Legendary chef Jacques Pepin will turn 90 on December 18, 2025. Over the course of his career, he has authored over 30 cookbooks and hosted 13 public television series. In fact, he has dedicated much of his professional life to sharing his culinary knowledge with others and generously supporting culinary education for all through The Jacques Pépin Foundation.
To celebrate both his milestone birthday and his impactful work, The Foundation will be collaborating with chefs, culinary personalities and home cooks across the country to host its first-ever nation-wide fundraising campaign.
One of these events will take place right here in Milwaukee at The Pfister Hotel. Jacques Pépin's 90th Birthday Gala will take place on Monday, March 24 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Pfister Grand Ballroom.
An amazing slate of chefs
The event will bring together over 20 of Wisconsin’s finest chefs who will collaborate on a cocktail-style culinary event featuring unique small plates, complimentary wines and a silent auction featuring signed items from celebrity chefs, including Jacques Pépin. Chef Pépin himself will join the event virtually for a special toast.
The event will feature chefs from the following restaurants (in alphabetical order):
- Amilinda
- Birch
- Bacchus
- Brandywine - Cedarburg
- Buckley’s
- Ca’ Lucchenzo
- Dandan and EsterEv
- The Diplomat
- The Edison
- Egg & Flour
- Goodkind
- Grand Geneva - pastry chefs
- Heritage Tavern - Madison
- I.d. - Delafield
- Lake Park Bistro
- Lupi & Iris
- Mason Street Grill
- Matilda Bakehouse
- Pabst Theater Group
- The Pfister Hotel - pastry chefs
- Sanford
- Three Brothers
The event will also feature special wine guest Marino Monferatto, VP of Hospitality for Daou Vineyards and Maitre d' of Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen TV Show
Get your tickets
Tickets can be purchased online for $135 per person. An optional $50 VIP add-on includes early admission, upgraded wine options and VIP reserved seating. Proceeds from this event will support the Jacques Pépin Foundation and its mission to empower communities through feeding programs and culinary scholarships.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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