Fox Cities News

Rebekah Peppler, a University of Wisconsin Oshkosh (UWO) alumna and culinary connoisseur, has recently published her third cookbook, further solidifying her reputation in the world of food literature. The book titled "Le Sud" explores the cuisine, culture, and stories of southern France and coastal points east and west.

"I really wanted to dive into that region that is France and Italy to the region where the Rhone River marks its western edge; there is a really special magic and mystique to it," said Peppler. She added that she approached the project with a journalist's perspective, wanting to learn more about the region and capture its essence through recipes, imagery, and text.

Peppler credits her mentor Grace Lim, a UWO instructor, for influencing her career path. She studied Journalism at UWO along with English and Art History minors. Her unique blend of these fields led her to craft an entrepreneurial career focused on exploring and capturing food culture.

Currently residing in Paris, Peppler will be visiting Oshkosh on May 22 for a book signing event at Elsewhere Market and Coffee House as part of her new cookbook's national tour. The event will also feature an author conversation facilitated by Grace Lim.

"It’s starting in New York and ending in L.A.," Peppler said about the tour. "There are a lot of cities in between, and one of them very actively is going to be Oshkosh."

Peppler's journey after graduation took her from New York City to Paris. She completed the classic pastry arts program at the French Culinary Institute before starting as a dessert contributor at Saveur magazine in 2009. Later on, CBS News hired her as a culinary adviser for Cooking Channel programs.

Her first cookbook "Apéritif: Cocktail Hour the French Way" was nominated for a James Beard Award in 2019. Her second book "À Table" was published in April 2021, and now "Le Sud" is hitting the shelves.

Reflecting on her career path, Peppler emphasized that she never followed a rigid academic plan. Instead, she took advantage of opportunities as they came along, including study abroad experiences in Cambridge, England and Rome.

"When you’re in the middle of it, you can’t see the end. You see the steppingstones to where you want to go," Peppler said. She encourages students to follow their passions and dreams, just like she did.