As part of the Principality’s strategy of sustainable and responsible tourism, the New York office of the Tourism and Convention Bureau recently held an evening on the theme of “well-being” at AIRE Ancient Baths in New York.
The event was attended by twenty-four journalists, including from The New York Times, CNN Travel, Forbes, Harper’s Bazaar, Robb Report, USA Today, and People Magazine. The presentation highlighted the history of the thermal baths of Monaco, from the creation of the SBM in 1860 to the current technological jewel that is the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo today.
Cindy Hoddeson, Director of the Monaco Tourism Office in North America, presented the offer of care and “well-being” in the Principality. Ms Hoddeson also announced that Monaco is the very first destination and one of the founding members of the “Wellness Tourism Association”.
In addition, two partners joined the event – Kusmi Tea and the Spa Metropole by Givenchy. A small succulent plant was also offered to guests, inviting them to discover the Exotic Garden of Monaco and echoing the Principality’s environmental commitment.
Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior, accompanied by Isabelle Bonnal, Director of National Education, Youth and Sports, welcomed Étienne Franzi, President of the Compagnie Monégasque de Banque (CMB) to celebrate a new partnership at the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier de Monaco (LTHM).
LTHM has been equipped for some months with 16 iPad Airs for its restaurant application. The app allows for innovative and more efficient order taking, ensuring optimal service to the many customers of the Cordon d’Or restaurant on site.
Photo: Manuel Vitali/DC
Orders are instantly transmitted to the kitchen for the preparation of the dishes, a procedure that considerably reduces waiting time for customers.
On Tuesday, February 13, Jean-Marc Deoriti, Principal at LTHM, presented the benefits of the new technology in the learning and professional practices of LTHM students to the various stakeholders in this innovative partnership.
Patrice Cellario, Government Counselor-Minister of the Interior, Isabelle Bonnal, Director of National Education, Youth and Sports, Etienne Franzi, President of CMB and Werner Peyer, Managing Director. Photo: Manuel Vitali/DC
Le Cordon d’Or is the training restaurant of the Monaco’s Vocational and Catering School, located at 7 allée Lazare Sauvaigo, which is open for lunch during school term Monday to Friday, from 00:15 pm to 2 pm, and dinner on (7:15 pm to 9:30 pm) and Friday (9:15 pm to 10 pm). Reservations can be made from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 pm – lunch: +377 98 98 89 25 and dinner: +377) 98 98 89 29.
Monaco’s State Property Authority is selling cars that have either been abandoned or which are no longer required as part of the Principality’s motor pool.
A full list of the vehicles is available in the State Property Authority office, located on the fourth floor of 24 rue du Gabian, from 9:30 am to 5 pm daily, with a deadline for submitting offers by noon on Friday, March 16.
In a note attached to the offer, the State Property Authority warns that successful bidders may not have an easy ride when trying to register vehicles in France: “Applicants’ attention is drawn to the difficulties they may encounter when registering their vehicle (s) abroad, particularly in France, especially since the French prefectures have modified the registration procedure.
“The Estate Administration will give the successful purchaser all the documents in its possession. The contractors expressly and irrevocably waive all remedies against the State of Monaco, amicable or judicial before any jurisdiction of the Principality or foreign and any claim for reimbursement and/or compensation in any capacity,” the Authority says.
Buyers looking for a forgotten Ferrari or lost Lamborghini will be disappointed. Most of the 83 vehicles being offered were registered before 2005 in France. With the exception of vehicles that do not have registration plates, their provenance has been checked by the Monaco authorities.
One stand-out on offer is a Harley Davidson motorbike, which is being offered with a minimum bid of €1,500.
Navios Maritime Partners, an international owner and operator of container and dry bulk vessels with offices in Monaco and Piraeus, Greece, announced on Thursday, February 15, that it plans to pay up to €28 million ($35 million) of common units representing limited partnership interests in a public offering.
Navios Partners expects to use the net proceeds from the public offering for general working capital purposes, including vessel acquisitions.
Fearnley Securities, Inc. is acting as sole lead manager. S Goldman Advisors LLC and Fearnley Securities AS are acting as lead placement agents. Fearnley Securities AS is not a US-registered broker-dealer and to the extent that this offering is made within the United States, its activities will be affected only to the extent permitted by Rule 15a-6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
A shelf registration statement relating to Navios Partners’ common units was previously filed by Navios Partners with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and has been declared effective.
Navios Maritime Partners LP is a publicy traded master limited partnership which owns and operates container and dry bulk vessels.
The first “Cuncertu per i picinìn”, otherwise known as “Baby Concert”, was held on Thursday, February 15, at the l’Ile aux bambin nursery at 3 Promenade Honoré II.
Pupils of the Musical Class of the Academy Rainier III sang songs and played instruments to the young children of the crèche, in the presence of Mayor Georges Marsan, Councillor Chloe Boscagli-Leclercq, Delegate for Early Childhood, and Karyn Ardisson-Salopek, Delegate to the Academy Rainier III, co-initiators of the project.
Jacques Pastor, deputy to the Mayor, was also present.
The teachers of the Rainier III Academy had concocted a varied and didactic programme, including a Polka and a Russian dance, body percussion and a traditional Irish Waltz, without forgetting children’s tunes such as En allant me promener j’ai rencontré les grenouilles, Hirondelles, Coccinelle, demoiselle and Chocolat.
“To do a Burberry: meaning to successfully revive a famous but moribund heritage name.”
I’m killing time before lunch at Le Castelroc restaurant on The Rock with the latest copy of Vogue magazine as Alexandra Schulman’s prescient words jump out at me. I have grabbed an outdoor table beside a pretty stone folly to best admire the picture-perfect views: I gaze on one side past cannon-ball pyramids towards the Princely Palace and on the other side down the rocky escarpment towards the sea. No other restaurant in Monaco can rival this location.
Run by the Bonafède family since 1953, Le Castelroc restaurant is synonymous with Monaco heritage. Francis Bonafède is the Godfather of Monegasque cuisine. He ran by the Monegasque motto “cun de pan e de vin se po invita u vizin” (With bread and wine, you can invite your neighbour to dine). His legendary Stockfish stew recipe has helped to keep four generations of Bonafède restaurateurs in business.
In 2007, I celebrated my daughter’s christening here with a glamorous crowd of friends revelling in champagne, barbajuans (Swiss-chard fritters) and a towering profiterole christening cake. A photo of me against the backdrop of the palace with Baby Dior christening present bags slung over each shoulder caused endless jokes amongst old Cambridge University friends that I had found my inner jetsetter at last.
A decade later, I’m taken aback by the state of the place. The first thing that strikes me is that the front entrance of the restaurant has been engulfed by the neighbouring gift shop selling tourist knick-knacks so that you have to enter via a side entrance. The next thing I see is the transformation of the smart bar area into a bar-cum-depot for unloved furniture with one table as a makeshift desk scattered with paperwork. Finally I notice the worn beige undercloths and scarce clientele. I reflect that this Monegasque icon is looking a little moribund itself.
Once my partner has arrived, we study the tidy two-page menu that celebrates Monegasque and Mediterranean dishes. A brusque waiter takes our order and then bats away my proffered camera saying he’s far too busy to take a photo. Afterwards a kind-hearted tourist who has witnessed the scene from a neighbouring table offers to take our photo instead.
My tomato-and-burrata starter arrives in an impressive Technicolor of orange, red and yellow tomatoes. However, the burrata is rather hard (for a cheese that should be a melting combination of mozzarella and cream) and I’m not sure why the dish has been sprinkled with Parmesan. Luckily my clam pasta main course so hits the spot that I am tempted to polish the plate with my bread in enjoyment.
As our waiter clears the pasta dishes, he remarks that he is ready to take our photo now that we have “les yeux rouges” (red eyes), after our lunch in the sun. My partner looks a little red-eyed with crossness as he asks for the bill. Yet as we finish off our glasses in the spring sunshine looking down over the leafy rooftops of Fontvieille, I reflect that there are few places to parallel a lazy lunch here even on an off day like this.
Le Castelroc is a slice of our national identity. It is as important to Monegasque cuisine as the beloved Chez Roger stall in La Condamine market, which was revived successfully last month following a sustained public campaign: SOS Socca. With more and more competition within the principality from deep-pocketed international brands and celebrity chefs, we must seek inventive ways to sustain hard-working Monegasque dining dynasties. How about a Monegasque Culinary Heritage Foundation?
Le Castelroc, 1 place du Palais. Tel: (+377) 93 30 36 68
Article first published March 21, 2017.
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“To do a Burberry: meaning to successfully revive a famous but moribund heritage name.”