Pepin's 40 Years of Menus are In The Books

I've always loved Jacques Pepin, the easygoing and talented French chef. He was quoted in today's Boston Herald, disputing a recently published book that said his pal Julia Child was a homophobe. He also talked about cooking.

“It is so much more satisfying cooking for friends and family who are much more important than dignitaries,” said Pepin, who would rather forage for mushrooms or go trout fishing with his buds than prepare a banquet for 500.

“It’s cooking with love. You can never make mistakes with your family, except, of course, with the kids who may think some things are disgusting.”

But not Pepin’s 3-year-old granddaughter, Shorey. According to her grandpere, the wee gourmet’s palate is quite adventurous because her mom, Claudine, feeds her “really good stuff.”

Scattered amongst the recipes and memories in “Chez Jacques” are photos of menu cards the amateur artist has designed over the years, as well as his colorful paintings.

“Over the past 40 years of marriage, we have six big books filled with menu cards I painted,” said the amateur artist. “We would have the guests sign the menus and then we’d put them in a book. It’s just something we’ve always done.”