Scary good: Roux-Ga-Roux, owner embracing New Iberia, community love

Published 3:45 am Wednesday, November 8, 2023

For 19 years, Ashley Miguez has always worked in the food industry, but she recently took a leap of faith and started her own business, Roux-Ga-Roux, and hasn’t looked back since.

Miguez spent a good portion of her youth in Pensacola, FL. During her childhood, she credits her dad for teaching her how to cook. Specifically, how to BBQ.She is now a resident of New Iberia, living in Lydia. She has enjoyed her time here and what it has offered her and her family, their future in the Teche.

“I absolutely love Louisiana,” Miguez said. “The culture and people here are amazing.”

With her love for Louisiana, and a love for cooking, Miguez said she decided to combine the two, starting Roux-Ga-Roux, a catering company that also serves as a pop-up kitchen and cooking team.

With Roux-Ga-Roux being a pop up kitchen, they mostly set up at local bars. They are routinely at Quarter tavern in New Iberia. They have also set up at other local places such as Keepin it Twisted and Doyle’s Drive Thru Daiquiris.

Miguez said working with those establishments has been tremendous for her business and its growth.

“The relationships that we have with other local business owners is key,” Miguez said.

Roux-Ga-Roux specializes in a range of food, mostly South Carolina style smoking techniques with what she calls a Cajun flair. The name comes from Miguez and her team doing Gumbo cook and the name also pays tribute to a rescue dog named Roux who they loved dearly.

“When it came time for a name we wanted to have some fun with it,” Miguez said.”I am also a huge fan of anything horror so having an actual Rougarou as a mascot just made it all come together for us.”

Miguez, better known by her chef name, “Stash,” said Roux-Ga-Roux became a reality in 2021 with her husband, Joshua Charpentier.. The two got their start with cook-offs for St. Jude’s, and they wanted to continue helping a cause that was important to them. And her customers soon took to Roux-Ga-Roux.

For me that’s what keeps me going,” Miguez said.

As Miguez continues to follow her dreams and create a legacy for her and her family, she said the sky’s the limit for Roux-Ga-Roux. The end goal is to eventually have a full service restaurant, and to bring New Iberia something different.

“We are hoping to be in a food truck by the end of next year and then start saving for a full service restaurant,” Miguez said.

Miguez and Joshua have four children, Stormy VanVeckhoven, Jackson Alderman, Avery Charpentier and Phoenix Charpentier.

Miguez said her family were welcomed here with open arms, and the community love has helped her and Roux-Ga-Roux grow. And she is looking to give back to it.

“This town and community took me in with open arms,” Miguez said. “I love the community here. Everyone has been nothing but kind to me. I want to be able to provide jobs and give this town something unique. I want to show everyone the same love they have shown me.”