The Jacques Pépin Foundation and Culinary Education with Rollie Wesen

This week on I speak with chef Rollie Wesen. He's the executive Director of the Jacques Pépin foundation, as well as an assistant professor at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.  Rollie is married to Claudine Pepin, Jaques daughter. In talking with Jacques, they thought it would be a great idea to start a foundation while he was still alive, and create something that would have a lasting, positive affect on the world.Jacques decided that he wanted the foundation to focus on one singular mission. To support community kitchens that offer free life skills and culinary training to adults with high barriers to employment. Those barriers could be previous incarceration, homelessness, substance abuse issues, low skill or lack of work history. On this episode, we talk about how the foundation came to be, and have a more in-depth conversation about their mission, and what the future holds for the foundation. Rollie also shares some fun stories like the photographing of Jaques’s cookbooks. And being a professor at Johnson & Wales University, we spoke about the state of culinary education today.Rollie Wesen and The Jacques Pépin FoundationThe Jacques Pépin Foundation WebsiteThe Jacques Pépin Foundation's  Instagram and FacebookRollie's InstagramJacques's cookbook New Complete TechniquesCHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTSIf you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links).  Get the Chefs Without Restaurants NewsletterChefs Without Restaurants InstagramChefs Without Restaurants on TikTokChefs Without Restaurants on YouTubeThe Chefs Without Restaurants Private Facebook GroupChris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little BitesSPONSOR INFOUnited States Personal Chef AssociationThis episode is sponsored by the Unites States Personal Chef Association. Visit their website  and use code TaxBreak2023 to save $75 on new a membership.To learn more about membership, advertising, or partnership opportunities, call Angela at 800-995-2138 ext. 705 or email aprather@uspca.com.Support the show