Carême 'Buy the Crown!': Food diplomacy heads to Poland

Carême Season 1 Episode 4 Recap and Review

Now we’re talking. In Carême’s strongest episode yet, we got a well-paced show that delivered touching food moments, political intrigue, Henriette’s backstory, and a wrenching development that should fuel the rest of the season. I looked up who the Carême writers were so I could give them their flowers. Major props to head writer Davide Serino and co-writers Camille Couasse, Sarah Farkas, and Olivier Kohn. 

France was in an upheaval. There was blood on the streets as monarchists and Napoleon's supporters continued to fight. At the start of the episode, six policemen were killed by forces loyal to the exiled King Louis XVIII. Fouché had already ordered reprisals. It was a bloodletting that simply could not continue for too long. On this Talleyrand had a solution: buy the crown from Louis. Convince him to renounce it. Take away the hope of his loyalists for a Bourbon restoration. In exchange, Talleyrand would provide him with a significant sum, enough so that what remained of the royal family could live in comfort for the rest of their lives rather than rely on the charity of foreign rulers.

Talleyrand entrusted the negotiations to his wife Catherine, but of course he sent Antonin as well, for some food diplomacy. Louis grew up in the opulence of Versailles, he loved good food, now he was forced to live on a limited menu in his residence in Poland. Antonin must convince Louis to abandon his claim to the throne.

After just having seen his father, however, Antonin was in no mood to do Talleyrand any favours. He now knew that Talleyrand faked the letter from Bailly. Talleyrand did not deny it. He needed proof that Bailly was alive, and he provided it. Antonin called it a lie, but Talleyrand shrewdly pointed out it was not, Bailly was indeed alive. In a sequence that was unnecessary and ill-advised in an otherwise excellent episode, the carriage Antonin and Talleyrand were on passed by Talleyrand’s manservant Courtiade and a guard Talleyrand claimed was assigned to Bailly, coincidentally just in time for Antonin to see a thick envelope exchange hands. Talleyrand claimed that the guard was ready to let Bailly escape on his order. 

Did it feel like Antonin was buying another one of Talleyrand’s empty promises? Sure. Indeed, Talleyrand told Courtiade he was not planning on breaking Bailly out, he needed Antonin to complete the mission first. Besides, having Bailly in prison meant that Talleyrand always had something to hold over Antonin’s head every time he wanted him to use his culinary skills to benefit a Talleyrand scheme. Was Antonin simply not catching on? Why would Antonin think this promise this time would be real?

Well, from Antonin’s point of view, what was he to do but hold on to hope that his father might be free? Talleyrand was the only powerful man who was even giving lip service toward Bailly’s freedom. Also, Antonin had already given Talleyrand a taste of how he could mess up his life. Their relationship was not exactly one of trust, but Antonin had been useful, and dangerous, to Talleyrand. It was believable for Antonin to believe Talleyrand again, even after he just caught him in a rather large lie.

Continuing her dance with the devil, Henriette told Fouché about Talleyrand’s plan. Fouché wanted Henriette to kill the deal; the French would not accept another king (Napoleon) with the other one (Louis) still around, even if he renounced the throne. Fouché gave Henriette some letters to give Louis if it looked like he would accept the proposition. They were forged letters purportedly from foreign princes expressing their support. Henriette said they needed something symbolic, something to remind him he was king. Fouché said he would give her the Hand of Justice, one of the symbols of Kings of France since the middle ages. 

And so on to Poland they went – Catherine, who wanted a position at court should Napoleon become king, something that would force Josephine to acknowledge her every day (she has not forgotten that Josephine called her a bad word). Antonin with his carefully prepared preserved food, a replica of the menu served at the wedding of Louis, intent on impressing him and carrying the blind belief that his success meant freedom for his father. Henriette, who felt that keeping Fouché in good humour meant not only the safeguarding of her secret but protection for Antonin. Outside the carriage, on horseback directing their escort, was Charles, who silently worried about his father’s reaction to his secret with Hortense. There were gorgeous shots of their forest route that made me wonder about Carême’s budget. 

Along the way, two things happened that would impact the trip later. First, Antonin accidentally saw the Hand of Justice that fell from Henriette’s bag. Secondly, Henriette broke the seal of the jars of preserved food. 

Louis and his wife Marie-Josephine de Savoie were not happy to see Catherine, whom they looked down upon as an envoy. To Catherine’s credit, she took the not at all disguised belittling with grace. She introduced Antonin as the best cook in France. Antonin was so confident in the food he brought, he asked Louis to allow him to cook just one dinner; if it pleased him, then he could grant Catherine an interview. Through the conversation, there were well-timed pops of the guillotine toy that Marie-Thérèse de Bourbon carried. Excellent use of simple sound to add to the atmosphere.

The gloomy kitchen was a showcase of neglect, of the lack of proper funding to maintain a royal household. Though he agreed to one dinner, he continued to treat Catherine with derision; to Antonin’s allusion toward an assistant, Louis said he had three – Catherine, Henriette, and Charles. As funny as it was to watch Antonin enjoy treating Charles as his assistant, it was also notable how the three of them, especially Catherine, accepted the role again with grace. There were subtle layers to Catherine’s character that were portrayed well in this episode.

With the food in the jars already spoiled, and with limited supplies in the kitchen and the small market outside, Antonin had to quickly improvise.The dish he made was a gratin dauphinois, a simple dish which he presented with flair. He asked Louis to close his eyes, and identify the elements of the food from scent. It was an appeal to memory that worked. Louis’s nanny used to make it for them; the last time he ate it, he was only seven or eight years old. There was one ingredient he could not identify. Antonin promised to reveal it if he would receive Catherine. Marie-Josephine gave Catherine ten minutes.

The offer from Talleyrand was a million francs in bearer bonds, a figure that seemed to move Marie-Josephine. Louis would be able to return to his homeland wealthy and at peace. Charles laid the Act of Renunciation to the Throne in front of Louis and gave him a pen, as though anticipating that he would sign it. Louis, however, ended the audience without signing it.

With the taste of the food from his childhood still in his tongue, Louis sought out Antonin and asked him to cook whilst he watched. As he worked his magic, Antonin used food to appeal to the part of Louis that money could not touch. ‘Food is what makes a country. Like its language. Like its art.’ The casual mention of cheese was a poignant reminder that food from home was different, that it could not be replicated anywhere else. There was only France and Talleyrand’s offer was France, without the crown. When Louis took Antonin to what looked like his study and put a crown on his head, it felt like Louis slowly letting go. It was just a crown, anyone could wear it. It was just a title, anyone could be king. 

Henriette, however, honoured her deal with Fouché. She went to Louis’s chambers and introduced herself as a friend of his friends abroad. She gave him the forged letters and the Hand of Justice. She claimed that England supported him, that Austria and Prussia were ready to attack Bonaparte in his name. Henriette was successful in reminding him he was King, and when next he saw Catherine and company, he was in full royal regalia, including the Hand of Justice that was now attached to his sceptre. He declared that he would be back in France sooner than they thought, and that Antonin would cook for him. Antonin said nothing, but he recognised that Hand of Justice from Henriette’s bag, and now he knew that the woman he had been sleeping with, the woman who told him she loved him and whom he said he loved back, was keeping some very dangerous secrets.

Antonin confronted Henriette during a break on the road back to France. Henriette claimed she ruined the deal to save his life. Fouché knew Antonin was the one who copied Napoleon’s route. How did Henriette find herself under Fouché’s thumb? According to her, she went to live with a relative who was a Count following her father’s death when she was 13 years old. This Count abused her so she killed him. Fouché knew this and held it over her head. When Antonin and Henriette hugged, they looked like a couple of kids caught up in a dangerous game that could swallow them whole. And they were.

The revelation that Fouché had Henriette in his web must have weighed on his mind, but Antonin had something to look forward to. He still thought that Talleyrand had freed his father. In prison, Fouché bugged Bailly about the proof he wanted him to get from Antonin, that Talleyrand was involved in the attack on Napoleon. Bailly did not even mention this to Antonin during their short meeting. Before he could be subjected to more torture, Bailly tried to escape. He was shot by one of the guards. There was a quick scene shift after the shot, of Antonin on the road, a closeup of his face looking so young and guileless. 

Talleyrand had to break the news to Antonin upon his arrival. Antonin made the silent vow that he would do all the things Bailly wanted him to do one day – travel, make love, cook for kings and the rich – but first he would make the one responsible for his death pay. He promised that Fouché would suffer more than Bailly did.

Strays

🧑‍🍳Whilst she was fitting dresses, Catherine and Henriette were being snooty about a dress they did not like, which they claimed was in fashion five years ago. Catherine later gave this same dress as a gift to Louis’s wife Marie-Josephine.

🧑‍🍳Talleyrand said Louis had become paranoid. In Poland, twice, Antonin tasted his food. Given the circumstances, it seemed like a reasonable precaution. It was funny, though, when Antonin tasted the gratin dauphinois at the dinner table for Louis, he walked away without carrying a fork. It looked like he left the fork right there next to the King. I hope future episodes would pay closer attention to small details like this; it would have been easy for Antonin to hand over the fork with flourish to one of the manservants nearby. 

🧑‍🍳Bailly told Antonin not to do anything, to forget about helping him. That was never going to happen. 

🧑‍🍳Henriette said no one hated the aristocracy more than Fouché. But he was willing to make Napoleon King?

🧑‍🍳Henriette was followed by Fouché’s men. I would assume they were not following her before, since Fouché did not know about her relationship with Antonin.

🧑‍🍳Antonin taught Agathe and the kitchen how to preserve food so that it would last two to three months. Agathe was adorable in this short scene. 

🧑‍🍳When Talleyrand sent Catherine to Poland, he must have known the possibility that she would have to sleep with Marie-Josephine. He was financially generous to Catherine, but he still treated her like a courtesan. Catherine did spend the night with Marie-Josephine, and Louis knew about it.

🧑‍🍳Antonin asked Louis if he expected the same thing from him. Louis did not.

🧑‍🍳Antonin’s secret ingredient was patience. 

🧑‍🍳Louis declared that Antonin’s genius in the kitchen was a gift from God. Antonin did not seem to be a believer. 

🧑‍🍳When Antonin told Louis his name was Marie-Antoine, Louis said his parents were more royalist than he thought. This was an allusion to Marie Antoinette, wife to Louis's brother.

🧑‍🍳There was good comic timing in that scene with Antonin and Charles at the market. Antonin said Talleyrand probably already knew about the baby, and that he would not mind having his grandson as first in line to the throne. 

🧑‍🍳Fouché told the guard he should have shot Bailly on the leg, then demonstrated this on the guard. 

Rating: A-