Careme, Apple TV+

An aspiring chef in Napoleonic France, Antonin Careme gets caught up in the machinations of rival ministers Talleyrand and Fouche. As his innovative cuisine gains him fame his impulsive nature finds him trouble, with the politicians using him as a pawn in their power games and the ladies of the court whetting their appetites in every possible way. Apparently based on a real character, Careme has been described as the first celebrity chef and the inventor of haute cuisine. The show plays this up, featuring a Masterchef-style competition in one episode. Benjamin Voisin is compelling in the title role; the production design is sumptuous, in keeping with the food; and there is plenty of sex, betrayal and debauchery to spice the dish.