Student Launches Food and Lifestyle Blog

Sebastien Laforest might be young, but he knows a good meal when he tastes one. Or cooks one. Or writes about one.

The Fairfield College Preparatory School graduate and former Main Street Connect intern and food writer has migrated to college life at Regis College in Massachusetts and has turned the experience into a culinary blog for students.

“It’s all about keeping it simple,” says Laforest. “I want to make the culinary arts available to the average person—even the average college student.”

His eponymous blog offers recipes, thoughts on integrating cooking into your lifestyle and snapshots of college life.

“Most of the recipes I’m sharing are really easy and quick to make. Most don’t take more than 15 or 20 minutes,” he explains. “People always say, ‘there are no good options’ or ‘the food sucks in college.’ But it doesn’t. We just need to be more aware and make use of what we have. When I came to college last fall, I arrived with a non-stick pot, a non-stick grill pan and a set of wooden utensils. That’s it. But I’ve made good use out of these things by just getting a little creative.”

Laforest’s first piece of food advice to the college student?

“I’m a big believer in the salad,” he laughs. “Most campus cafeterias offer fresh greens, spinach or arugula. Take some of that, add some cannellini beans, a piece of grilled chicken, fresh strawberries—whatever is available—and you’re ready to go.”

Laforest also recommends spiriting some of the fresh veggies from the cafeteria back to your dorm kitchen. “Just add them to some boiled pasta with a little olive oil and you have a delicious meal that takes almost no time to prepare.”

He has the same simple, healthy philosophy when it comes to dorm room snacking as well.

“There’s a great little food shop up here where I get all sorts of things. They have great quality goat cheeses that I get for around $5. When I want a snack, I just spread some on a cracker or some sliced bread. It’s easy.”

College students aren’t the only ones reading Laforest’s pieces. Lulu Powers, the celebrated chef, author and home entertaining maven, reportedly tweeted a link to Laforest's "Top 5 Must Haves" for his kitchen. Laforest previously wrote a piece on Powers during his intership at Main Street Connect.

“Of course it felt great that she did that,” says Laforest. “Mostly because it means that something I worked on is reaching people.”

And reaching people, Laforest says, is what it’s all about.

Read more at SebastienLaforest.com.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Greenwich and receive free news updates.