November brought an extraordinary wave of coast-to-coast celebrations honoring Jacques Pépin’s 90th birthday. From hands-on cooking classes to elegant dinners, communities across the country came together to support the Jacques Pépin Foundation’s mission of expanding access to culinary education while celebrating a life dedicated to teaching, mentoring, and bringing joy through food.
November 1, 2025 at The French Laundry in Yountville, CA
This highly anticipated sold-out evening brought Jacques Pépin and Thomas Keller together for a spectacular celebration with just 60 guests. Following a Champagne toast in The French Laundry kitchen, guests enjoyed a very special Chef’s tasting menu comprised of famous French Laundry dishes like “Oysters & Pearls” and new twists on old French classics. The chicken preparation of Herb Roasted “Poularde” with Nantes Carrots, White Pearl Onions, Fluted Button Mushrooms, and “Sauce Chasseur” was a particular favorite of the night. As a small token of thanks for their generous support of the Foundation, each guest left this extraordinary gathering with an illustrated menu signed by Jacques and a copy of The Art of Jacques Pépin. It was a perfect finale to Jacques’ visit to Napa for 10 days of celebrations!
November 3, 2025 at Alice B. in Palm Springs, CA
Chefs Mary Sue Miliken and Susan Feniger hosted a joyful ode to Jacques, designing a menu with French dishes given a West Coast twist. Bold flavors and locally sourced ingredients brightened a classic Crab and Celeriac Salad, and dessert was “Jacques’ Favorite” Coffee Panna Cotta with Chocolate Biscuits. The exquisite dinner and wine pairings demonstrated how Jacques’ influence extends to contemporary culinary innovators and creates memorable dining experiences, all while supporting the Foundation’s commitment to culinary education.
November 5, 2025 at The Artisan’s Palate in Charlotte, NC
Three French Culinary Institute alumni honored their former dean with a special menu and wine pairings showcasing French culinary excellence. This collaboration between classmates exemplified how Jacques’s mentorship continues to shape careers and inspire culinary professionals to give back to their communities.
November 8, 2025 at The Ground – Grounded Table in McMinnville, OR
This harvest celebration featured seasonal canapés, small bites, and desserts paired with sparkling wines from eight acclaimed Willamette Valley producers. The walk-around tasting soirée honored Jacques’s love of sparkling wine while celebrating the fine bounty of Oregon’s farms, artisans, and winemakers. With live music and a celebratory cake and Champagne toast, this casually elegant community gathering was a charming tribute to Jacques’ joie de vivre.
November 8, 2025 at A Toast to Chef Jacques Pépin in Novato, CA
Homeward Bound of Marin, a JPF Grantee Community Kitchen, hosted this unique evening of cooking demonstrations led by Leslie Sbrocco with chefs Roland Passot and Heidi Krahling. Chef Heidi demonstrated one of Jacques’ favorite appetizer recipes, followed by two additional courses as all the chefs shared their memories of Jacques and his impact. This celebration directly connected Jacques’ legacy to the Foundation’s support for culinary job training programs serving underserved communities, and Homeward Bound of Marin received all proceeds from the event.
November 8, 15, and 22, 2025 at Chefs & Table in Kailua-Kona, HI
Chefs & Table hosted a three-event series celebrating Jacques throughout November with Chef Vitaly Paley. On November 8, students enjoyed learning classic French techniques from The Art of Cooking; the next cooking class on November 15 featured recipes from Julia and Jacques: Cooking at Home, exploring techniques that made French cooking accessible to Americans. A multi-course dinner in collaboration with guest Chef Pauline Lam concluded the series with a festive note on November 22. All three celebrations were a beautiful reminder of the many ways that Jacques has touched modern cuisine, with home cooks and celebrated chefs both learning and growing through Jacques. It was truly an inspired way to pay tribute to Jacques while enjoying Happy Cooking in Hawai’i!
November 10, 2025 at NARO in New York, NY
The intimate dinner at NARO began with a La Caravelle Champagne reception, followed by a multi-course menu of classic French dishes presented through a contemporary Korean lens. Oysters Rockefeller with Gochugaru Glaze, Sesame Spinach, Hollandaise, and Gamtae Powder in particular made a splash with guests. The elegant evening celebrated Jacques’s influence on diverse culinary traditions while supporting the Foundation’s work in expanding access to culinary education for aspiring professionals.
November 10, 2025 at Santa Barbara Culinary Experience in Carpinteria, CA
In the beautiful Santa Barbara countryside—former home of Jacques’ longtime friend and collaborator, Julia Child—guests began their evening with a guided tour of Rincon Hill Farm’s grounds. An exquisite menu of locally sourced dishes with wine pairings celebrated Jacques’ timeless approach to cooking seasonally and simply. The unique celebration supported both the Jacques Pépin Foundation and Santa Barbara Culinary Experience’s community programming missions.
November 12, 2025 Napa meets NOLA at The Josephine in New Orleans, LA
Guests of this 90/90 celebration were among the first to dine at The Josephine, Chef Dickie Brennan’s new restaurant in a renovated 90-year-old former church. Joined by Chef Susan Spicer, this dinner was a nostalgic team-up for the two chefs, who had collaborated on a legendary Napa dinner in 1993. For the evening’s menu, they recreated some aspects of their original Napa dinner, including a first course of Louisiana Popcorn Rice Risotto with Blue Crab and White Truffles, and a dessert of Bleu Cheese Creole Cream Cheesecake. The captivating venue, representation from JPF Grantee Cafe Reconcile, and a joyful reunion made this an extra special celebration.
November 15, 2025 at Intercontinental San Francisco in San Francisco, CA
This exclusive evening brought together InterContinental Hotel Group’s prominent chefs from across the country for an inspired multi-course dinner. With a menu highlighting timeless techniques and signature flavors, chefs Norma Whitt, Kristin Beringson, Massimo De Francesca, and Gyo Santa explored the defining aspects of Jacques’ culinary legacy. Katherine Sanderlin joined from JPF Grantee Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco to talk about the life-changing impact of the JPF’s support for their program participants.
November 15, 2025 Vermont Celebrates Jacques at Red Wagon Plants in Hinesburg, VT
Red Wagon Plants re-opened their doors during their off-season for one night only to celebrate Jacques. The collaboration between Red Wagon’s Julie Rubaud and chefs Molly Stevens, Maura O’Sullivan, Cara Tobin, Carey Nershi, and Amy Vogler (also the JPF’s Educational Projects Manager) resulted in a French country family-style meal. Hors d’oeuvres and a welcome toast were followed by a multi-course dinner and wine, all inspired by Jacques and the beautiful Vermont scenery. It was a heartfelt gathering that epitomized the 90/90 Campaign’s focus on the importance of community.
November 16, 2025 at Nostrana in Portland, OR
Nostrana’s sold-out 20th anniversary celebration brought together Oregon’s culinary voices for a collaborative seasonal menu. Golden hour canapés, including Eggs Jeannette and Pissaladière preceded a four-course plated dinner with wine pairings. The menu highlighted Jacques’ timeless influence while highlighting seasonal Oregon ingredients, and the evening was enhanced by handcrafted cocktails and live entertainment. Ellen Damaschino of Stone Soup PDX—a former JPF Grantee and now a Partnership Circle Awardee—attended the dinner to talk about the importance of the JPF’s mission with guests.
November 16, 2025 at Dalida in San Francisco, CA
Dalida reimagined Jacques Pépin’s classic recipes through an Eastern Mediterranean lens in a five-course family-style dinner. Beginning with canapés and bubbles on the bay-view patio, guests enjoyed thoughtful wine pairings with dishes crafted using Bay Area ingredients. Confit Leeks with Hazelnut Emulsion, Tomato Vinaigrette, and Roasted Hazelnuts was an especially delicious addition to the creative menu. This celebration honored Jacques’ and Dalida’s shared ethos of breaking bread together.
November 20, 2025 at Une Fête in North Little Rock, AR
Hosted by JPF Grantee Food Jobs Work, this event celebrated the organization’s success in empowering the underemployed of Arkansas through culinary education. Chef Andre Poirot worked with other local chefs to prepare multiple courses of French cuisine with help from students and graduates of the Food Jobs Work program. The evening included a video greeting from Jacques and meaningful stories from Food Jobs Work staff and participants of how the program changed their lives, with all proceeds supporting Food Jobs Work’s mission.
November 20, 2025 at Massara on Park in New York, NY
Superstar chefs Stefano Secchi and Wylie Dufresne welcomed Jacques to their collaboration in the elegant dining room of the pop-up Massara on Park. The curated menu showcased hand-made pastas, a Jacques-inspired leek and gruyère pizza, and a blood orange and vanilla crème brûlée. Robert Taylor joined from JPF Grantee Youth Action YouthBuild, making the unforgettable evening an especially meaningful tribute to Jacques’ influence.
90/90 Press
Each of these unique events honored Jacques Pépin’s 90 years of teaching, mentoring, and inspiring others to find joy in cooking. We were so pleased to see that the media outlets from coast to coast took note of our celebrations:
- Nob Hill Gazette featured the Intercontinental San Francisco’s event in a preview of exciting Bay Area happenings.
- Coachella Valley Independent encouraged Palm Springs readers to join the festivities at Alice B.
- Santa Barbara Independent detailed the dishes served at Rincon Hill Farm with Santa Barbara Culinary Experience.
- Find Dining Lovers posted an exciting preview of the Massara on Park dinner.
- Marin Independent Journal shared a short and sweet write-up and photos from the Homeward Bound Marin fundraiser.
Most importantly, every one of these gatherings supported the Jacques Pépin Foundation’s vital work ensuring that future generations—especially those from underserved communities—will have opportunities to discover their own culinary passions and build meaningful careers in hospitality, just as Jacques has championed throughout his remarkable life.