Apple TV+ has announced a new eight-episode French drama, “Carême,” inspired by the book “Cooking for Kings: The Life of Antonin Carême – The First Celebrity Chef” by multi-award winning historian and actor Ian Kelly (“The King’s Man”). The series tells the fascinating story of the world’s first celebrity chef, Antonin Carême, who rose from humble beginnings in Paris to become the culinary star of Napoleon’s Europe. While he dreams of becoming the most famous chef in the world, his talent and ambition attract the attention of famous and powerful politicians who use him as a spy for France.
Created by Kelly and lead writer Davide Serino (“The Bad Guy,” “M. Son of the Century,” “Esterno Notte”), the series stars César Award winner Benjamin Voisin (“Lost Illusions,” “Summer of 85”) as Carême, César Award nominee Jérémie Renier (“My Way,” “Saint Laurent”) as political genius Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord and César Award winner Lyna Khoudri (“Papicha,” “November’) as Henriette, Carême’s lover and most dangerous threat.
The official plot synopsis for the series reads as follows:
Antonin Carême is an orphan blessed with god-like culinary talent, who dreams of only one thing: to become the most famous chef in the world and to give letters of nobility to a new art, the “Gastronomy.” Carême’s ambition attracts the attention of the most Machiavellian man of his time, Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, who has elevated French politics to a fine art. Talleyrand ensnares Carême, who could become a great chef…but must first become a spy for France. Based on a true story, “Carême” takes us through the harsh, miserable reality of 19th century kitchens juxtaposed with the magnificent opulence of the mansions and sophisticated aristocrats they serve, where manipulation is king. Determined to escape poverty and fulfill his dream, Carême can choose revenge or he can have it all – women, wealth, fame – but at what cost? His love? His soul? His life?
Acclaimed filmmaker Martin Bourboulon (“Les Trois Mousquetaires: D’Artagnan,” “Eiffel”) serves as lead director and the series is executive produced by Vanessa van Zuylen with VVZ Production and Dominique Farrugia with Banijay’s Shine Fiction for Apple TV+.
The series is the latest in French programming from Apple TV+, that includes “Liaison,” a high-stakes, contemporary thriller exploring how the mistakes of our past have the potential to destroy our future, starring César Award winner Vincent Cassel and BAFTA Award winner Eva Green, and multilingual French-Japanese drama “Drops of God,” inspired by the bestselling manga from award-winning Tadashi Agi and Shu Okimoto, starring Fleur Geffrier and Tomohisa Yamashita.
