Jacques Pepin
DDV CULINARY
Jacques Pépin (born December 18, 1935) is a French chef working in the United States. Pépin was born in Bourg-en-Bresse near Lyon, and began cooking in his parents' restaurant, Le Pelican, at the age of 12. He went on to work in Paris, training under Lucien Diat at the Plaza Athénée. He eventually served as a personal chef for Charles De Gaulle and two other French heads of state. When he immigrated to the United States in 1959, Pépin turned down a job offer at the White House, and instead accepted a position as the director of research and new development for the Howard Johnson chain of hotels. He stayed at Howard Johnson for ten years. In 1972, Pépin earned a Master of Arts in 18th Century French poetry from Columbia University. Pépin has had several television shows, including shows with Julia Child. His work with Julia Child was honored with a Daytime Emmy Award in 2001. Pépin also had a television show with his daughter, Claudine. (Claudine Pépin is married to chef Rolland Wesen; she manages Rivers restaurant in Portland, Oregon, where Wesen is the executive chef.) He writes a quarterly column for Food & Wine. Over his career, Pépin has authored 18 books. He also received two of the French government’s highest honors: he is a Chevalier de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1997) and a Chevalier de L'Ordre du Mérite Agricole (1992). Presently, his show Jacques Pépin: Fast Food My Way (based on his 2004 book of the same name) runs on PBS. Currently, Pépin serves as Dean of Special Programs at the French Culinary Institute in New York City. He resides with his wife, Gloria, in Madison, Connecticut. Selected Bibliography
|