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Antonin Carême (1784-1833). Some reference books give his name as Marie-Antoine, but his books are all signed Antonin (food for thought: Marie Antoinette was beheaded in 1793). Carême has a good claim to be the most important chef in history. His ideas dominated the whole of the nineteenth century. He was born in Paris, the son of a stonemason, and taught himself to read (so he could consult cookery books) and to draw. One of his cookery teachers was Germain Chevet, entrepreneur, who had supplied flowers to the Queen.