Here’s a not-so-fun fact: A family of four wastes $2,200 worth of groceries every year.

Fortunately, there’s a tasty way to solve that problem. Leftovers. Leftovers put the Thanksgiving turkey in your turkey sandwich, or the Chinese takeout in your fried rice. Well, how about making a burger out of yesterday’s gumbo? Wait, what?

Susanne Duplantis describes this as “Thinking outside the icebox.”

Queen of Leftovers, author and blogger Susanne Duplantis

Susanne, who was born and raised in New Orleans and now lives in New Roads, is a blogger and cookbook author who reheated her career in the restaurant industry into a brand new dish. Her blog, Makeover My Leftover, walks readers through fun and easy-to-follow transformations of everyday foods.  Susanne baked that concept into a cookbook, Lagniappe Leftovers, that serves up leftover fare with a Louisiana flare.

Even a good plate of leftovers began life on a farm somewhere. If fresh is your preference, then the Lafayette Farmer’s & Artisans Market at Moncus Park is the place for you.

Mark Hernandez has been the director at the Moncus Park market since the day it launched in 2013 with 45 vendors. Today, the market features 70 vendors every Saturday, attracting around 1500 patrons each week.

Mayor Mark of Moncus Park, Market Director Mark Hernandez

Mark is a farmer himself. He and his wife have operated a 7-acre urban farm since 2002, growing blueberries, figs and herbs. Today, they are restoring the land as Cajun prairie.

Out to Lunch Acadiana is recorded live over lunch at Tula Tacos and Amigos in downtown Lafayette. Photos by Astor Morgan.

Jan Swift hosts this episode of Out to Lunch at Tula Tacos

Our regular host, Christiaan Mader gives the host seat to Jan Swift for this episode of the show. When she’s not filling in for Christiaan, Jan is host of her own Acadiana podcast, Discover Lafayette.