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Day: 29 November 2019

Hybrid cloud to fastrack digital transition

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/11/2019

The government has announced plans to work with Amazon Web Services to create a hybrid cloud for the Principality, signalling a major step in Monaco’s digital transition and its efforts to build and safeguard the economy.

This latest move is part of the dynamic strategy that Monaco has of being a leading digital player thanks to the ‘Extended Monaco’ program launched by HSH Prince Albert II last April. At the same time, the Prince’s Government is examining the establishment of a Monegasque company to operate this cloud.

Hybrid cloud refers to a mixed computing, storage, and services environment made up of on-premises infrastructure, private cloud services, and a public cloud — such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) — with orchestration among these various platforms.

In concrete terms, this cloud will make it possible for the government to implement and accelerate public digital initiatives such as e-government, education and healthcare. The cloud will, for example, be the basis of Smart City services for better mobility management in Monaco.

It will also boost the Principality’s economic attractiveness by offering players access to the most advanced digital solutions while reducing IT costs and increasing the security of infrastructures.

The Monegasque cloud infrastructure will offer access to all services while providing sovereignty and security for the data that will be hosted in the Principality. Monaco will therefore be one of the few states in the world to have a sovereign data hosting structure.

 

 

Porcini mushroom features in holiday dessert of 2019

by: Stephanie Horsman
29/11/2019

‘Illusion‘ has been declared the flagship dessert of this year’s holiday season, created exclusively by the Hermitage Hotel’s pastry chefs led by Nicolas Baygourry.

A yearly competition, orchestrated by Director of Culinary Events Philippe Joannès, challenges all the pastry chefs under the auspices of the Société des Bains de Mer to offer up their most inventive and delicious creations for a blind tasting in which a victor is chosen. The winning dessert will then be available for all to savour at Monaco’s SBM restaurants from 9th December to 6th January 2020.  

Illusion, the winning selection, is a highly inventive dessert made with the most remarkable and unexpected main ingredient: Porcini mushroom. The Porcini is sautéed and mixed with over a kilo of chocolate, hazelnut crumble, hazelnut butter biscuit, jivara yuzu ganache and stewed passion-mango with Cotta Rican pepper.

This is the third time Mr Baygourry and his team have succeeded in the honour of be selected. They were also given the gold star in 2014 for their innovation dubbed Pavlova and again the following year for their Pavillions of Monaco Christmas log.  

A native of the Basque country, Mr Baygourry comes from a long line of bakers and discovered his passion for pastry whilst working alongside his father. After stints at the Chevre d’Or in Eze and Le Cinq at the Four Season Georges V in Paris, he came to Monaco in 2011 and found his new home at the Hermitage. His inventive flavour pairings and seasonal choices have made him a customer favourite during his years in the Principality.  

The price of the festive dessert is €75 and serves six to eight people. Individual portions can be had at the restaurants for €14. The dessert must be ordered 72 hours in advance.

 

 

Jean-Christophe Gerard confirms as CEO of Barclays Monaco

by: Staff Writer
29/11/2019

Jean-Christophe Gerard, who took the role of interim Head of Barclays Private Bank EMEA in April, now assumes an expanded role in Barclays Private Bank as Head of Private Bank Europe, Monaco and Switzerland and CEO of Barclays Monaco on a permanent basis. Jean-Christophe will be responsible for leading Private Bank teams across Europe through Barclays European booking platforms in Switzerland, Monaco and Dublin.

As CEO of Barclays Monaco, Gerard will be responsible for positioning the business for growth in the Principality. According to Gerard, Barclays – which has been present in Monaco for nearly a century and is the longest-serving foreign wealth manager in the Principality – has the right to win in the region through the delivery of bespoke services and solutions to high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients.

“We are one of the top private banks in the region and the leading investment solutions provider for (U)HNW clients within the Principality of Monaco,” says Gerard. “Our private bank proposition offers bespoke banking, credit, and investments products as well as direct access to Barclays Corporate and Investment Bank and to a wide range of non-standard solutions for our clients, using capabilities from across Barclays through our Strategic Solutions Group. As part of a major global financial services provider, with more than 325 years of banking expertise, we offer a full range of banking, credit and investment solutions.”

Based in Monaco since 1922 and named ‘Best Private Bank – Monaco’ by PWM in their 2018 Global Private Banking Awards, Barclays Private Bank employs a diverse and experienced workforce of 200 highly-trained, multilingual colleagues. “Over 17 languages are spoken in our Monaco office, which offers end to end client coverage in location to European and non-European clients, and has a strong Discretionary Portfolio Management performance, with currently £18bn of assets under discretionary management,” says Gerarad.

Jean-Christophe Gerard has a proven track record of client expertise and a deep industry experience, especially in the area of investments. Prior to his current role, he was Global Head of Investments at Barclays Private Bank, managing a global team of investments advisors and specialists, as well as a number of key client relationships. He also spent 25 years at HSBC in private banking, asset management and investment banking, serving clients on all continents.

 

 

BRICKLIVE returns to Grimaldi Forum Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
29/11/2019

Felipe Massa has unveiled a full-size reproduction of a Venturi-Formula E car at the launch of the 2nd edition of BRICKLIVE Monaco. The car will be on display throughout the event which runs from 21st December to 5th January and features over two million bricks spread over 4,000 m2. 

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Monaco event if there wasn’t some reference to saving the ocean, so there is also an educational exhibition on the theme of the ocean as well as many other surprises. 

“I thoroughly enjoy coming home to Monaco to showcase the best features of the BRICKLIVE brand,” said David Ciclitira, founder of BRICKLIVE and Chairman of Live Company Group. “The first BRICKLIVE Show in 2018 was a resounding success with 11,000 visitors across 15 days, delivering an interactive educational, creative and fun environment for families and children to enjoy”.

This year, about 10 spaces will be dedicated to construction and games of all kinds, both manual and electronic, and feature Duplo, BRICKLIVE Force, Ninja tournament temples, Friends and Architecture zones.

The Race Ramp workshop will allow children to engage in car racing after they have built their cars and it is in this space that Felipe Massa’s Formula E Venturi car will be on exhibition, in real size – five metres long by 1.80 metres wide and one meter high. It was built entirely by a team of professional builders and weighs just over one tonne.

Fillipe Massa in the Venturi Formula E racing car

The Map Build area, which reproduces the map of Monaco, will offer everyone the opportunity to redevelop the Principality by constructing buildings, houses, cars and boats. Young and old will be able to express themselves on the Graffiti Wall, while children can dive into a briquette pool to enjoy their favourite construction game.

Dance, make-up and many other surprises and competitions will also be on offer during the event.

Meanwhile, thanks to the cooperation of Fairmont Monte Carlo, ‘Atelier Petits Chefs’ will be displayed on site for children to prepare delicious biscuits, while several selfie areas will help immortalise the visit.

An open fan-zone will be dedicated to amateur block builders who have until 15th December to apply to have their buildings exhibited in this space. People can send a photo of their best work to the Grimaldi Forum: bricklive@grimaldiforum.com.

This year, the BRICKLIVE Show will include BRICKLIVE Ocean, showcasing 30 statues to educate children and families about the incredible diversity of life in the earth’s oceans, and about the major environmental issues that threaten their existence. The theme of this exhibition fits in with Monaco’s mission, which focuses on marine protection and conservation.

Tickets are available www.bricklivemonaco.com, www.grimaldiforum.com

Top photo: D. Ciclitira, F. Massa, S. Biancheri, G. Pastor and sponsors 

 

 

Princess for a night

by: Isabella Marino
29/11/2019

Lifestyle contributor Isabella Marino takes us to the glamorous Princess Grace Foundation Awards Gala in New York.

On 25th November, I was fortunate to attend the Princess Grace Awards Gala at the iconic hotel The Plaza. The setting was magical with a romantic red carpet and a photo wall with 65,000 fresh red roses! My black Elie Saab gown perfectly matched the theme, with a velvet heart shape on the breast and laced sleeves. My dearest friend, the Spanish celebrity Mar Flores, was a stunning black swan wearing an impressive black gown by Spanish designer Roberto Diz.

The 2019 Princess Grace Awards Gala was very elegant, entertaining and spontaneous, and it was held in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, honouring Bernadette Peters and Chinonye Chukwu.

The evening was also a special celebration of the 90th birthday of Hollywood’s most beloved movie star Grace Kelly and featured a tribute video honoring her as a film and fashion icon and philanthropist.

Victor Garber, Aldis Hodge, Tiler Peck and Paul Tazewell presented the gala, while performances were given by Liz Callaway, Gavin Creel, Tamisha Guy, Marcella Lewis and the Broadway Boys.

A view of the stage during the 2019 Princess Grace Awards Gala in New York City. Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Princess Grace Foundation USA

Jasmin Grace Kelly, Grace Kelly’s granddaughter, was the star of the night, dazzling in a strapless gown paired with her grandmother’s signature hairstyle. Jasmin was accompanied by her handsome boyfriend Ian Mellencamp.

Ian Mellencamp and Jazmin Grace Grimaldi attend the 2019 Princess Grace Awards Gala in New York City. Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Princess Grace Foundation USA

The gala honoured the charming Golden Globe Award-winning actress Bernadette Peters and film director Chinonye Chukwu. Bernadette Peters was given the distinguished Prince Rainier III Award for her outstanding artistry and exemplary work in giving back to the arts world. The award was presented to her by Victor Garber and HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. Guests were treated to a surprise musical in her honour led by Gavin Creel and featuring none other than HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Bernadette Peters speaks onstage during the 2019 Princess Grace Awards Galaon in New York City. Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Princess Grace Foundation USA
Gavin Creel and HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco speak from the audience. Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Princess Grace Foundation USA
Victor Garber, Chinonye Chukwu, Prince Albert II, Bernadette Peters and Aldis Hodge. Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Princess Grace Foundation USA

Guests were entertained with Broadway musicals, a live auction led by the humoristic Robbie Gordy and served an exquisite three-course menu.

The Broadway Boys perform onstage during the 2019 Princess Grace Awards Gala. Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Princess Grace Foundation USA
Robbie Gordy speaks onstage during the 2019 Princess Grace Awards Gala. Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Princess Grace Foundation USA

For those who are not yet familiar with the foundation, the Princess Grace Foundation – USA is a non-profit organisation that was founded in 1982 by Prince Rainier III to honour his wife’s legacy and to support American artists – something his wife had been doing quietly throughout her entire life. During her royal career, Princess Grace was active in supporting Monaco on the global stage. She focused her charity work on supporting the arts scene in Monaco, as well as healthcare, children, and motherhood. The Princess Grace Foundation was founded in 1964 to provide direct assistance to cultural projects for students.

(L-R) John F. Lehman, Foundation CEO Brisa Trinchero, Prince Albert and Christopher Le Vine attend the 2019 Princess Grace Awards Gala on November 25, 2019 in New York City. Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Princess Grace Foundation USA

The Princess Grace Foundation – USA presents the annual Princess Grace Awards to to help support emerging American artists in theatre, dance and film by awarding grants in the form of scholarships, apprenticeships, and fellowships.