AND THE REAL MR FRANCATELLI

Mr Francatelli, the Queen’s chef, is based on a real-life chef who served as her Chief Cook and Maître d’Hôtel for two years. Born in 1805 to Italian parents, Charles Francatelli was one of the first celebrity chefs of the Victorian era. He grew up in France, where he trained under legendary chef Antonin Carême, creator of haute cuisine, the gourmet style of French cooking.

In Britain he worked in the kitchens of nobility such as the earls of Chesterfield and of Dudley and then managed Crockford’s Club in London. In 1841 he was engaged to cook for the Queen at Buckingham Palace, but he wasn’t happy there. The kitchens needed renovating and the pay was poor compared with what he was used to. The Queen and Prince Albert also preferred plain English food and may have discouraged his ambitious menus.

Gossip has it that the hot-headed Francatelli was dismissed for hitting a kitchen maid. He then took up a position at the Coventry House club on Piccadilly and later became chef de cuisine at the Reform Club. In 1846 he published a cook book that included menus for some of the lavish nine-course dinners he’d served at the palace. Later he also brought out a Plain Cookery Book For The Working Classes, with wholesome, economical recipes for poor families.

Actor Ferdinand Kingsley, who plays him (left), replicated some of the chef’s dishes on set, with a little professional help. ‘We made bacon, peas and mint, one of his recipes, and a lot of confectionery. There was also ornate icing, piping Victoria and Albert’s initials on cakes, and lots of gold leafing.’