Chef Jean-Pierre

Jean-Pierre Bréhier (born 1952) is a French chef, television personality, cookbook author and YouTuber. As of September 23, 2024, his YouTube channel Chef Jean-Pierre has over 2 million subscribers and 180 million views. His cooking tips have been cited alongside other celebrity chefs.

Personal life Born in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France, Bréhier was the youngest of five children in a family where culinary arts were highly valued. His mother, Yolande, a Cordon Bleu-trained chef, was a significant influence on his early culinary development.

Bréhier moved to the United States at the age of 21.

Career At age 12, he started working at a local butcher shop, where he learned charcuterie.

Restaurateur In 1976, Bréhier opened his own restaurant, The Left Bank, which became known for its innovative cuisine, impeccable service, and Chef Jean-Pierre's personal input. For 22 years, it was considered one of the United States' finest dining establishments by Bon Appetit, Condé Nast, Gourmet Magazine, and Travel & Leisure. He sold the restaurant in 1997.

Gourmet Magazine named The Left Bank one of the best in South Florida, and its No. 1 selection in Fort Lauderdale. Condé Nast magazine voted it one of the 100 best restaurants in America. The same year, he published his first cookbook, Sunshine Cuisine, mirroring the themes of his television show. The James Beard Foundation nominated Sunshine Cuisine for Best Culinary Video for his contributions to the culinary arts.

In 1994, Bréhier also hosted his own Saturday morning radio talk show on WFTL 1400 AM. In 1998, Bréhier returned to PBS with his second television series, Incredible Cuisine, which featured 26 episodes broadcast on 250 PBS stations nationwide. He collaborated with Time Life to publish his second cookbook, also titled Incredible Cuisine. In January 2006, Bréhier released his third cookbook, Cooking 101, an interactive book featuring recipes inspired by the popular courses offered at his culinary school.

Bréhier's television appearances extended to being a frequent guest chef on the Today Show, where he appeared 25 times, as well as on Larry King Live, Crook & Chase, Lifetime, and The Food Network. Between 2004 and 2012, he had two public television interstitial series distributed to all 350 public television stations through Fast Focus Media, LLC called The 90 Second Gourmet and Gourmet Minutes.

Cookbooks Bréhier has authored three cookbooks. His first two books, Sunshine Cuisine established in 1996, has taught over 17,000 students. His cooking school partnered with Holland American cruises as an excursion experience. Offering practical and demonstration classes, the school catered to both gourmet cooks looking to refine their techniques and beginners taking their first steps in the culinary world. Most classes were personally taught by Chef Jean-Pierre, emphasizing an informal, fun, and educational approach to cooking.

YouTube Chef Jean-Pierre uploaded his first YouTube video on November 1, 2006, primarily for his friends and students. In 2020, he officially launched his YouTube channel, Chef Jean-Pierre Cooking School.