Day: 13 October 2017

The Route of Goût is the annual organic foodie event celebrating popular gastronomy, biology, ecology, health, youth and sports for a charitable purpose over four days in October.

The free festival along Quai Albert Ier is organised by the Association Bio Chef Global Spirit under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert and chaired by Paolo Sari, the only starred chef who is certified organic in the world.

“Monaco – the symbol of wellbeing, respect for the environment, renewable energy, and biological diversity – is the perfect place to be 100 percent organic,” Mr Sari told Monaco Life. “It’s a corner between Italy and France, and the French-Italian agriculture and gastronomy share long histories. Also, we have a microclimate that allows lemon and cabbage, and avocado and mango to grow in the same soil.”

From Thursday, October 12, until Sunday, October 15, in additional to the organic farmers market, there will be many educational activities on the topic of renewable energy and protecting the planet, as well as cooking demonstrations. Parents and children are invited to become involved. Children can also take part in a tennis competition at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, and on Friday at the Monte Carlo Beach the Gala Dinner will be prepared by children with a little help from local chefs.

Saturday will have a marine flavour – dedicated to “craftsmen of the sea” – with a procession of 8 Riva boats accompanied by 8 starred chefs. The afternoon culinary competition is open to the public, but in the evening, the 8 chefs will prepare a memorable dinner consisting of 8 works of art, one dish by each chef. The first dinner ever made by 16 hands.

Money raised during the various events, from the sale of gadgets to private donations, will be donated to the reconstruction and revitalisation of the food, hospitality and educational establishments in the Italian regions hit hardest by the earthquake in 2016.

Part of the proceeds from the sale of Paolo Sari’s first book – The Bio Chef – will be for the purchase of professional equipment for the start-up of the organic hotel school in Ambavanankarana, Madagascar, and for the construction of a second building in 2018.

For a complete list of the program read here. Reservations can be made on +377 98 06 36 36 or by email: organisation@thebiochef.com

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The 12th Oktoberfest was launched by Prince Albert on October 14, at 7:30 pm, on the terrace of the Café de Paris with a celebration of Bavarian Oktoberfest traditions. The piercing of the first beer barrel will be marked by cries of “O’zapft is”.

The event is in partnership with the Munich team of Weihenstephan, the oldest brewery in the world, who will serve exceptional beer in a lively Bavarian setting from 7 pm to 00:30 am every day.

As in previous years, an exceptional menu (€120 per person, including drinks) has been orchestrated by the head of the Café de Paris Brasserie, with many Bavarian delights and delicacies (including a sauerkraut Formula) available à la carte. Folkloric entertainment is also on tap.

Monaco’s Oktoberfest continues runs until October 22.

At the initiative of the Direction des Affaires Culturelles, the Salle d’Expostion on Quai Antoine Ier welcomes an exhibition of photographs by Matthieu Ricard resulting from the personal journey of the famous Buddhist monk and neurobiologist in the Himalayan world.

A Buddhist monk, author, photographer, scientist and founder of humanitarian projects in Asia, Matthieu Ricard began taking pictures at the age of 10. He has said that he learns continuously by discovering the work of other photographers, among them Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams, Ernst Haas and Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

“A hymn to beauty … this is how I conceive my humble photographic work. During my fifty years in the Himalayas, I have had the immense fortune to live with great Tibetan masters.

“I was also able to discover the daily life of the Himalayan people, the intimacy of the monasteries, the immensity of the Tibetan highlands, the magnificence of the Nepalese mountains and the serenity of the Bhutanese valleys.”

His works have been the subject of numerous exhibitions all over the world, but also published extensively in magazines, such as National Geographic France, Animan, l’Express and Terre Sauvage.

“The spiritual life of Matthew and his camera are one. From there spring forth these fleeting and eternal images,” Henri Cartier Bresson wrote when the first collection of photos of the Spirit of Tibet was published.

“Half a century in the Himalayas: a hymn to beauty” runs until November 9 at the Salle d’Exposition (4 Quai Antoine Ier). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 1 pm to 7 pm.

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