French Period Drama ‘Carême’ Will Cook Up a Second Season
Apple TV's lavish historical drama about the famous French chef returns for another serving.
It’s apparently as true in real life as it is in the kitchen: Sometimes, you have to let things simmer for a bit. Nearly a year and a half after its first season premiered, Apple TV has confirmed that the French period drama Carême will be back for a second outing. (Second course? Truly, the food puns write themselves.) The renewal announcement comes on the heels of the show’s nomination for Best Drama Series at the International Emmys.
The historical drama follows the titular real-life French chef Antonin Carême, who rose from poverty to become one of Europe’s most famous chefs. Among other things, he is credited with codifying the so-called “mother sauces” – Velouté, Béchamel, Allemande, and Espagnole – on which classic French cuisine is based, as well as for his towering sugar confections known as pièces montées.
(According to the show, we can also blame him for the ubiquity of people chorusing “Yes, chef!” at restaurants, but that’s neither here nor there.)
But the series’ real hook is that in addition to being a generational gastronomic talent, this famous chef also happens to be a spy. Also, don’t worry, there’s also plenty of sexiness to go around. The Season 1 finale was packed with twists, including (but not limited to!) Carême cooking for Napoleon’s coronation, a break-up, a pregnancy, and the news that both Antonin and Talleyrand are being sent to the front, where the former will theoretically cook for the military bigwigs. But he’ll almost certainly have some serious other duties as assigned. (Spying, we assume.)
Here’s the Season 1 synopsis.
Carême follows the thrilling story of the world’s first celebrity chef, Antonin Carême, who rose from humble beginnings in Paris to the height of culinary stardom in Napoleon’s Europe. While he dreams only of becoming the most famous chef in the world, his talent and ambitions attract the attention of renowned and powerful politicians who use him as a spy for France. 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?
Series star Benjamin Voison leads a returning cast that includes Jérémie Rénier (My Way) as Bonaparte’s chief diplomat Talleyrand and Alice Da Luz (Hanami) as accomplished chef Agathe Guichardet.
Based on the book Carême: The First Celebrity Chef by historian, playwright, and screenwriter Ian Kelly, the French-language series is created by Kelly and Davide Serino (Mussolini: Son of the Century) and directed by Martin Bourboulon (The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan). Executive producers include Vanessa van Zuylen for VVZ Production and Dominique Farrugia with Shine Fiction (Banijay France) for Apple TV.
Carême Season 2 is set to begin filming in iconic locations in and around Paris this October.
Season 1 is currently available to stream on Apple TV.
Sign up for full access to Telly Visions' recaps and reviews!
(We occasionally use affiliate links in our posts to help keep cat food on the floor.)
