Carme: The First Celebrity Chef

(Paperback)

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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 Carme, the original celebrity chef.

Recounting the fairy-tale-like rise of Antonin Carme from Parisian orphan to a household name synonymous with culinary luxury, Carme 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 Carmes 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 Carme, the trail-blazing celebrity chef, culinary artist and revolutionary food writer, Ian Kelly brings to life the recipes themselves.

As Carme wrote, You should try this yourself, at home.

Reviews

A magnificent work. Ian Kelly is at the vanguard of the new rocknroll 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 Ppin
Ian Kelly brings Carme's restless spirit back to life along with a tableau of la grande cuisine two hundred years ago -- Anne Willan, founder of cole de Cuisine La Varenne
Ian Kelly has done a wonderful job, not only of depicting Carme'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 Caf 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
Carme 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 & Me

Author Bio

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 Carme, which has been adapted as an AppleTV+ series, Beau Brummell, Casanova, Mr Footes Other Leg, which was adapted for the stage, and the official autobiography of Vivienne Westwood. He lives in London and Los Angeles.