Carême

"Carême," the French speaking drama on Apple TV+, serves up a delectable blend of culinary artistry, political intrigue, and steamy romance. The show is centred on Antonin Carême, the world's first celebrity chef.

Benjamin Voisin shines as the charismatic, flirtatious Carême, whose pastry prowess and herbal knowledge propel him from Paris bake shops to the courts of Napoleon's elite.

The show, loosely based on Ian Kelly's "Cooking terminology for Kings," trades historical accuracy for a spry, modern vibe, evoking the fizz of "Downton Abbey" and the kitchen intensity of "The Bear."

Carême's dishes become tools of espionage and seduction, navigating a web of power plays orchestrated by the cunning Talleyrand (Jérémie Renier). While the high-stakes plot-saving Europe through puff pastry-teeters on cartoonish, the lush visuals, copper-pot-laden kitchens, and strong performances, keep it engaging.

First two episodes - seem like an overstuffed mix of spy thriller, erotic drama, and culinary showcase - feels bloated. Some predictable twists dilute its female characters' depth, even if it fills the revisionist history bowl to its brim!

Considering having to read sub-titles, "Carême" comes off as a compulsively watchable romp, incredibly good visual splendour and lusty energy. Most viewers will forgive its historical liberties/revisionist history, and settle for its sumptuous feast, if slightly uneven, feast.

Rating: 5.5/10.

After the Napoleonic Wars, the victorious powers of Europe were eager to dismantle France. Every monarch wanted a piece of it. But Talleyrand, a master of diplomacy, managed to preserve the nation's territorial integrity and ensured that France remained a power to be reckoned with. He used every diplomatic tactic at his disposal-none more effective than soft power. Lavish banquets and exquisite hospitality became tools of persuasion, orchestrated by his legendary personal chef, Marie-Antoine Carême. It is said-though likely apocryphal-that before meeting the angry kings of Europe, Carême declared: "Don't give me soldiers; give me 100 cooks, and I will rule the world."

Carême" may be the most Gallic show ever made. Not because the Apple TV+ drama features enough torrid affairs to make Carrie Bradshaw blush; not even because the action unfolds in the political heart of Napoleonic Paris, enlisting such real-life figures as foreign minister Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand (Jérémie Renier), police chief Joseph Fouché (Micha Lescot) and Empress Josephine (Maud Wyler) as major characters. No, what makes this French-language show about French history so extra, incredibly French is the namesake protagonist: a dashing, seductive, single-earring-wearing spy who also happens to be a founding father of haute cuisine.

Careme is "glossy" and melodramatic and frequently risque telling of an enjoyably wild this series is a garlanded with glamour, royalty and vast historical panoramas...not a documentary".

The serous shows the characters talent in deepth and astounding ways of doing things.

Causing the issue because something had the character or I should say actor who played the character Joseph Fouché sounding horrible and so unpleasant to the ears. The experience was that it was just someone going way over the top, trying to be evil and overacting ridiculously. It was such a distraction from the show that it took it from what would've probably been a nine down to a six for me. The rest of the acting was very enjoyable and not over the top and suited the period piece well. Every word that came out of the actor who played Joseph Fouché was just so over exaggerated and unnecessarily loud. It raked on my nerves. It really made me think this person needs to have gone and watched the show Tropic thunder and look at what Oscar winner Robert Downey Jr. Says about overacting and going to 100 when you're playing the bad guy. It's something you just don't ever do for reasons he list. Now how we ever gonna see this guy is anything other than this mousy overbearing bad acting character? I think he will have to change and play a different role with a different Voice or he's just forever going to be that character yuck! Because I enjoyed the show and didn't like having my nerves put on edge every time he talked, I wish they would redo his voice in it because that's probably not even the real Actor's voice and if somebody they just had dubbed in and they just go from being quiet to very loud way too much and with way too much emphasis in places where it just doesn't belong.

I didn't expect to like this original series from Apple+. I thought it was going to be like one of those cheesy erotic cooking videos on Tik-Tok, and Apple+ has a terrible track record when it comes to its original programming.

But, Mon Dieu, I was, how you say? Surprised.

The series is well written, and a feast for the eyes; with great period detail. They put money into this project.

Lead actor, Benjamin Voisin has bags of personality and appeal and is quite a good actor.

On another level, the French intrigue makes this a spy story, as well as, an historical one.

And the culinary aspect is very appealing.