Jacques Pépin grew up Bourg-en-Bresse France to a restaurant family. His parents, Jeanette and Jean-Victor Pépin, owned Le Pélican where Jacques started working in the kitchen as a young boy. Family and cooking have been the cornerstones of his life even since. For decades he’s taught legions of cooks- both professional and avocational- the techniques of cooking through his TV shows, videos, cookbooks, guest appearances and as dean at the former French Culinary Institute (now International Culinary Center). Pépin has demonstrated that cooking at home can be easy, enjoyable and an economical way to nourish and nurture family. He usually ends his videos telling his viewer, “Happy Cooking!”
This year, Champagne corks are popping throughout the United States to celebrate Pépin’s upcoming 90th birthday in December. The family-run Jacques Pépin Foundation is partnering with chefs, restaurants and fans of Pépin to host 90 fundraising dinners. We attended Alon Shaya’s fantastic dinner at Miss River last month which feature many Pépin fan favorites. The Jacques Pépin Foundation’s mission advances Pépin’s love of culinary arts and education and supports the teaching of culinary skills through various channels to many communities.
In the kitchen with Jacques Pépin, Rollie Wesen and team members at Hot Bread Kitchen, a non-profit in New York City. Photo: Ken Goodman
Funds raised from the 90/90 dinners support community-based kitchens that offer culinary training to adults with high barriers to employment, including those impacted by the justice system, those experiencing homelessness, individuals in recovery, or those that have been underserved. The JP Foundation offers grants and many educational resources to help develop the skills and techniques necessary for both professional and home cooks. Members of the Jacques Pépin Foundation – easy to join: Member – have access to cooking videos by Pépin as well as many leading chefs. The library alone is worth becoming a member, but knowing you are helping provide for careers to help build futures is the icing on that birthday cake.
Father and daughter in Pépin’s home kitchen in Madison, Connecticut Photo: Ken Goodman.
Jacques Pépin and Claudine Pépin have both been guests on The Connected Table. We have known them for many years. But our most recent visit was more intimate and en famille with Jacques, Claudine and her husband, Dr. Rollie Wesen, a chef with a PhD. in education who is an assistant professor at Johnson & Wales University and serves as executive director for The Jacques Pépin Foundation. The family is tight-knit and cooks together whenever possible. Claudine and Rollie have a daughter, Shorey Wesen, who shares a love for cooking and collaborated with her grandfather on the cookbook, “A Grandfather’s Lessons: In the Kitchen with Shorey.”
Jacques Pépin with Rollie Wesen and Claudine Pépin Photo: Ken Goodman
In the years when “trophy dining” at top-rated restaurants was the rage (and for some, still is), Jacques Pépin and his family have made home cooking cool. This was especially true when he started shooting videos in his home cooking while sequestered during the COVID-19 pandemic. You just felt like you were in the kitchen with him, and meal preparation became a lot easier. Here is information on joining the JPF family as a Member: Support JPF’s Programs – Jacques Pépin Foundation
Jacques Pépin is also an accomplished artist. We treasure our watercolor “cherries” plate by Pépin which he painted for Cook for the Cure to support Susan G Komen, a breast cancer charity, and our framed James Beard Awards poster which he painted in 1993 when he served as Executive Chef for the “Salute to France” themed reception. Even the Pépin 90/90 Dinners have special watercolor templates. Below is the menu from Miss River.
We sat down with Jacques, Claudine and Rollie for a conversation about family, cooking together and the mission of The Jacques Pépin Foundation for The Connected Table podcast. The show first aired April 30, 2025. Below is the permanent podcast link. Or listen anytime on more than 65 top podcast channels including iHeartRadio Spotify Apple Podcasts. Here is a link below