By Kyle Marie McMahon |
In my kitchen, there are a few recipes that have become part of our family’s DNA. They are the staples, the non-negotiables, the dishes that feel like home. There’s a specific, velvety mushroom soup I make on the first truly cold day of the year. There’s an interesting yet delicious combination of tuna and pasta that I can pull together by memory. And there’s the flawless, fast gnocchi and eggs that we have every other week. All of these trace back to Jacques Pépin.
For me, and for millions of others, Jacques was our first true cooking teacher. Long before the internet, he was the calm, joyful voice on our televisions, demystifying French cuisine with a gentle smile and an encouraging “Happy Cooking!” He taught us that technique wasn’t about intimidation; it was about liberation. He showed us that great food didn’t have to be complicated or expensive; it just had to be cooked with care.
More than anything, he taught us that cooking is an act of generosity. That spirit of teaching, generosity, and community is the core of The Jacques Pépin Foundation (JPF).
On October 16th, this spirit was on full display, filling every corner of Ashley Christensen’s Poole’s Diner. The dinner was, as I knew it would be, outstanding. Take three top-tier chefs and have them create a menu inspired by Jacques served alongside wine selected from the region he was born in?! It was quite possibly the best meal of my life. But it was also a one-off—a magical moment in time that was about so much more than the food on the plate. It was a physical manifestation of Jacques’ ability to bring people together.
The event, which showcased three of the culinary world’s most celebrated chefs—our very own Ashley Christensen, alongside Sarah Grueneberg of Monteverde in Chicago and Jason Stanhope of FIG in Charleston—was a testament to the man who inspired them.
The dinner was intimate, less than 40 guests of Raleigh locals and visitors who had traveled for the occasion. I was seated at a table of strangers. We were all drawn there by a shared appreciation for culinary excellence, but as the courses arrived, something else happened. The communal joy of the meal, the shared “oohs” and “aahs,” melted away any pretense. We began to talk, to share stories. By the time dessert was served, we were laughing like old friends, deep in a game of “First and Best”—first concert (NSYNC), best concert (Metallica). For one night, a collection of strangers had become a community, all brought together by the legacy of one man.
This dinner, it turns out, was part of a much grander celebration. JPF has launched a nationwide fundraising campaign honoring Jacques’ 90th birthday (in December 2025) and his prolific 75-year career. The centerpiece is a series of 90 celebration dinners—90 extraordinary, unique gatherings hosted by 90 renowned chefs across the country, including icons like Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud, and Tom Colicchio.
The Poole’s dinner was one of those 90, and like all the events, the funds raised go to support the deeper, life-changing work of The Jacques Pépin Foundation.
While we often associate chefs of this caliber with fine dining, JPF’s mission is grounded in something far more fundamental. The foundation supports a national network of community kitchens, providing grants and resources to organizations that offer free culinary and life skills training. Their work helps individuals who are detached from the workforce—whether from incarceration, homelessness, or other challenges—gain confidence, skills, and, ultimately, employment in the food industry.
The 90/90 celebration is designed to expand this grant program and create pathways for community kitchen graduates to gain employment in the restaurants of the very chefs hosting these dinners.
The magic of the Poole’s dinner may be over, but the celebration of Jacques’ legacy is just getting started. And the best part? We can all join in. The campaign, which runs through 2025, invites people to get involved in several ways. You can become a JPF member, which grants access to an incredible digital video recipe book, Cook with Jacques Pépin & Friends, featuring chefs like José Andrés, Carla Hall, and Alice Waters.
But my favorite element, the one that brings his legacy full circle, is the invitation for “Home Cook Dinner Parties.” The foundation encourages culinary enthusiasts to host their own Pépin-inspired dinners, get creative in their kitchens, and share their experiences.
It’s a beautiful, simple call to action. It’s an acknowledgment that the most important tables aren’t always in the fanciest restaurants, but in our own homes. The Poole’s dinner was a stunning reminder of how food can turn strangers into friends, but JPF’s mission is a reminder that food—and the skills to cook it—can also change a life.
It all comes back to that simple, generous invitation: to get in the kitchen, to share what you make, and to find the joy in the process.
Happy Cooking.
