Kaboul Kitchen
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | February 15, 2012 |
| Founder | Marc Victor, Allan Mauduit, Jean-Patrick Benes |
| Products | Television comedy series |
Kaboul Kitchen is a French comedy TV series aired on Canal+, created by Marc Victor, Allan Mauduit, and Jean-Patrick Benes. The show is based on the real-life experiences of Radio France Internationale journalist Marc Victor, who ran a restaurant catering to French expatriates in Kabul until 2008. Its debut season premiered on February 15, 2012, achieving record-breaking comedy viewership in Canal+'s prime time. A second season, consisting of 12 episodes, was broadcast in France in 2014.
The storyline centers on Jacky, a French expat who manages the well-known Kaboul Kitchen restaurant in Kabul. After two decades, his daughter Sophie arrives to engage in humanitarian efforts, while Jacky contends with obstacles posed by local authorities and Taliban neighbors to maintain his establishment.
Kaboul Kitchen received two Golden FIPA Awards at the 2012 Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels, winning Best TV Series and Best TV Screenplay. It was featured at MIPTV and secured fourth place on The Hollywood Reporter's "MIPTV A-List Projects" list highlighting promising new series.
Cast
- Gilbert Melki as Jacky
- Stéphanie Pasterkamp as Sophie
- Benjamin Bellecour as Axel
- Alexis Michalik as Damien
- Simon Abkarian as Colonel Amanullah
- Marc Citti as Victor
- Braham Bihi as Sayed
- Nadia Niazi as Hamida
- Fayçal Azizi as Habib
- Fanny Touron as Camille
- Jonas Senhadji as Carl
- Lucia Sanchez as Rosemary
- Serge Dupire as Bob
- Louis-Do de Lencquesaing as Paul Braque
- Natacha Lindinger as Victoria (season 3)
Production
This series draws inspiration from the authentic experiences of journalist and co-creator Marc Victor, who operated a French restaurant serving foreign NGO personnel in Kabul from 2003 until 2008. Although dramatized for television, certain events—such as a donor sending skis to Afghanistan—are rooted in actual occurrences.
Gilbert Melki was selected to portray Jacky due to his adeptness in both comedic and dramatic roles, a quality highly regarded by creator Allan Mauduit. Principal filming took place predominantly in Casablanca, Morocco, with artificial dust effects employed to replicate Kabul's atmosphere. Cast members also received instruction in the Dari language.
The third season was released in France in 2017, and reports indicate that a fourth season is currently underway.
Series 1
Template:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode list| # | Title | Director | Original air date |
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Ratings
| Episodes | Broadcast date | Viewership numbers |
|---|---|---|
| 1, 2, and 3 | February 13, 2012 | 940,000 |
| 10, 11, and 12 | March 5, 2012 | 875,000 |
Awards
- Awarded the Golden FIPA for Best Television Series at the Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels in 2012
- Received the Golden FIPA for Best TV Screenplay at the Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels in 2012
- Honored with the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the Seoul International Drama Awards in 2014