Sunday, June 1, 2025

The Art of Jacques Pépin: A Life in Recipes and Paintings, Reviewed

 
The Art of Jacques Pépin: A Life in Recipes and Paintings is a charming tribute to the legendary chef’s 90th birthday, blending his culinary brilliance with his lifelong passion for painting. This gorgeous cookbook features 99 of Pépin’s favorite recipes, thoughtfully paired with his vibrant artworks from six decades. From cozy Bread and Onion Soup to indulgent Chocolate Soufflé, each dish captures Pépin’s signature style—classic, flavorful, and totally doable for home cooks. Recipes like Baked Salmon with Pesto Butter and Pork Roast with Ratatouille nod to his French roots while fitting perfectly in modern kitchens.From cozy Bread and Onion Soup to indulgent Chocolate Soufflé, each dish captures Pépin’s signature style—classic, flavorful, and totally doable for home cooks. Recipes like Baked Salmon with Pesto Butter and Pork Roast with Ratatouille nod to his French roots while fitting perfectly in modern kitchens. 
The book’s layout is super user-friendly, with chapters covering every course, including desserts, so you can easily plan a full meal. The real star, though, is Pépin’s art. His bright, lively paintings, carefully chosen to complement the recipes, add a personal, joyful touch that shows off his creative side beyond the kitchen.The visuals are stunning, but here’s a heads-up: there are no food photos. If you love seeing the finished dish, you might be a bit let down. This is more of an art book with recipes than a traditional cookbook, which I personally loved, but it might not click for everyone.
  
As a lifelong Pépin fan who’s cooked every recipe from his pandemic-era videos and owns all his cookbooks, I think this collection is a gem. The recipes are pure Pépin—simple, elegant, and paired with clear instructions that make you feel like a pro. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just starting out, this book pulls you into Pépin’s world, inspiring you to create with the same passion he radiates. As he loves to say, “Happy cooking!”—and this book makes that vibe come alive. 
You can preorder a copy here. 
 
 I received a digital copy for review from which these pictures were taken.

 Many thanks to NetGalley, Harvest Publishers, and Jacques Pépin for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

3 comments:

  1. What a talented man he is - I love the way he signs his artwork. I haven't watched his cooking shows on PBS in quite awhile, but he and Lydia are my all-time favorites. (:

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  2. All I know about him is what I read here. He sounds like a marvel, love his art!

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    1. He used to have a series on PBS that was quite popular. That was years ago. He also cooked alongside Julia Child. During the pandemic, he made little videos that he would post on Facebook teaching people how to cook and make things that were simple and delicious. I absolutely am in love with him.

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