The Playful Way Jacques Pépin Enjoys A Bowl Of Cereal

Your humble box of breakfast cereal may seem like a relatively low-brow food. Heck, it comes in a cardboard box bedecked with cartoon characters and garish hues. But don't let its appearance fool you. Before shaming cereal as a breakfast choice, it is important to note that cereal is enjoyed by all walks of life, the rich and famous included. Yes, few people consider themselves "above" a bowl of flakes, squares, or o's. 

A series of Tweets shared by MTV reveals that Camila Cabello claims her "blood is 99% cereal," Shawn Mendes recommends eating a nightly bowl of this milk-laden food, and Kendall Jenner has a penchant for Cheerios. In 2016, the Digital Spy reported that Rihanna's rider of dressing room snacks during her concert tour included Golden Grahams. And Hailee Steinfeld confessed to Delish that she rarely goes six hours without chowing down on some cereal, adding that she especially loves a blend of Frosted Mini Wheats and Frosted Flakes. That's an impressive list of famous cereal devotees and that's barely scratching the surface. 

It turns out that legendary chef extraordinaire, Jacques Pépin, also appreciates this boxed breakfast food. And he's come up with a novel way to eat it.

How does this world-renowned culinary expert like his cereal? CT Insider says that when Pépin visited "Cooking by Heart," a podcast hosted by actor Chris Sarandon, he shared that he loves Rice Krispies with chocolate milk. He went on to explain that he first encountered this concoction when he breakfasted with a chef friend and family. A KQED edition of "Cooking at Home with Jacques Pépin" revealed that this was also his introduction to the tiny boxes of cereal that you cut down the middle and pour the milk into, an invention that the chef quite enjoyed. 

And this isn't the only way he likes his rice crisps. KQED shared the clever way Jacques Pépin makes chocolate crispy flakes using Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, or both. Simply melt some semi-sweet chocolate and pour it over a small bowl of cereal. Mix together well and spoon into small mounds on a lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate for about an hour and, poof, you've got a delectable treat that marries the crunchiness of cereal with the sweetness of chocolate. Clearly, Monsieur Pépin knows how to truly enjoy this breakfast food staple.