Careme
The First Celebrity Chef
Published on 8. May 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-1-5266-8977-1 (ISBN)
Description
NOW A MAJOR APPLE+ TV SERIES
'Magnificent' ANTHONY BOURDAIN
'Irresistible' HUGH FEARNLEY-WHITTINGSTALL
'A classic' DAMIAN BARR
From historian and screenwriter, Ian Kelly, comes the legendary story of Careme, the original celebrity chef.
Recounting the fairy-tale-like rise of Antonin Careme from Parisian orphan to a household name synonymous with culinary luxury, Careme offers a unique conflation of historical biography, social history and cookery guide. Kelly lifts the veil on one of the most momentous and sensuous periods in European history: First Empire Paris, Georgian England and the tsarist Russia of War and Peace, depicting Careme's entanglements with the social and political elite of his age, from King George IV to Napoleon, the Romanovs to the Rothschilds.
Alongside this story of Careme, the trail-blazing celebrity chef, culinary artist and revolutionary food writer, Ian Kelly brings to life the recipes themselves.
As Careme wrote, 'You should try this yourself, at home'.
'Magnificent' ANTHONY BOURDAIN
'Irresistible' HUGH FEARNLEY-WHITTINGSTALL
'A classic' DAMIAN BARR
From historian and screenwriter, Ian Kelly, comes the legendary story of Careme, the original celebrity chef.
Recounting the fairy-tale-like rise of Antonin Careme from Parisian orphan to a household name synonymous with culinary luxury, Careme offers a unique conflation of historical biography, social history and cookery guide. Kelly lifts the veil on one of the most momentous and sensuous periods in European history: First Empire Paris, Georgian England and the tsarist Russia of War and Peace, depicting Careme's entanglements with the social and political elite of his age, from King George IV to Napoleon, the Romanovs to the Rothschilds.
Alongside this story of Careme, the trail-blazing celebrity chef, culinary artist and revolutionary food writer, Ian Kelly brings to life the recipes themselves.
As Careme wrote, 'You should try this yourself, at home'.
Reviews / Votes
A magnificent work. Ian Kelly is at the vanguard of the new rock'n'roll of culinary literature -- Anthony Bourdain I was really truly bowled over -- Giles Coren Delicious * Mail on Sunday * Absolutely irresistible -- Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall In this well-researched book, Ian Kelly deftly recounts the exploits of this remarkable man -- Jacques Pepin Ian Kelly brings Careme's restless spirit back to life along with a tableau of la grande cuisine two hundred years ago -- Anne Willan, founder of Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne Ian Kelly has done a wonderful job, not only of depicting Careme's culinary genius beautifully but of introducing us to his extraordinary personal life as well. I enjoyed reading this book immensely and recommend it to culinary historians and food buffs everywhere -- Daniel Boulud, founder of Cafe Boulud Ian Kelly's valuable and pleasurable addition to the literature of food combines an eye for the richness of historic detail with a solid sense of culinary crafts. While stimulating our palates, it breathes a life into a critical period in the building of modern Europe -- Mark Kurlansky, author of Cod, Salt and Milk Careme invented a new way of cooking and Kelly cooked up a new way of writing about food. Wild, delicious and rarefied. A classic -- Damian Barr, author of Maggie & MeMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 195 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
306 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5266-8977-1 (9781526689771)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
05/2025
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
€10.49
Available for download
Person
Ian Kelly is a multi-award-winning writer and actor whose work spans stage (West End and Broadway), screen, historical biography and ballet. His books include Careme, which has been adapted as an AppleTV+ series, Beau Brummell, Casanova, Mr Foote's Other Leg, which was adapted for the stage, and the official autobiography of Vivienne Westwood. He lives in London and Los Angeles.