Plate Lunchapalooza
@ Sugar Mill Pond Town Center
When? 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15
Cost? Free to attend. Plate lunches are $5 a piece.
What’s the big deal? A culinary staple in Cajun country has its own festival, because that’s just the way it is in South Louisiana. Plate Lunchapalooza starts at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sugar Mill Pond Town Center, 101 Waterview Road, Youngsville. The free event features vendors serving their best takes on the plate lunch as well as local pop-up shops, and music from Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express and Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie. Festival vendors include Cochon Cannery, Bread & Circus Provisions, Laura’s 2, NuNu’s Fresh Market, Gary’s, Rachael’s and many others. Take a look at the full list (get a bib while you’re at it because you’re going to drool when you see who else is serving food) and get more information here. Each plate lunch is $5. If you eat more than one plate lunch, you’re not going to be doing anything for a good couple of days. However, if you feel so inclined, Louisiana Red will perform a free Sugar Jam concert following the event at 6 p.m. at Sugar Mill Pond, 220 Prescott Blvd.
What exactly is a plate lunch? All right genius, let me try to explain. A plate lunch isn’t just some standard thing. Oh no, these are served with smoked meats, gravy, sides cooked in bacon fat and butter, and a bread to sop up any of the leftovers. It’s the type of stuff you tell stories about. For example, six years ago, I bought a Sunday barbecue plate lunch in Breaux Bridge. The to-go container was literally folding under the weight of all the food, and I don’t remember doing anything of value over the next three weeks.
Also Coming Up
THURSDAY-SATURDAY: Pick up a book at this weekend’s Friends of the Library fall book sale. The event opens to the public at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Heymann Convention Center Ballroom, 1373 S. College Road. Used hardcover and paperback books will be sold by the inch, which is perfect if you don’t know what to get your parents for Christmas. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Get more information here.
SATURDAY: Get your fill of zydeco music, arts and more at Saturday’s Creole Rendezvous. The free event features music from Wayne and Leon Chavis and The Zydeco Flames, mini trailride, arts and crafts and food. The bon temps start at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Heymann Park Center, 1500 S. Orange St. Get more information here.
SATURDAY: Only one hair stylist will make the cut at Acadiana’s largest hair competition, Battle of the Salons. This year’s theme is “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame” and benefits Healing 4 Heroes. The fundraiser starts at 7 p.m. at Le Pavillon at Parc Lafayette, 1913 Kaliste Saloom Road. Ages 18 and up. Buy tickets and get more information here.
SATURDAY: A few out-of-towners come to Lafayette for Sickbay live music showcase. New Orleans’ Julie Odell and People Museum join Honyock, of Sacramento, Calif., for a Saturday night concert at Artmosphere, 902 Johnston St. Doors open at 9 p.m. Music starts at 10 p.m. Cover is $10. Get more information here.