Madison Beach Hotel
- When
- December 18, 2025
- Where
- Madison Beach Hotel Madison, CT
Join us for the culmination celebration on Jacques’ actual 90th birthday in his hometown. The Madison Beach Hotel in Connecticut will host the ultimate birthday bash. Be a part of culinary history and don’t miss this celebratory event!
Highlights
- This event will be held on Jacques’ 90th birthday. Honoree Jacques Pépin will be in attendance with Claudine Pépin and Rollie Wesen, Executive Director of the JPF
- Located in Jacques’ hometown, the historic Madison Beach Hotel is Connecticut’s only beachfront boutique resort and spa. Home to 33 elegant rooms, all with views and balconies, the AAA four-diamond New England beach resort and part of Curio Collection by Hilton hotel, is a destination for casual elegance in a quintessential New England town.
- Extended Cocktail reception followed by a 4-course menu with wine pairings, featuring some of Connecticut’s top chefs (Reneé Touponce and Emily Mingrone), with a very special birthday cake by celebrated pastry chef Ron Ben-Israel
- Live auction hosted by Jacqueline Towers-Perkins and Claudine Pépin with exclusive artwork, travel packages, and truly one-of-a-kind experiences
Details
- Tickets will go on sale on Jacques’ half-birthday: June 18. Please check back here for the ticketing link.
- For questions about tickets or seating, please email events@jp.foundation
- The resort is less than two hours from Manhattan, just over two hours from Boston, and less than half an hour from the Tweed New Haven Airport
- A hotel block will be available with a reduced rate.
- Tickets are non-refundable but transferrable. We appreciate your understanding.
- 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.
Event Host
Peter Hamil
Executive Chef, Madison Beach Hotel
Madison Beach Hotel, a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning boutique resort on Connecticut’s scenic Long Island Sound, is renowned for its exceptional hospitality, rich legacy, and acclaimed dining experiences. At the heart of its culinary excellence is Chef Peter Hamil, a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, California. His passion and talent have earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Master Chef Award at the Jamaica Observer Food Table Talk Awards and recognition in Food & Wine Magazine.
As the creative force behind The Wharf, Chef Hamil curates an exceptional dining program that highlights New England seafood and continental classics with a modern twist. His commitment to farm-to-table principles ensures that each dish showcases fresh, locally sourced ingredients, delivering a dynamic and memorable experience for guests. Under his leadership, The Wharf has become a premier dining destination, elevating Madison Beach Hotel’s reputation for culinary excellence.
Guest Chefs
Ron Ben-Israel
Chef-owner, Ron Ben-Israel Cakes
Ron is the chef-owner of a world-renowned couture cake studio, celebrated for crafting exquisite specialty cakes hand-delivered across the U.S. and internationally. A former professional modern dancer with a 15-year career on three continents, Ron infuses his art training, military background, and ballet discipline into the pastry arts.
Discovered by Martha Stewart he quickly rose to prominence in media and television. In 1999, he opened his flagship Manhattan studio and became the only guest master pastry chef-instructor at NYC’s International Culinary Center. A recipient of countless gold medal, Ron has hosted Sweet Genius and judged Cake Wars and The Big Bake on Food Network. He is a celebrated lecturer, mentor to aspiring cake designers, and a passionate supporter of City Harvest.
Emily Mingrone
Chef and proprietor of Tavern on State, Provisions on State, Fair Haven Oyster Co. and The Pearl
Emily Mingrone is an award-winning chef and restaurateur with numerous accolades from acclaimed publications such as The New York Times and Boston Magazine, in addition to repeated recognition from Connecticut Magazine for Overall Excellence.
Emily was also the first woman to take home Chef of the Year from the Connecticut Restaurant Association in 2021 and has had multiple appearances on the Food Network.
Reneé Touponce
Executive chef partner, Oyster Club and The Port of Call
With a passionate focus on local ingredients and a serious position on equality in the kitchen, Reneé Touponce, Chef/partner of Oyster Club and The Port of Call, continues to raise the culinary bar in Mystic, CT and throughout New England.
Reneé is a 2024 James Beard Award Finalist for Outstanding Chef, a 2023 James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef Northeast, and was named Chef of the Year at the Connecticut Restaurant Association’s 2022 CRazies Awards. Her kitchens are healthy, equal and safe, where no one has to feel out of place, while also cooking some of the most innovative and thoughtful food in New England.
