Laurent Lesort
Laurent Lesort , co-founder of Hello Pasta and ‘Chief Food Officer’, he is also in charge of restaurants planning and development
I’ve been a restaurateur for over 23 years! I have work in all different kinds of positions before I started to open my own restaurants and lounges, first in New york, then Paris, Los Angeles, and then back in New York again, the city which I love the most in the whole world. My city.
I moved to New York from my native France in 1986 and instantly gravitated to the incredible energy found in New York City’s 1980’s dining and club scene. For the last few years, I have been dreaming of bringing the energy and vibe from my previous high-scale restaurants to more affordable restaurants, and to more people. With Hello Pasta, I can finally make that dream come true!
What is your position at Hello Pasta?
I have co-founded the company and I am currently the ‘Chief Food Officer’, which means that I spend most of my time researching the best products, creating amazing recipes, and making sure the food tastes incredible, but is also healthy. That’s why we refuse to use any of the preservatives or additives commonly used in other quick-service restaurant chains. At Hello Pasta, the food is all-natural!
What drives you in life? What is your motto?
My passion for food! I just love FOOD! I love restaurants, dining with friends, cooking at home.
I am also a huge sport fan. I am a fanatic of the Giants and the Yankees…but I also like the Jets. And of course I also watch soccer as often as I can!
What is your favorite Pasta Shape? What are your favorite Hello Pasta sauces?
I love the farfalle…with the Tuna Provencal sauce…delicious! But I also love the Carbonara and Bolognese…I can’t decide! I love them all!!!
Beside Pasta, what are your favorite dishes? I love Italian food in general, especially dry meats, proscutto, bresaola…and cheeses like mozzarella, Gorgonzola dulce…and love French too obviously: who can resist an amazing Steak Frites? Sometimes I indulge in a fabulous Cassoulet or ‘Blanquette de Veau’…
What are your favorite restaurants (besides Hello Pasta!)? I love my brother’s restaurants: Opia, Matisse and Plein Sud (link to sites) and Bagatelle for the French restaurants, and on the Italian side SD 26 (previously San Domenico), Serafina and when I don’t have much time I like to go to Mangia. Indochine is also one of my classics (Vietnamese/Asian-fusion) since its opening 25 years ago.
If Hello Pasta didn’t exist, what else would you do?
I would invent it!
Send Laurent a message: Laurent@hellopasta.com
More Bios: Laurent Lesort | Nicolas Barthelemy | Gregory Baratte
