Say bonjour to Laurent, this week’s Instahottie, who turned a modeling career into a triumphant turn as a pastry chef.
Laurent arrived in New York City by way of Paris and, after walking the runway for some of the top fashion ateliers in the world including the MT Costello runway at NY Fashion Week, he began to pursue his passion for pastry.
Laurent studied French pastry at the International Culinary Center in Soho and is known for his delicious cakes celebrating LGBTQ culture, fashion, and theater.
Known for his low calorie, vegan and gluten-free delicacies, his pièce de résistance is the L’automne Aux Feuilles d’or, a vegan gluten-free carrot cake that features four tiers wrapped in exquisitely gilded leaves.
“I look back today at that young boy I was in France with his humongous, fantastical dreams and I smile,” Summing up his life story, he adds, “He didn’t travel the typical road to his American Dream but somehow he found his own. It just happened to be paved in butter crème.”
Learn more about this culinary cutie:
Who are your influences in the kitchen?
Julia Child, because I used to dream about bringing my unique version of plant-based French pastries to America. Also, Martha Stewart because of her success as a entrepreneur in creating a elegant empire from her cuisine is inspiring.
What culinary trend(s) are you excited about?
I love experimenting with plant-based ingredients and health-conscious pastries! It’s like being a chemist sometimes. It’s super exciting to see and taste the results.
If you had to describe yourself as a food, what kind of food would you be?
I’d be a French Fry: Tall and fine, delicious… but really bad for you.
If you could offer advice to your younger self knowing what you do now, what would it be?
I would advise my younger self to be more confident and to embrace my differences and my creativity. I should have followed my heart and passion for food and enrolled in culinary school earlier.
What would the title of your cookbook be?
French Vegan AF by the Louis XIV of Pastries. Marie Antoinette would love to eat my cakes!
Who would you want to play you in the story of your life?
Taron Egerton. He would bring European style and humor, yet play me with an edge.
What’s one thing you still want to scratch off your “bucket list”?
I hope to open my own French Vegan pasty store in New York one day!
You can follow Laurent on Instagram here!
