Birthday Celebration Planned For Legendary Madison Chef

News release from The Jacques Pépin Foundation:

MADISON, CT — The Jacques Pépin Foundation (JPF) is thrilled to announce the official 90th birthday celebration of legendary chef, author, educator and artist, Jacques Pépin, taking place on his actual birthday, Thursday, December 18. Located in his hometown of Madison, CT, the historic Madison Beach Hotel, Connecticut’s only beach front boutique resort and spa, will host this spectacular and historic event.

This extraordinary evening marks the grand finale of the JPF's 90/90 campaign, a national celebration honoring Jacques’ prolific 75-year career of culinary and cultural impact through 90 events hosted across the country. From intimate dinners to grand tastings, the 90/90 campaign has united chefs, culinary students, supporters and fans in support of the JPF’s mission: to improve lives through culinary education.

Held in a town where Jacques has lived and cooked for decades, this once-in-a-lifetime celebration will bring together friends, family, culinary luminaries, JPF members and longtime fans to toast to Jacques, whose work has forever shaped the food world. The evening will include:

• A welcome step-and-repeat courtesy of visionary sponsor Oceania Cruises
• A festive, extended cocktail reception followed by a four-course menu with wine pairings showcasing some of Connecticut’s top chefs like Reneé Touponce of Oyster Club and the Port of Call and Emily Mingrone of Tavern on State and Fair Haven Oyster Co.
• A live auction hosted by Jacqueline Towers-Perkins and Claudine Pépin featuring Jacques’ original artwork, travel packages and one-of-a-kind experiences
• Tributes and toasts from celebrity chefs and special guests
• A birthday cake, of course, worthy of a culinary icon by celebrated pastry chef Ron Ben-Israel

— Jacques Pépin. Photo credit: Ken Goodman

Tickets for this special evening start at $1,500 and can be purchased here. For those traveling in, a hotel block is available with a special preferred rate, subject to availability, through Friday, September 5.

“All of us at Oceania Cruises are immensely proud to be a longstanding supporter of the Jacques Pépin Foundation in its inspiring mission to nurture opportunity, inclusion, and excellence through the culinary arts,” says Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer for Oceania Cruises. “As Jacques celebrates his 90th birthday, we are honored to join in recognizing his extraordinary contributions, not only to the world of food, but to countless individuals whose lives he has touched through mentorship, generosity, and purpose. It is a privilege to celebrate this milestone alongside a true icon and cherished partner.”

“This is more than just a birthday party, it’s a celebration of my father’s lifelong devotion to teaching, sharing, and giving back,” says Claudine Pépin, President of the JPF. “We’re excited and honored to welcome friends from near and far to Madison for this beautiful evening.”

Proceeds from the event will directly support the JPF’s educational initiatives including free instructional videos on the website, YouTube and social media channels, and the established Community Kitchens Support program, empowering people facing barriers to employment through culinary training. Funds raised will be used to enhance the Community Kitchen grants, all educational programs, and to build the new JPF Learning Curriculum available on a dedicated educational website for Community Kitchens nationwide.

For more information about the campaign, including how to attend additional dinners, host an event, or participate in a virtual celebration, please visit the official campaign website: www.celebratejacques.org.

About the Jacques Pépin Foundation:
Founded in 2016, the Jacques Pépin Foundation (JPF) was created to honor Jacques’ generosity and passion for sharing his culinary knowledge. The JPF’s work is focused on teaching and inspiring all people to cook. Among our programs, we provide hundreds of hours of free instructional videos, available to all, through social media channels, YouTube and our website to teach and enhance cooking skills, and still more to JPF members with access to recipes and videos from renowned and inspiring chefs through our JPF members’ Video Recipe Book Cook with Jacques Pépin & Friends. Our existing Community Kitchens Support program provides grants, cookbook libraries, and other resources nationwide for workforce development, designed for individuals who are under-resourced, enabling them to achieve success through employment in the hospitality industry. The Foundation works with existing Community Kitchens to build their curricula, train aspiring hospitality professionals, and foster a supportive community, hope, and opportunity for a brighter future. The JPF is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. To support the JPF or learn more, visit our website: https://jp.foundation or follow us on Instagram.
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