A Toast to Chef Jacques Pépin
- When
- November 8, 2025 6:00 pm-9:00 pm
- Where
- Homeward Bound 1385 N Hamilton Parkway Novato CA
- Tickets/Info
- Get Tickets
Join us to celebrate the 90th birthday and immense legacy of Chef Jacques Pépin with Leslie Sbracco of KQED’s “Check, Please!” and local culinary stars. Make reservations now for this one-of-a-kind event from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8.
Chefs Heidi Krahling and Roland Passot will share cooking and memories in this unique evening hosted by Matthew Shapiro and the Fresh Starts Chef Events team and the Jacques Pépin Foundation.
Don’t miss this chance to toast the innovator who brought classical French technique to American kitchens with clarity and warmth. At Homeward Bound, his eponymous foundation extends his impact with generous support for Fresh Starts Culinary Academy.
Highlights
- Chef Heidi will demonstrate the evening’s appetizer recipe—one of our honoree’s favorites—in our showcase kitchen.
- Two more courses will follow as Leslie Sbracco leads our chefs in a conversation about the impact of Chef Pépin’s work.
Details
- Thanks to the generosity of the participating event host, a portion of the evening's proceeds will be donated to the Jacques Pépin Foundation to support our mission of expanding access to culinary education. We deeply appreciate your generous support.
- Jacques Pépin proudly supports our 90/90 Celebrations. While he can't be present at all of them, we invite you to check our website for details on the events where he will joining in celebration.
Event Host
Matt Shapiro
Director of Training and Culinary Operations, The Key Room
Working in kitchens since the age of 15, Chef Matt Shapiro advanced from dishwasher to chef in his home state of New York. He arrived in the North Bay after leading positions for restaurants on the East Coast and in San Francisco.
In 2014, Chef Matt joined Hog Island Oyster Co. as chef at Tony’s Seafood in West Marin. Always attentive to the quality of ingredients, he played an integral role at Hog Island in creating a sustainable sourcing plan.
Chef Matt joined the team at The Key Room as a Chef Instructor, bringing leadership skills and a breadth of experience that led to his appointment as Director of Training and Culinary Operations. His role weaves together the joy of providing outstanding food and the culture of learning in our kitchens.
Guest Chefs
Heidi Krahling
Chef and Co-Owner, Insalata’s
Heidi Krahling became a chef during California’s culinary coming of age in the 1980s. She and her husband, Mark Krahling, opened Insalata’s in 1996 and both have worked hard to make it a central part of the San Anselmo community.
Today, Heidi is the mama-in-residence, guiding her culinary team while Mark ensures that the restaurant’s myriad components run smoothly. Their goal has always been to provide gracious service and delicious Mediterranean-inspired food to their guests while taking care of their teams of chefs and servers.
Roland Passot
Hailing from Lyon, the “Capital of Gastronomy,” Roland Passot was surrounded by legendary mentors and culinary icons. By 15 he landed his first job, and by 19 became executive chef at Pierre Orsi’s renowned restaurant.
It was Chef Orsi, returning from an illustrious career in the US, who encouraged Roland to explore opportunities in America. He did just that in 1976, first in Chicago, then in 1988 opening La Folie in San Francisco. Over 32 years, La Folie became a cornerstone of fine dining, earning numerous accolades before closing its doors in 2020, just before the COVID-19 lockdown.
Accolades include, James Beard Best Rising Star Chef; USA Today 10 Best Restaurant in San Francisco; Inducted into the Maître Cuisinier de France; Chevalier dans l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole (France); Best Food & Restaurant, Zagat; 2020 Top 40 in USA Gayot Guide; 4-star rating from Michael Bauer, SF Chronicle; Top 100 Restaurant, San Francisco Chronicle; participated in the Anthony Bourdain CNN “The Layover”; and 4-Star Ratings – San Francisco Magazine, 7×7 Magazine.
Now stepping back from the stoves, Roland continues to mentor young chefs, work with Maître Cuisiniers de France and giving back supporting the San Francisco Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Make-A-Wish Foundation, James Beard Foundation, Homeward Bound of Marin, Sprouts, and Ment’or for USA Team – Bocuse d’Or Competition.
Collaborators
Leslie Sbrocco
An award-winning author, speaker, consultant, and television host, Leslie Sbrocco is known for her entertaining approach to wine and food, as well as inspiring others to live a life of passion. Voted as one of the Top 100 most influential people in the American wine business, Sbrocco’s engaging personality, humor, and ability to connect with the audience—whether on screen or on stage—are her trademarks.
Sbrocco’s first book, Wine for Women: A Guide to Buying, Pairing and Sharing Wine (William Morrow), has been excerpted by two national magazines, Redbook and Family Circle, and won the coveted Georges Duboeuf Best Wine Book of the Year award. Her second book, The Simple & Savvy Wine Guide (William Morrow), was released to wide acclaim, and she is currently at work on two new books entitled 100 Days…100 Drinks, Dishes & Destinations and Drinking for a Living: How One Woman Created Her Dream Job and So Can YOU.
As host of the PBS restaurant review series Check Please! Sbrocco has won a coveted James Beard award, three Taste Awards, and three Emmy awards in the span of 10 seasons on air. Sbrocco was a featured judge on the PBS national series, The Winemakers, and created wine content for the hit TBS show, Cougartown. She appears frequently on national television outlets including CNN, The Hallmark Channel’s Better TV, QVC, and is a regular guest on NBC’s Today Show. Her work has been published in outlets such as People Style Watch magazine, Epicurious.com, O the Oprah magazine, Coastal Living, Woman’s Day, Health, Good Housekeeping and Glamour among others. Prior to completing Wine for Women, Leslie was a columnist for The New York Times online and General Manager of WineToday.com, a site of The New York Times Company. She is also the founder of the multi-media company, Thirsty Girl LLC.
Through her social media, print, online outlets and television appearances, Leslie reaches millions of consumers. Sbrocco is one of the country’s most sought-after wine speakers and an emerging talent speaking to groups on how to turn their passions into their careers. She has showcased her energetic style at hundreds of events including O Magazine’s Hi Gorgeous tour with Oprah Winfrey, and the Women of the Vine, and Women in Insurance Leadership Symposiums.