These days celebrity chefs have their own TV shows. They shill their product lines and cookbooks all over the place. But if you go back far enough, you can find the very first superstar cook who started it all, and in a very different time. That’s what Apple TV+ did with Carême, it’s upcoming French-language drama series. Like the book it’s based on, it chronicles the fascinating life of Antonin Carême, “the world’s first celebrity chef who secretly served as a spy in Napoleon’s Europe,” as the streamer put it.
The series, premiering April 30, stars César Award winner Benjamin Voisin as Carême. Apple TV+ offered several appetizing photographs Wednesday as a first look at the show.
New Apple TV+ drama series Carême follows life of world’s first celebrity chef, a spy for France in Napolean’s Europe
Apparently hungry to cultivate a global fanbase, Apple TV+ has recently turned to foreign-language TV series in a big way. Its latest French-language drama series, Carême, tells the rags-to-riches story of the Antonin Carême, the world’s first celebrity chef who secretly served as a spy when Napoleon dominated Europe in early 1800s.
Photo: Apple TV+
Set against the backdrop of revolutionary France, “Carême” follows the remarkable journey of a young chef who rises from poverty to become one of Europe’s most celebrated culinary figures, according to Apple TV+’s description of the show. As his reputation for excellence grows, Carême finds himself entangled in a web of political intrigue when powerful politicians recruit him as an intelligence operative for France.
The series features an acclaimed French cast including César Award nominee Jérémie Renier, César Award winner Lyna Khoudri and Alice Da Luz. Renowned filmmaker Martin Bourboulon, known for Les Trois Mousquetaires: D’Artagnan and Eiffel, directs the series.
Based on a book
Photo: Apple TV+
The new show is based on Ian Kelly’s biographical work Cooking for Kings: The Life of Antonin Carême, the First Celebrity Chef. Kelly and Davide Serino created the show. The sumptuous production, shot in Paris, is executive produced by Vanessa van Zuylen and Dominique Farrugia through VVZ Production and Banijay’s Shine Fiction.
Carême joins Apple TV+’s expanding roster of French content, which includes the fashion industry drama La Maison, the thriller Liaison starring Vincent Cassel and Eva Green, the French-Japanese series Drops of God, and the upcoming thriller A l’ombre des forêts featuring Benoît Magimel and Mélanie Laurent.
Watch dramas on Apple TV+
Photo: Apple TV+
The eight-episode series debuts with two episodes on April 30, followed by weekly Wednesday releases until June 11. In the meantime, you can catch plenty of other dramas on Apple TV+. It’s available by subscription for $9.99 with a seven-day free trial. You can also get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle. Customers who buy a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
After launching in November 2019, “Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 471 wins and 2,090 award nominations and counting,” the service said.
Apple TV+ is home to more than 200 exclusive movies and TV shows (including breakout soccer comedy Ted Lasso). The service also offers documentaries, dramas, comedies, kids shows and more.
Photo: Apple TV+
Source: Apple TV+
