Europe isn’t what it used to be. After Napoleon’s fall, the continent is teetering on shaky alliances. Countries are playing a game of chess with diplomacy, hoping not to get checkmated. And in the middle of this mess? A kitchen.
Welcome to Tsar Alexander I’s court, where elegance hides danger, and even desserts come with political strings. Behind the royal walls, enemies smile across tables, waiting to see who slips up first.
Anton Carême isn’t just any chef. Once a poor boy in Paris, now he’s feeding emperors. But fame brings responsibility. He’s now working in the Russian court, far from his roots and even further from peace.
His task? Make a dessert so unforgettable it stirs not just taste buds, but political alliances. No pressure, right?
The Tsar isn’t just looking for sugar and spice. He wants to subtly use food to influence Prussian guests. Carême must turn hospitality into a tool, or a weapon.
Carême Invents the “Miloy,” a delicate, layered dessert with pastry and cream. It’s sweet, yes, but also symbolic. Each layer reflects the fragile politics swirling around them. What better way to say, “Let’s be allies” than through dessert?
Marcel, Carême’s apprentice, is not exactly clapping in joy. He’s watching his mentor rise while feeling stuck in the shadows. Jealousy? More like a growing storm.
In a dramatic twist, Marcel is seen handing off a secret note to a mysterious figure. Is he turning against his mentor? Something is definitely cooking, and it’s not just in the oven.
Letters from Paris
Carême’s heart is still in Paris, where his lover Clare writes to him about money problems. These letters aren’t just emotional baggage, they pull him back to a life he thought he left behind.
He’s got fame, power, and the world’s best ingredients, but none of it fills the void. His personal pain is starting to affect his focus.
The moment of truth arrives, the grand banquet. Carême’s “Miloy” dazzles everyone. Success? Not quite.
One guest makes a chilling remark: “Even the sweetest things can hide bitter truths.” It’s a warning shot wrapped in whipped cream. Someone suspects Carême is playing a deeper game.
Later, we see Marcel slip a message to someone in the shadows. He’s clearly involved in something bigger, but what’s his endgame?
Is he just jealous, or is he working with enemies of the court? The episode ends on this nail-biting note.
Carême visits his father, Bailly, who’s locked away. The old man warns him, they’re both tangled in something too big to handle.
Bailly urges his son to step away, but Carême refuses. He’s determined to get his father out, no matter the cost.
Talleyrand, the ultimate political puppeteer, dangles hope in front of Carême. He promises help if Carême cooks for King Louis XVIII. But let’s be honest, he’s just playing games.
Carême believes him and returns to the kitchen, unaware he’s being manipulated. His trust could be his undoing.
Fouche’s manipulation
Meanwhile, Fouche is running his own game, using Henriette to deliver fake letters that stir up royal hopes. Her tragic secret? She killed a man as a child, and Fouche uses that to control her.
Henriette, torn between duty and fear, becomes a tool in a dangerous power play. Every move she makes is to keep her secret buried.
In a heart-to-heart moment, Louis XVIII and Carême reflect on what it means to be a king. Louis has no kingdom. Carême, a king in the kitchen, has no freedom.
Despite his talent, he still works under others, pulled into schemes he never asked for. Power comes at a cost, and his hands are tied.
Thanks to Henriette’s forged letters, the King makes a bold move; he sends Talleyrand and his allies packing back to France.
Strangely, this clears the way for Carême. Louis XVIII decides Careme should cook for him, a win, but a complicated one.
Carême figures out Henriette’s real role and her tragic past. She was never truly free, just like him.
In the world of courts and kitchens, everyone wears a mask. And behind every sweet layer lies something bitter.
Benjamin Voisin shines as Carême, mixing charm, sorrow, and grit. Lucas Bravo’s Marcel is a quiet storm ready to burst. And visually? The show is a feast for the eyes, pastries and palaces alike.
Episode 4 beautifully blends food, politics, and personal drama. It’s not just about what’s on the plate, it’s about what’s hidden beneath it.
Episode 4 of Carême by the Crown is a masterful blend of drama, suspense, and mouthwatering visuals. With layered storytelling that mirrors Carême’s famous dessert, we’re drawn into a world where trust is fragile, love is complicated, and even the sweetest things can hide the darkest truths. As political alliances crumble and new ones form, one thing’s for sure: this kitchen drama is just heating up.
For more updates, keep reading Soap Central.