Jacques Pépin: A Journey from Palate to Palette

A master of classic French cuisine as well as modern global gastronomy, Chef Jacques Pépin combines international flavors and colors with the comfort foods of his favorite family recipes. The famous chef has shared his work in the kitchen publicly throughout a career that began more than 60 years ago and has inspired three generations of professional chefs, home cooks and foodies as well as the dining staff and renowned chefs of Oceania Cruises as the Executive Culinary Director.

Privately, Jacques has been quietly expressing himself through oils, acrylics and watercolors. His artwork has recently been making its way into the public eye. It began when he gave one of his paintings, through the Jacques Pépin Foundation, to a charity auction. When the desire to own a piece of his artwork became evident through bidding, limited edition prints were created to make his work accessible to adoring fans who have learned to cook from Jacques through his television shows and award-winning cookbooks.

Photo Credit by Tom Hopkins

For the past 30 years, Jacques has taught in the Culinary Arts Program that he co-founded at Boston University and, since 1989, has served as dean of special programs at the International Culinary Center in New York. In 2019, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Daytime Emmys for his highly acclaimed PBS television cooking programs and talent that inspired today’s culinary TV shows. Whether preparing a classic Jacques Pépin recipe like rotisserie-roasted chicken or a color palette for an impressionistic landscape, Jacques sees similarities in his approach to cooking and painting. He likens both to “working with my hands.”

“I started to paint to capture memories of meals with people who are special to me,” says Jacques, a sentimental man who seems surprised at the demand for his artwork. Each of Jacques’ hand-illustrated menus has its own unique border - some are colorful, some delicate and others whimsical in nature depending on his mood at that moment.

“The process is intuitive. You cannot suppress the subconscious in art where the subconscious is the source of inspiration,” says Jacques. “Even in abstract representations, there is a structure, a balance, something solid that satisfies your sense of aesthetic. You can’t always analyze it or explain it, but you can always feel it.”

“Certainly for me, cooking and painting can live in harmony together. Both are different expressions of who I am and both enhance my life considerably,” says Jacques.

THE JACQUES PÉPIN CRUISE
Mediterranean Collage | October 25, 2020
Venice to Rome aboard Marina, 10 Days

You can join the famous chef on his annual signature sailing and enjoy specially prepared menus, engaging lectures, culinary demonstrations and much more.

Discover Jacques Pépin recipes and more here.