Making a Difference

Jacques Pepin and chef friends including Junghyun “JP” Park, Brooke Williamson and Antonia Lofaso. Photo by Eric Vitale.

The JPF 7th Anniversary Celebration: A Family Reunion

April 9, 2024

The JPF brought together the culinary industry’s brightest stars for our annual glittering gala on Thursday, April 4, 2024 at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in New York City. Many long-time supporters and new JPF Members convened in support of our mission to improve lives through culinary education.

Practicing Knife Skills at Fresh Starts

March 28, 2024

Trainees at Fresh Starts Culinary Academy in Novato, CA get a lot of practice with knife skills. Chef Instructor Andy Wild demonstrates various vegetable cuts and then keeps things active as Team Tomato and Team Carrot get to work! In the 10-week course, students work hands-on in the kitchen to learn core skills for a career in the busy culinary industry.

Rollie Wesen at Columbia Business School with Professor, Ross Goldenberg

Rollie Wesen invited to speak at Columbia Business School

March 27, 2024

On March 27, JPF Executive Director, Dr. Rollie Wesen was invited to speak at Columbia Business School as part of a case study exercise. JPF supporter, friend and adjunct Professor, Ross Goldenberg, invited Rollie to present the JPF to the class as a subject for “Growth Hacking.” The students were tasked with developing proposals that would address a general food literacy challenge: “To inspire more people to learn and want to cook from scratch”.

Back row: Jurgen David, Herve Malivert, Marc Bauer, Rick Smilow, Richard Simpson, Marcus Samuelsson; Middle row: Cesare Casella, Jacques Pépin, Jacques Torres, Gail Simmoms; Front row: Daniel Boulud, Claudine Pépin (Photo by Ken Goodman)

Celebrating Culinary Education

March 13, 2024

Last week, Jacques, Claudine, and Rollie attended “Technique, Taste & Tradition: The Institute of Culinary Education’s Celebration of the Legacy of The French Culinary Institute” (FCI) in New York City. It was a festive reunion of culinary luminaries, including former FCI chefs, deans, staff, and alumni, with remarks from Rick Smilow, Richard Simpson, Leland Clark, Lee Anne Wong, and of course, Jacques and Claudine Pepin.

Catalyst Kitchens team, Justin Smith (Executive Director), Benita Brisco (Director of Development), and Dina Altieri (Director of Education & Training)

Catalyst Kitchens Northeast Regional Summit

This week, JPF staff were treated to two days of inspirational programming at JPF grantee DC Central Kitchen for the Catalyst Kitchens Northeast Regional Summit. The JPF is proud to support the fine work of the Catalyst Kitchens members (many of them also JPF grantees), and it was thrilling to see so many familiar faces out of their Zoom boxes and in the beautiful facility at DCCK!