back to Jacques' Pressroom FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Anne Wintroub, (415) 553-2145, awintroub@kqed.org Jacques Pépin Celebrates Year-Round in New Public Television Series of Celebrations, Holidays and Special Occasions Twenty Half-Hour Episodes, Six Hour-Long Episodes With Daughter Claudine Make Every Occasion a Feast for the Body and the Soul San Francisco, California—World-renowned chef Jacques Pépin is throwing a party—and America is invited! Jacques’ daughter, Claudine, joins in the celebration as the father-daughter duo give creative and elegant culinary ideas for every occasion. Traditional holidays such as Christmas, Chanukah, Thanksgiving and Easter join other special days like Mother’s Day, the 4th of July and Valentine’s Day for Jacques Pépin Celebrates!, coming to public television stations nationwide beginning Saturday, October 6 (check local listings for dates and times). Jacques Pépin Celebrates! consists of 20 half-hour episodes of dinner party menus and technique-based programs (episodes 101-120), as well as six one-hour holiday specials (episodes 201-206). Jacques and Claudine prepare high-end feasts of flavors and techniques, brought together by the masterful hands and infectious charm of one of the world’s best-loved chefs. This is the seventh national cooking program produced by KQED San Francisco (his eleventh series or special overall) with the man Julia Child calls "the best chef in America." Viewers of Jacques Pépin Celebrates! have the opportunity to cook meals in their own home that are the equivalent of the best food they’ve ever eaten in any restaurant—and they can make it themselves at a fraction of the cost whenever they’d like, to the accolades of their friends and family. For Jacques, the table is the cornerstone of family life; all traditions and culture evolve from it, and a person’s character and well-being grow from there. He wants no less than to bring his philosophy to the dining rooms of America, enticing families back to the table to enjoy food with each other. Jacques’ charm brings the spirit of the French family farmhouse to the modern American home, so that we all might enjoy each other more and develop a stronger society. "In these shows, it’s cooking, cooking, cooking!," said an enthusiastic Pépin. "We’re getting back to the basics, but we’re also highlighting special dishes for the holidays." The six one-hour specials of Jacques Pépin Celebrates! (Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Easter, Graduation and Independence Day) are designed to serve as seasonal evergreen programming. Cooking segments were taped in the studio and other portions were taped at Jacques’ home in Connecticut while he prepared for the holidays, purchased fresh ingredients, set the table and made decisions on wine, tableware and how to serve the meal—all assisted by Claudine. Viewers will also get a glimpse of Jacques the artist as he illustrates his delightful, hand-painted menus and guest lists. Together, Jacques and Claudine will address planning, shopping, decorating and designing a setting for a great meal with friends and family to enjoy their sumptuous meals. KQED San Francisco is developing a companion Web site for Jacques Pépin Celebrates!, which will launch October 2001 at www.kqed.org/jacquespepin. The site will include recipes, conversations with Jacques and tips for cooking. Jacques Pépin Celebrates! is also the title of the companion cookbook published by Knopf. Jacques Pépin Celebrates! is generously underwritten by Cambria, Meyer Corporation, Salton, Inc., Epicurious.com and OXO International. Jacques Pépin Celebrates! is an original production of KQED San Francisco. Peggy Lee Scott is the series producer; Katherine Zilavy is the coordinating producer and Jennie Cecil is the associate producer. The executive producers for Jacques Pépin Celebrates! are Sue Ellen McCann and Danny McGuire. Jacques Pépin Celebrates! is distributed by American Public Television (APT). American Public Television, located in Boston, is a major source of programming for the nation’s public television stations. Known for identifying innovative programs and developing creative distribution techniques, APT provides stations with program choices that enable them to strengthen and customize their schedules. It also serves as an essential distribution option for producers. More information about APT’s programs and services is available on the Web at www.aptvs.org. KQED operates KQED Public Television 9, the nation’s most-watched public television station (in prime-time), and Digital Television 30, Northern California's only public television digital signal; KQED Public Radio 88.5 FM, the most listened-to public radio station in the nation; the KQED Education Network, which brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents and media professionals through workshops, seminars and resources; and www.kqed.org, which harnesses the power of the Internet to bring KQED to communities across the Web. back to Jacques' Pressroom