Pépin has published 25 cookbooks and hosted nine much-admired public television cooking series. Pépin is a former columnist for The New York Times and now writes a quarterly column for Food & Wine Magazine. He also participates annually in the magazine's prestigious Food & Wine Classic in Aspen and at other culinary festivals and fund-raising events worldwide.

In October 2004, Pépin received France's highest civilian honor, the French Legion of Honor. He is also the Dean of Special Programs at The French Culinary Institute of New York and the founder of The American Institute of Wine. Pépin is a popular guest on television programs such as: The Late Show with David Letterman, The Today Show and Good Morning America.