It’s Acadiana: Out To Lunch

Hosted ByChristiaan Mader

OUT TO LUNCH finds journalist Christiaan Mader conducting business Acadiana style: over lunch. Each week Christiaan invites guests from Acadiana's business community to join him. Beyond the foundations of the Acadiana economy - oil, cuisine, music - there is a vast network of entrepreneurs, small businesses, and even some of the country's largest companies who call Acadiana home. Out to Lunch is the cafeteria of the wider Acadiana business community. You can also hear the show on KRVS 88.7FM.

My Way – Out to Lunch – It’s Acadiana

Many of us have dreams of quitting the nine-to-five and doing what we really want. For many different reasons, that mostly remains a dream.

Although it’s often said in sarcasm, Peter’s guests on Out to Lunch – Mark Boudreaux, Janie Varisco, and Skylar Manuel – are in fact living the dream. Their stories are very different, but they’re all equally inspirational.

chef mark boudreaux

Mark Boudreaux spent nearly 40 years in the oil industry – working offshore, and later as an executive at ExxonMobil. In 2013 Mark retired and started doing what he really wanted. Cooking. Today Mark says he’s the only personal chef within a one hundred mile radius of New Iberia. 

janie varisco

Janie Varisco also started out in the oil industry. Then spent 12 years in sales, before launching her own business as a wedding and event planner. When weddings started to become what Jamie describes as “a circus that’s all about the party, gown, and guest list,” she decided to focus on the part of the wedding she cares about – the vows. Janie became a wedding celebrant. She’s made something of a name for herself in local wedding circles because she’s happy to marry anyone in love and legal, including LGBTQ couples. 

skylar manuel

Skylar Manuel didn’t switch careers. She didn’t get that far. Skylar went to school to study criminal justice, but realized that wasn’t the career she wanted and instead started doing what she enjoyed most – baking cakes. After 3 years the bakery she was working at closed down so Skylar took out a loan and opened her own bakery. Today Sky’s The Limit Cakes is known for the one-of-a-kind sculpted cakes that Skylar makes to order. 

skyla manuel, mark boudreaux, janie varisco, peter ricchiuti

Photos at Social by Gwen Aucoin.