Putting a Bow on ’24, Kicking Off ’25

The 2025 celebration of Jacques’ 90th birthday is off to a smashing start, with several fantastic events in January. And, we’d be remiss if we didn’t also tell you about one of our favorite moments from the end of 2024: Jacques’ 89th birthday dinner! Here’s what’s been going on since Jacques turned 89:

December 18, 2024 at One Market in San Francisco, CA

Jacques’ actual 89th birthday was marked with a sold-out gathering of San Francisco food-lovers. One Market’s Chef/Owner Mark Dommen was joined in the kitchen by the team from Sonoma County’s Cyrus Restaurant, Chef/Owner Douglas Keane and Pastry Chef Josh Gaulin. Together, they prepared an elegant menu of Jacques-inspired dishes. Like most 90/90 Dinners, Jacques himself could not be in attendance, but the celebration was made memorable by the exquisite food and drink, the gracious service, and the chefs’ inspirational support of the JPF’s mission.

Plate of food at One Market

January 15, 2025 at Margot Cafe & Bar in Nashville, TN

An intimate group of passionate supporters of Jacques and longtime Margot Cafe regulars joined Chef/Owner Margot McCormack and Executive Chef Hadley Long for a meal of French bistro dishes. By all accounts from the chefs and attendees, the Chocolate Soufflé with Grand Marnier Crème Anglaise stole the show – we know Jacques would approve!

January 22, 2025 at EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute in Cleveland, OH

As a JPF Grantee, EDWINS was a particularly special host restaurant for a 90/90 Dinner. Chef Brandon E. Chrostowski, a dear friend of the JPF and the founder and CEO of the groundbreaking EDWINS nonprofit, prepared a menu of classical French cuisine. The celebration was a beautiful tribute to Jacques’ teachings and the EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute’s commitment to transforming lives through the power of culinary education. The JPF was honored to partner with EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute in developing further support for their mission.

Plate of food at EDWINS

January 25, 2025 at Sra. Martinez in Coral Gables, FL

The first brunch event of our 90/90 Celebration was held at this brand new restaurant from celebrated Chef Michelle Bernstein. The gorgeous dining room was a perfect venue for toasting to 90 years of joie de vivre, and diners enjoyed an incredible menu of Jacques-inspired dishes.

January 28, 2025 at Husk in Charleston, SC

Chef Ray England of Husk Charleston gathered his colleagues from Husk Nashville and Husk Savannah, Ben Norton and Jacob Hammer, to showcase French classics reimagined with a Southern twist. The sold-out event featured family-style service for maximum conviviality and beautifully paired beverages for many toasts to Jacques.

In the kitchen at Husk

January 29, 2025 at Counter- in Charlotte, NC

When Lunar New Year meets Jacques Pépin and the wild mind of Chef Sam Hart, the results are an extraordinary seven-course tasting menu! Guests at the Chef’s Counter- were treated to an eclectic experience that paid tribute to Chinese cuisine, classic Jacques recipes, and even the Chef’s own grandmother who collaborated with Jacques years ago.

Plate of food at Counter-

In the Press

Here are a few nice things that the press had to say about these 90/90 Dinners:

A Warm Welcome for the JPF in Boston

Last month, the Jacques Pépin Foundation family spent a busy and productive week in Boston. Jacques, Claudine, and Rollie attended several impactful events, nurturing culinary education at many levels and inspiring people to cook.

Jacques began his week on Monday with a fantastic fundraiser at the Boston area’s PBS station, WGBH, hosted by Callie Crossley. He was in conversation with Jody Adams, Boston culinary all-star and longtime friend of Jacques and the JPF. Adams is a core chef in Boston University Metropolitan College’s Certificate Program in the Culinary Arts, founded by Jacques himself. Naturally, the conversation centered around the value of culinary education and Jacques’ contribution to the field. It was wonderful for Jacques to converse with Callie and Jody, all while raising funds for public media. Rollie, meanwhile, taught an “Introduction to French Cuisine” cooking class to BU MET students.

Later that night, Claudine and Rollie hosted a reception celebrating 50 years of the Boston University food studies program. They oversaw the installation of a bronze plaque created by the JPF with Jacques’ visionary message, “we are all equal in the eyes of the stove.” It was an inspirational day of celebration and culinary education.

On Tuesday, Jacques, Claudine and Rollie were on hand for an exceptional 90/90 event at Jody Adams’ La Padrona restaurant. The food, service, ambience, and conviviality were all excellent, and the event generated significant revenue for the JPF‘s granting program in 2024. Chef Adams recognized her entire staff at the end of the meal, emphasizing the egalitarian team spirit of the hospitality industry.

On Wednesday, Jacques, Claudine and Rollie again attended a 90/90 event at Jeremy Sewell’s Row 34 restaurant. This tribute was hosted by some of Boston’s most renowned chefs, including Ken Oringer, Ming Tsai, Michael Schlow, and David Punch. The enthusiasm to fundraise for the JPF and recognize Jacques’ incredible accomplishments over the last several decades – all in support of culinary education — was heartwarming.

Boston has always been a welcoming and generous place for the Pépin-Wesen family and the JPF. The hard work of the chefs and culinary educators there is an inspiration to us all!

Jacques Celebrated at Gramercy Tavern’s 90/90 Dinner

What a spectacular way to launch our 90/90 Celebration Campaign! Our dinner at Gramercy Tavern on Sunday, October 6, 2024 was absolutely magical, with Jacques himself in attendance, and friends of the Foundation and coming together to #celebratejacques in marvelous fashion. The event sold out with 110 guests, and everyone enjoyed a seated five-course seasonal menu with wine and spirit pairings, including a welcome toast with Westward Whiskey. The menu included many of our generous partners, including HINE Cognac, Comté PDO, Joseph Cartron Créme de Cassis, Acqua Panna Natural Spring Water, and S.Pellegrino Sparkling Mineral Water.

Chef Mike Anthony and Danny Meyer shared heartfelt remarks about Jacques’ incredible impact on the culinary industry and how they were honored to support the Foundation. As the Founder and Executive Chairman of Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG), Danny embodies the spirit of the JPF’s mission to bring excellence in culinary education to more people. New York City culinary training programs, including JPF Grantee Emma’s Torch, count on USHG as one of their primary employment partners for graduates of their training programs. Danny and his amazing crew at Gramercy Tavern are a testament to the power of prioritizing education and integrity in the hospitality industry, and we were thrilled to celebrate Jacques with them!

We hope our guests enjoyed the evening as much as we enjoyed having them with the JPF and Jacques. While Jacques enthusiastically supports our 90/90 Celebrations, he will not be attending all of them, so this was an especially meaningful event. We look forward to celebrating with his supporters nationwide as we honor Jacques’ passion for culinary education through these special experiences. It was truly a beautiful beginning to our 90/90 adventure, and we can’t wait for many more to come!

To find out about all upcoming 90/90 Celebrations, please visit our 90/90 events page.

90/90 Celebrations Coming to New York

Join the Jacques Pépin Foundation as we kick off the 90/90 Celebration Campaign in the city that never sleeps — and really knows how to eat! There’s no better place to launch our nationwide campaign than the bustling and beautiful home of some of our country’s top chefs and restaurants.

With 90 ticketed dinners celebrating 90 years of Jacques, our goal is to raise a record amount of funds to advance the JPF’s mission of improving lives through culinary education.

Kickoff Dinner

Join Jacques Pépin, Claudine Pépin and Rollie Wesen for a legendary kick-off 90/90 dinner at Gramercy Tavern, hosted by Executive Chef Mike Anthony and Danny Meyer, Founder and Executive Chairman of Union Square Hospitality Group. This four-course seated dinner in New York City’s beloved restaurant will showcase contemporary American cuisine and seasonal ingredients. This is the first dinner in the series leading up to Jacques Pépin’s 90th birthday. Be a part of culinary history and join this celebratory event!

Get tickets

Next Up

Can’t make it to the Gramercy Tavern event? Curious about other 90/90 dinners in New York City? Follow the links below for details on other fabulous 90/90 events.

  • Point Seven (10/25) — Don’t miss “Jacques Pépin’s 90/90 Culinary Celebration” at Point Seven — an evening set to be both unforgettable and inspiring. Hosted by renowned Chef Franklin Becker, this dining experience is a heartfelt tribute to the culinary icon Jacques Pépin.
  • King (10/28) — King is relaxed, simple and elegant. Chef Angeles’s menu for this 90/90 celebration will pay homage to Jacques Pépin’s hometown, Bourg-en-Bresse, and their traditional celebration of La Fête du Vincuit.
  • Craft (10/30) — Join Chef Tom Colicchio for an unforgettable night of food and drink inspired by Tom’s lifelong admiration of Jacques Pépin.

See the full calendar of upcoming events nationwide.

Stay Informed

Be the first to learn about upcoming events for our 90/90 Celebration Campaign. Sign up for updates.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?

Jacques will be dining at Marea in New York City on Thursday, June 6, 2024! To help us gear up for the 90/90 Dinner Series starting in the fall, Marea Restaurant has generously pledged 25% of their proceeds from that night to the Jacques Pépin Foundation.

The talented chefs at this acclaimed Central Park South restaurant are preparing special Jacques-inspired dishes in addition to their incredible a la carte menu of Italian seafood.

This promises to be an unforgettable night and a delicious way to get ready for the official 90/90 launch in the fall. We hope you’ll make a reservation and join us to raise a glass to Jacques on June 6th!

Celebrate Jacques’ 90th Birthday Nationwide

Chill the Champagne and stock up on birthday candles, because Jacques Pépin is going to turn 90 next year! That’s something to commemorate in and of itself, but at the Jacques Pépin Foundation we’re planning to celebrate both the man and the mission of the JPF.

Starting this fall, we are launching our biggest fundraising initiative ever: the 90/90 Dinner Series. We’re curating 90 ticketed dinners nationwide (including Hawaii!) to celebrate 90 years of Jacques. Our goal is to raise a record amount of funds to advance the JPF’s mission of improving lives through culinary education. Through job training in food service for people facing employment barriers nationwide, and improved health and food literacy for all, the gifts collected during this campaign will make a lasting change for the better.

With 90 dinners hosted by top chefs and restaurants across the country, plus home dinner parties hosted by YOU, and even live virtual events, there are going to be countless ways to celebrate Jacques’ lifetime of food education and joie de vivre. The party starts in October 2024 and runs through December 2025.

Everyone is invited to participate, so we hope you’ll join us in celebrating Jacques and the power of culinary education to improve lives and strengthen communities nationwide!