Some people might think October is a spooky time to be hosting 13 events, but there isn’t anything scary about celebrating Jacques Pépin! This month brought a remarkable wave of gatherings across the nation as chefs and communities honored Jacques’ 90th birthday. From intimate culinary experiences to grand celebrations, each event brought people together through the universal language of food and raised vital funds for the Jacques Pépin Foundation’s mission of expanding access to culinary education.

October 6, 2025 at Hudson Valley Chefs Celebrate Jacques Pépin in Beacon, NY

The Hudson Valley culinary community gathered at Industrial Arts Brewing for a spectacular grazing experience featuring the bounty of the season. Guests sampled a menu of dishes crafted from ingredients grown in the beautiful Hudson Valley region. Tasting plates and passed canapés were served alongside locally brewed beers, wines from New York’s vineyards, and hand-crafted non-alcoholic beverages. The evening featured live music and a silent auction of wonderful items and experiences contributed by Hudson Valley farmers, artisans, and foragers. This celebration showcased how Jacques’s influence extends to supporting local food systems and bringing communities together through culinary excellence.

October 9, 2025 at The Whale Wins in Seattle, WA

Chef Renee Erickson hosted a multi-course family-style dinner at her wood-fired, vegetable-focused restaurant in Seattle. The simple yet sophisticated menu drew inspiration from southern Europe and England, and the guests seemed to particularly enjoy the light and airy Gnocchi Parisienne with a rich parmesan cream sauce. JPF Grantee organizations were well-represented at the celebration, with FareStart’s Patrick D’Amelio and Project Feast’s Liz Louie both sharing the meaningful impact the JPF has had on their programs. The communal dining experience embodied Jacques’s belief that food brings people together, while supporting the Foundation’s work in expanding culinary career opportunities.

October 9, 2025 at Bludorn in Houston, TX

Houston’s Montrose neighborhood was treated to an extraordinary four-course dinner at Bludorn, featuring New American cuisine with a French twist in honor of Jacques. The evening showcased collaborative cooking between host Aaron Bludorn and guest chefs Michael Fojtasek, Chris Shepherd, and Becky Masson contributing to an inspired menu that included a spectacular croquembouche dessert. The convivial crowd was delighted to hear from the chefs and to learn more about the JPF’s mission, and each guest took home a signed menu from the chefs as a keepsake from a very special evening celebrating Jacques’s legacy of mentorship.

October 16, 2025 at Poole’s Diner in Raleigh, NC

The sold-out evening at Poole’s Diner brought together three talented chefs for an evening celebrating friendship and creative collaboration. Host Ashley Christensen welcomed guest chefs Sarah Grueneberg from Chicago and Jason Stanhope from Charleston for a multi-course dinner celebrating classic French cuisine. The menu featured classic French techniques with a touch of North Carolina twang, such as Oeufs Mayonnaise with Smoked Trout Roe. The intimate dinner demonstrated how old-fashioned flavors and Jacques’ timeless techniques continue to inspire today’s chefs and delight diners everywhere.

October 18, 2025 at Flora in Beals, ME

Chef Ross Florance created a unique celebration at the Downeast Institute, a marine research and education center on the coast of Maine. Following a hatchery tour showcasing the shellfish raised there, guests were treated to a lovely sunset and Jacques-inspired canapés on the Downeast Institute’s deck before moving into the dining room. Maine’s coastal bounty was the highlight of the creative menu, with dishes such as Choux Buns with Lobster Emulsion and Tarragon bringing a taste of the sea to the celebration. The remote location and the elegantly rustic meal honored the local culinary traditions, Jacques’ simple approach to great ingredients, and the natural resources that make such delicious meals possible.

October 19, 2025 at Houndstooth Restaurant in Benton Harbor, MI

A partnership between chefs and Michigan’s craft-beverage producers resulted in a memorable dinner at this sold-out celebration. Chef Cheyenne Galbraith partnered with the acclaimed Chef Joho for a family-style meal at a grand communal table. The prix-fixe menu featured wine pairings and craft cider from Southwest Michigan producers including Carriage House Ciders, Lake Michigan Vintner’s, Modales Wines, Domaine Berrien Cellars, Stranger Wine Company, and Veritas Estate Winery. This celebration demonstrated how great food’s impact goes beyond individual restaurants to foster collaboration among chefs and artisans to make communities thrive.

October 23, 2025 at Cordelia in Cleveland, OH

Cleveland’s culinary scene came alive for one exciting night as renowned chefs Michael Symon and Vinnie Cimino hosted a dynamic celebration of Midwest cooking and community values. This sold-out event featured both chefs sharing culinary stories throughout the evening, and Patrick McCune of West Side Catholic Charities was on hand to share the perspective of a JPF Grantee Community Kitchen. Through their stories and dishes, they demonstrated how Jacques’s teachings about community, friendship, and culinary craftsmanship continue to shape American cuisine. The Chefs presented the JPF’s Director of Philanthropy, Tula Gogolak, with an oversized check representing the generous gifts collected in support of the JPF’s mission that night—a testament to the warm Midwest hospitality and strong sense of community in Cleveland!

October 23, 2025 at TORC in Napa, CA

Jacques and Claudine Pépin kicked off their Napa Valley visit at this sold-out celebration prepared by Chef Sean O’Toole in collaboration with 3-Michelin star chef Kyle Connaughton. Jacques and Claudine greeted guests during a sparkling wine and canapés reception, followed by a four-course dinner paired with curated Napa Valley wines. The evening culminated with a towering birthday cake by Chef Lincoln Carson, and guests enjoyed a brief live auction of one extra-special lot: a 5-liter jeroboam of Amuse Bouche wine with an etching of Jacques’ art on the bottle, along with the framed original painting. It was a spectacular way to start 10 days in the Napa Valley!

October 25, 2025 at Le Grand Pique-Nique in Napa, CA

Twenty of Northern California’s most celebrated chefs gathered at The Culinary Institute of America at COPIA for an extraordinary evening honoring Jacques’ 90th birthday. Guests sampled signature small plates prepared by culinary luminaries including Alice Waters, Mourad Lahlou, and Roland Passot in the stunning Hestan Kitchen before moving to The Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum for a family-style dinner. The menu featured Jacques’ favorite foods—charcuterie, fresh salads, artisan cheeses, and perfectly roasted chicken—paired with exceptional wines from more than a dozen Napa Valley vintners. A collection of unique Jacques-inspired auction lots gave guests a great way to contribute to the JPF’s work during a live auction, and made for an exciting after-dinner treat!

October 26, 2025 at Cake and Conversation, CIA at Copia in Napa, CA

This sweet celebration featured Jacques and his daughter Claudine recounting tales from Jacques’ career in the kitchen and from their time making public television cooking shows together. In conversation with filmmaker Peter Stein, Jacques and Claudine regaled the packed theater with stories from behind-the-scenes of their books and television series while guests enjoyed gourmet snacks prepared by the CIA’s students. After the conversation, it was time for cake, with a presentation and tasting of a dozen spectacular birthday cakes created by ten extraordinary Bay Area pastry chefs and two talented home bakers. With an afternoon of stories, sweets, and community connection, this unique format celebrated Jacques’ time making television in the Bay Area while supporting the Foundation’s educational mission in a unique way.

October 28, 2025 at Hestan Napa Book Signing in Napa, CA

Guests joined Jacques at Hestan Napa for an afternoon celebration of Jacques’ many cookbooks. Each ticket included a signed copy of The Art of Jacques Pépin, and lite bites prepared by Chef Mark Dommen were served with Hestan wine. This casual gathering offered a personal opportunity to meet Jacques and celebrate his remarkable legacy.

October 29, 2025 at Cyrus in Geyserville, CA

This unique fine dining experience brought Jacques to Michelin-starred Chef Douglas Keane’s unique exploration of dining as a journey. The evening began in the Bubbles Lounge with Champagne before proceeding to the Kitchen Table, where guests were greeted by Jacques and the chefs. The journey continued in the dining room, with a menu of beautifully plated courses, and guests particularly enjoyed the exquisite Crispy Chicken with White Truffle, Potato, and Bacon. A short and sweet live auction after dinner featured Jacques’ original painting “Edge of Wood,” and gave the guests a dynamic way to participate in the journey. The evening culminated in the mysterious Chocolate Room with dainty house-made chocolates, and each guest received an illustrated menu signed by Jacques and signed copies of both The Art of Jacques Pépin and Douglas Keane’s Culinary Leverage. The journey left guests, chefs, and Jacques all glowing with the warmth of an extraordinary evening.

October 30, 2025 at The Art of Being Jacques in St. Helena, CA

The Napa Valley Museum of Art & Culture made a stunning backdrop for a sold-out evening honoring Jacques’ with a collaboration between Michelin-starred Chef Philip Tessier and Penfolds wines. The celebration began with a Champagne and canapés reception as guests enjoyed the “Julia Child: A Recipe for Life” exhibition in the museum. A five-course dinner at Under-Study followed, featuring specially curated pairings with once-in-a-lifetime Penfolds wines. Attendees had the opportunity to bid on Jacques’s original painting “Poulet de Bresse” and received signed copies of The Art of Jacques Pépin along with illustrated menus signed by Jacques. It was an unforgettable night of food, art, and camaraderie.

90/90 Press

With thirteen extraordinary celebrations in the month of October, we enjoyed some very kind media notice, too!

• East Bay Magazine wrote a lovely overview of our Napa Valley events.
• Kron4 aired a great video interview of Jacques in support of our Napa celebrations.
• Cleveland.com marked the return of celebrated chef Michael Symon for the Cordelia dinner.
• Midtown Magazine posted a nice write-up of the Poole’s Diner celebration.
• Sonoma Magazine highlighted the TORC event on their website.
• North Bay Bohemian wrote a charming piece about Jacques’ memories of his mother’s cooking and the anticipation around the upcoming Napa celebrations.

As October came to a close, these thirteen remarkable events had brought together thousands of people across the country to celebrate Jacques Pépin’s 90th birthday. Each gathering, whether intimate or grand, reflected the values that Jacques has championed throughout his career: community, generosity, excellence, and the joy of sharing good food with others. Most importantly, these celebrations supported the Jacques Pépin Foundation’s work to expand access to culinary education and workforce training, ensuring that future generations will have opportunities to discover their own paths to success.