SIMPLE
PRICING
PRICING
Next cohort starts July 26th
Meet Jacques Pépin
Born in 1935 in Bourg-en-Bresse, France, near Lyon, Jacques Pépin always found the kitchen to be
a place of both comfort and excitement. He helped in his parents’ restaurant, Le Pélican, and at
age 13, began an apprenticeship at the Grand Hôtel de L’Europe. He subsequently worked in Paris,
ultimately serving as personal chef to three French heads of state, including Charles de Gaulle.
After moving to the United States in 1959, Pépin first worked at Le Pavillon, a historic French restaurant in New York City. From 1960 to 1970, he was director of research and new development for Howard Johnson’s and developed recipes for the restaurant chain. At the same time, he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Columbia University.
Pépin is a former columnist for The New York Times and his articles have appeared in countless food magazines, particularly Food & Wine. He is the author of 30 cookbooks, including the renowned classic La Technique, his biography, The Apprentice, and most recently, A Grandfather’s Lessons. In 2017, he was honored with a feature film documentary of his life in the American Masters series: "The Art of the Craft." He is the recipient of honorary doctorate degrees from five American universities and was awarded France’s highest civilian honor, La Légion d’Honneur, in 2004, as well as the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres in 1997 and the Mérite Agricole in 1992. He has received 16 James Beard Foundation Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. In 2015, he received the American Public Television’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the inaugural Julia Child Award, which was presented to him at The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. A longtime close friend of Julia Child, he starred with her in a PBS series called "Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home," which won both an Emmy Award and a James Beard Foundation Award in 2001.
For the past 30 years, Pépin has taught in the Culinary Arts Program at Boston University and, since 1989, he has served as dean of special programs at the International Culinary Center in New York City. He has called Connecticut home since 1975.
After moving to the United States in 1959, Pépin first worked at Le Pavillon, a historic French restaurant in New York City. From 1960 to 1970, he was director of research and new development for Howard Johnson’s and developed recipes for the restaurant chain. At the same time, he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Columbia University.
Pépin is a former columnist for The New York Times and his articles have appeared in countless food magazines, particularly Food & Wine. He is the author of 30 cookbooks, including the renowned classic La Technique, his biography, The Apprentice, and most recently, A Grandfather’s Lessons. In 2017, he was honored with a feature film documentary of his life in the American Masters series: "The Art of the Craft." He is the recipient of honorary doctorate degrees from five American universities and was awarded France’s highest civilian honor, La Légion d’Honneur, in 2004, as well as the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres in 1997 and the Mérite Agricole in 1992. He has received 16 James Beard Foundation Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. In 2015, he received the American Public Television’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the inaugural Julia Child Award, which was presented to him at The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. A longtime close friend of Julia Child, he starred with her in a PBS series called "Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home," which won both an Emmy Award and a James Beard Foundation Award in 2001.
For the past 30 years, Pépin has taught in the Culinary Arts Program at Boston University and, since 1989, he has served as dean of special programs at the International Culinary Center in New York City. He has called Connecticut home since 1975.
