“Cooking is mostly a matter of craftsmanship with talent and some inspiration added, along with a sprinkling of love for the perfect dish; one cannot cook indifferently.” (On Cooking and Painting 01)

“In painting, individuals who have a thorough knowledge of the techniques along with extraordinary talent, like Picasso or Matisse, are geniuses. In the kitchen, a few chefs have certainly risen higher and achieved more to become models, setting the criteria for other professionals. Chefs like Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller are good examples, but, for me, they are still not to be compared to a Matisse or a Picasso.” (03)

Continue reading On Cooking and Painting. Hands of a Chef. Hands of a Painter.

by Bonnie S. Benwick, The Washington Post, The Charlotte Observer

“Even when they are not billed as such, the “food-fast” recipes of Jacques Pepin are sure bets for a no-fuss meal. Here, he uses a minimum of ingredients to create an informal kind of souffle. No sauce base to cook and no beaten egg whites to fold in. A blender does the work.”

Continue reading No, a souffle isn’t ‘too fancy’ for dinner (if you do it the easy way)

“I have been cooking for more than 60 years, and I have been painting sporadically for half a century. Both are part of who I am, how I feel, and how I react to a sensual or esthetic experience.” Jacques Pepin

Yes, that Jacques Pepin!

Continue reading Yes, THAT Jacques Pepin! On Cooking and Painting

The Chautauqua Institution Food Festival opens on August 20th in Bestor Plaza with barbecue, wine and beer and later, the festival will host Ross Warhol, formerly the chef at the Athenaeum Hotel. Chef Warhol is now executive chef at Buffalo’s fine dining Oliver’s restaurant.

Jacques Pepin will be headlining the 2017 festival on August 21, 2017.
Continue reading From Jacques Pepin to Food Trucks at Chautauqua Food Festival

Jacques and his granddaughter, Shorey, joined Ming Tsai on the set of “Simply Ming” for the taping of an future episode on which they’ll be talking about–and preparing recipes from–Jacques’ upcoming (mid-September, 2017) book “A Grandfather’s Lessons: In the Kitchen with Shorey.”
Continue reading “Simply Ming” with Jacques Pépin Taping Upcoming Episode

“I think one of the special things about Jacques’ own career is that it almost perfectly aligns with and, in some ways, prefigures some of the really important changes in the way Americans view food and the profession of the chef that he himself was either responsible for or was closely connected to and then had some hand in shaping. So, it was a real pleasure to be able to roll back the clock in a way in telling Jacques’ story to remember a time when chefs frankly were hidden behind walls; there was no such thing as open kitchens. People didn’t want to see who was cooking their food… To remember a time when Americans didn’t really have a vocabulary for understanding what the work–the manual craftsmanship–of being a professionally-trained chef was.”

Peter L. Stein, from his filmmaker interview on “Jacques Pépin: The Art of Craft”

Continue reading Video: Peter L. Stein About “Jacques Pépin: The Art of Craft“ Documentary

On April 19, 2017: The Culinary Institute of America presented the 2017 Augie Awards to “a trio of titans”: entertainment expert Shep Gordon, French chef and TV personality Jacques Pépin and author and TV personality Martha Stewart.

The American Museum of Natural History in New York City hosted more than 600 hospitality industry leaders, food service experts and celebrity chefs as well as The Culinary Institute of America alumni and other dignitaries from the entertainment and business industries.

Continue reading Jacques Pépin, Shep Gordon, Martha Stewart Receive 2017 Augie Awards

February 27, 2017, Hyde Park, New York: On April 19, 2017, The Culinary Institute of America will present the 2017 Augie Awards to “a trio of titans”: entertainment expert Shep Gordon, French chef and TV personality Jacques Pépin and author and TV personality Martha Stewart.

“The Culinary Institute of America has created the Augie™ Award to commemorate the success and achievement of our industry’s best and brightest.” The award was created in honor of renowned master chef, Auguste Escoffer to exemplify a “tradition of innovation and leadership” and to “recognize the achievement of visionaries, entrepreneurs, and chefs.”

Continue reading Jacques Pépin, Shep Gordon and Martha Stewart to Receive 2017 Augie Awards

LA WEEKLY article by Katherine Spiers:

“Cooking legend Jacques Pepin was in Los Angeles recently on a press tour for American Masters, the PBS documentary series that profiles artists in different fields. He’s given interviews for episodes featuring his friends and collaborators, including his food show co-host Julia Child, and in May Pepin himself will be the subject of a new addition to the series.”

Continue reading LA Weekly: Jacques Pepin’s Favorite L.A. Restaurant Is Actually in Pasadena

On November 1, 2016, Jacques Pepin (Executive Culinary Director for Oceania Cruises) and family and friends set sail for the “Magical Mediterranean” aboard the Oceania Marina.

The Venice to Rome, 10-day cruise featured book signings, social gatherings and a unique culinary demonstration by chef Pépin. Cruise guests were treated to Pepin-designed special dinner menus in the Marina’s restaurants and “epicurean-infused” land excursions. Chef Pepin also presented cooking instructions aboard the ship’s state-of-the-art Culinary Center, all centered around chef Pepin’s signature style.

Continue reading Jacques Pepin on the Oceania Marina “Magical Mediterranean” Cruise 2016