A Grandfather's Lessons: In the Kitchen with Shorey – A Classic Family Cookbook by Famous Chef Jacques Pépin with Fun Recipes for Kids

by Jacques Pépin

The grand master of cooking has a new apprentice in the his granddaughter.

Jacques Pépin is one of the nation’s most famous cooking teachers, renowned for his knife skills. Ever since she was very young, his granddaughter, Shorey, has loved “helping” him in the kitchen. Now that she is twelve, Jacques gives his charismatic pupil a short course on preparing “food that is plain, but elegant, and more than anything, fun.” In the process, he proves himself as inspiring to her as he is to the country’s greatest chefs.

Curly hot dogs, spinach with croutons, sushi salmon cakes, skillet bread and homemade butter, raspberry These recipes will become irresistible new classics for kids. Along the way, Jacques imparts lessons in kitchen etiquette, from how to set a table to how to fold a napkin properly—even how to load a dishwasher. And perhaps the most important lesson of that the best meals are the ones shared at home with family.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food and Drink

208 pages, Hardcover

Published September 12, 2017

About the author

Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. For the epidemiologist, see Jacques Pepin.

Jacques Pépin (born December 18, 1935) is a French-born American chef, author, culinary educator, television personality, and artist. Since the late 1980s, he has appeared on American television and has written for The New York Times, Food & Wine and other publications. He has authored over 30 cookbooks, some of which have become best sellers. Pépin was a longtime friend of the American chef Julia Child, and their 1999 PBS series Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home won a Daytime Emmy Award. He has been honored with 24 James Beard Foundation Awards, five honorary doctoral degrees, the American Public Television’s lifetime achievement award, the Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2019 and the Légion d'honneur, France's highest order of merit in 2004. --Wikipedia

Reviews

[Jan Polep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huzzah! I may have to buy this book or check it out continuallly. Pepin and his granddaughter are a winning team who take fancy food and tweak it into yummy stuff that a kid (or me) would love. My signature dishes...grilled cheese and deviled eggs...souned ho hum next to their recipes. Move over PB&J, I'm upping my game.

[Cheryl]

Skimmed for discussion of children's cookbooks: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/.... Not impressed.

[Libraryassistant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars because I love this man. This is just one more example of how essentially nice he is.
Basically he is bragging on his granddaughter, along with some tips for helping kids learn to enjoy good food and doing things in the kitchen well.
I found it adorable— and really want to try the Soufflan…

[Karin Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review of Jaques Pepin's A Grandfather's Lessons: In the Kitchen with Shorey. I am using this book to share cooking with my two daughters, 12 and 14 years old. We had previously worked our way through The Disney Princess Cookbook and thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought we could graduate to something a little more sophisticated, yet still accessible. I especially appreciate the discussion of setting the table, including pretty ways to fold napkins, good table manners, and decorating with food for fun. In today's fast eating, fast food world, it is hard to convey to children the value of graciousness and traditional manners at the dinner table, and this is something helpful to read together.

Of course, the recipes are good, as one would expect from Jacques Pepin, and I like that we are all learning something about kitchen economy. For instance, I found helpful the discussion of how to peel the lower part of the asparagus, so that the whole spears are edible. Finally, I like the mix of more challenging recipes with simple recipes such as delicious pickle relish for putting on hot dogs. I am always looking for subversive ways to introduce a more sophisticated palate to my girls!

[Faith Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Grandfather's Lessons, In the Kitchen with Shorey," is a delightful nonfiction book that has some good recipes. I know I'm late in the game, but I've just discovered Jacques Pepin. He weaves stories of his home life into the reason for his meals.
This is my wife, Gloria's favorite.
This is my granddaughter, Shorey's favorite.
This is my daughter, Claudine's favorite.
I made this for Gloria when we were dating and won her heart.
His stories and artwork are endearing. I can relate. Another thing I can do, is his recipes. He hardly uses any ingredient I don't already have in my kitchen. You don't have to go to a specialty market to buy anything. The book is enjoyable and useful.

[Jm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this book out of the library because I was curious as to its recipes and because Jacques Pepin is such fun to read. My father adored this chef and his cooking. He was such a big fan that my mother and I went with him to answer phones at KQED on pledge drive where Jacques Pepin came into the studio for a live cooking show. He was as warm, generous, and funny in real life as he seems on TV.

So I enjoyed seeing the drawings scattered through the cookbook and how he made the book not just about recipes, but also setting the table, table manners, and integrating home cooked meals into family life.

While I may not use most of the recipes, they inspire me. And for that (and the undeniable success of his cooking), I recommend this book.

[Reading Fool · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Jacques Pepin is one of my favorite chefs, having enjoyed his cooking shows for many years. I liked the simplicity of this well-photographed cookbook, which is a loving gift from Pepin to his 12-year-old granddaughter Shorey. The recipes are lessons for Shorey, and lessons for Pepin's adult fans as well. It is wonderful to witness the loving relationship between grandfather and grandchild. This would make a nice gift for a young (preteen to early teen) cook.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read on KU.

I have enjoyed Jacques Pépin’s cooking videos since I first saw him on PBS, especially those he made with Julia Child. When he resurfaced with cooking videos on Facebook during the pandemic, I was thrilled. He truly is gifted with the ability to teach cooking. I’m so glad he had the insight to pass his knowledge on to his grand-daughter. This book will be a legacy for her. His art illustrates the book and there are links in the Kindle version to cooking videos. Thank you, Monsieur Pépin, for sharing your kindness and knowledge with the world.

[Noreen Fish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacques Pepin has been one of my favorite cookbook authors for a long time. His recipes are always clear and precise, even when he's telling you how to make something complicated. This cookbook is no different when it comes to precision, but the recipes are mostly pretty simple, because these are things he's making with his granddaughter. The headnotes are entertaining and give you a glimpse of his family life.

[Judith Siers-Poisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly charming, and the deep affection and bond between Jacques and Shorey comes through on every page. Lots of simple and delicious recipes, tips for setting a table and having a lovely meal, and glimpses into the home life of a celebrated chef. Plus, Jacques has illustrate the book with his charming line drawings. A wonderful gift, for yourself or someone else!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful read, I read most of this in 2017, but I was able to finish it. I loved watching Shorey in the kitchen with Pépin, it was fun, adorable and authentic and the book was no different. Definitely will be using some recipes from here.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of delightful recipes with Hersey warming anecdotes.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cookbook is a lovely group of recipes for cooking with youngsters. Can’t wait to share some with my granddaughter.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite chef writes an adorable and yummy cookbook with his granddaughter! I loves the recipes, I loved the stories.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t wait to try some recipes with the grandkids!

[M M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bookmarked many recipes. Great resource to have around when you have little ones.

[John Mulholland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neat cookbook for a teen.

[Anne Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice discussions about manners, food, family and recipes

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun to read and useful

Every grandparent wondering how to relate to a grandchild could learn so much from this. Cooking and eating together create memories that last.

[Anne Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned to cook as a child and young woman by reading cookbooks, and then cooking. I read this book with my young self and my granddaughter in mind. It passes the test for the former, and we will see about the latter. If Kailyn gives the thumbs up and cooks eggs and chicken ala Jacques, I will change this to 5 stars. That said, my father loved to watch him on PBS: "Look at how he does things! It's so simple." I also recommend the accompanying videos, with the charming young teenager that is Shorey being herself and learning at her own pace.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Renown chef, Jacques Pépin and his granddaughter, Shorey, show their love and sheer joy of cooking together. Shorey has been helping in the kitchen since a very young age and she and Jacques collaborate on this book by sharing menu ideas and techniques.

These kid-friendly, elegant recipes are easy and fun to make. The mouthwatering photography made me want to cook right away.

I highly recommend this book, so grab a family member and head to your kitchen to savor the recipes together! – Sara H.