parks, Louisiana, where black pots and pepper fields shaped her palate, and we hear how a village of cousins, teachers, and friends revived the business in 1999 when it nearly sank.You’ll hear secrets that aren’t really secrets—keep the catfish lightly coated, taste the gravy first thing every morning—and a clear vision for legacy as the fourth generation steps forward. If you care about Cajun food, Lafayette restaurants, plate lunch culture, or how local institutions survive without losing themselves, this conversation will hit home. Listen, share with a friend who loves rice and gravy, and leave a review to help more food lovers find these stories. Subscribe for more conversations where flavor meets community.The podcast was made possible through partnerships with Rouses Supermarket, Logic Refrigeration HVAC, Cajun Table, Vermilionville, Soul Haus Kitchen, Chris Logan Media, and Sunday Soda Fountain – proving that when a community rallies around celebrating local food culture, amazing things happen. Subscribe now to join this delicious adventure and become part of the movement that's transforming Lafayette's food scene one bite at a time!learn more: foodiesoflafayette.comSocial MediaFacebookInstagramYouTube