Giusto, a popular Newport eatery, is gearing up to host a dinner as part of the Jacques Pépin Foundation’s nationwide fundraiser.
Set for May 30, the event brings together top Rhode Island chefs to celebrate Jacques Pépin’s 90th birthday and his impressive 75-year career as a culinary educator and chef.
Kevin O’Donnell, Giusto’s chef and owner, is taking the lead in the kitchen. He’s teaming up with Executive Chef William Rietzel and Pastry Chef Sarah Larose. They’re also welcoming guest chefs Robert Andreozzi from Pizza Marvin, Basil Yu of Yagi Noodles, and Eric Brown from Frank and Laurie’s.
Guests can look forward to a five-course tasting menu with paired drinks. Tickets are going for $270 per person.
This dinner is just one part of the Jacques Pépin Foundation’s 90/90 campaign. The initiative aims to honor Pépin’s legacy while supporting the foundation’s educational programs.
Claudine Pépin, the foundation’s president, explains, “These special dining events not only honor my father’s impact on culinary education but also directly support our mission to help people overcome employment barriers through culinary training.”
The campaign features 90 chef-hosted events across the country, leading up to Pépin’s 90th birthday in December. The money raised will boost Community Kitchen grants, educational programs, and help create a new JPF Learning Curriculum.
Rhode Island food lovers can also look forward to other events in the series, including dinners at the Culinary Hub of Providence, Oberlin, River Bar, and a weekend experience at Ocean House.
For more details about the campaign or to book a spot at the Giusto event, check out www.celebratejacques.org.
