The second phase of the government’s mass flu vaccination campaign is now underway with the aim of protecting all citizens against the seasonal flu virus.
Four members of the Prince’s Government were vaccinated against the flu on Tuesday, marking the start of the next stage of the health campaign.
It follows the first phase initiated on 15th October, which was reserved for people aged over 65 years.
The flu vaccine is now available to anyone who resides in the Principality.
As the circulation of Covid-19 remains ‘very active’, the government is strongly recommending citizens take advantage of the initiative.
“It is important to do everything possible to limit the combined effects of the two viruses which could circulate at the same time,” said the government in a statement.
Each person residing in Monaco can obtain the vaccine at a local pharmacy by showing their Monegasque or resident identity card. The vaccine can then be administered by the pharmacist, an attending physician or a private nurse. The full cost of the vaccine can later be recovered from the State.
According to the government, “The goal of the Monegasque health authorities is to get as many people as possible to be vaccinated. For this reason, the flu vaccine is, this year, fully reimbursed for anyone affiliated with the Monegasque social security (SPME or CCSS) with or without a medical prescription.”
The stars shone bright at the Hermitage Hotel recently astwo Michelin star Chef Philippe Mille entered the Vistamar kitchen for one weekend only. The result? A kaleidoscope of gastronomic proportions.
‘Starry nights’ is a winning formula for Head Chef Jean-Philippe Borro and Hermitage Hotel General Manager Louis Starck. For two days only, guests in Monaco are able to experience an exciting melange of cuisine from the Michelin star kitchen of the Vistamar and that of starred chefs from across France.
Hot on the heels of three Michelin star chef Yannick Alleno – the leader of ‘modern cuisine’ – in August, came protégé two Michelin star chef Philippe Mille in late October.
At an exclusive press lunch on Saturday the 23rd, Monaco Life discovered the talents of this very soft-spoken chef who is on an adventurous mission to excite all the senses. Vistamar Head Chef Jean-Philippe Borro (left) and Chef Phillipe Mille
Growing up as a child in Sarthe, north-west France, Philippe Mille spent his weekends and holidays on the farm with his uncle and grandmother, relishing the sweet scent of garden vegetables, the fragrance of fruit from the orchard, and the flavour of farm-reared free-range chicken.
After developing a fine-tuned palate at an early age, Philippe went on to train under the finest starred chefs in the country, including three Michelin star Chef Yannick Alleno with whom he won the Bocus bronze medal at the Bocuse d’Or.
Chef Mille now heads the two Michelin starred restaurant Le Parc in the Domaine Les Crayères, a stunning Relais & Châteaux property in the heart of Reims that sits adjacent to the Pommery Champagne house and is a favourite among culinary travellers.
In Monte-Carlo, the chef, who also holds the prestigious title Meilleur ouvrier de France, presented his favourite ingredient – langoustine – which led a six-course menu celebrating seafood and champagne. Wild turbot with caviar powder, onion with Osciètre, champagne sauce
Each plate was a work of art: langoustine tartare served on a stained-glass shellfish coulis (top photo); grilled razor clams with a colourful garden of shaved cauliflower; fine white turbot with contrasting black caviar powder; scallop ‘cushion’ swathed in a wild artichoke sabayon. It is clear that the chef is looking to enamour both the eyes and the tastebuds.
“For me, art is very important. All the arts, and all the senses,” Chef Mille told Monaco Life. “For example, I created my langoustine dish around the stained-glass windows of the Notre Dame de Reims Cathedral because it is important to have the same thing on your plate as what you see in your environment, to feel the relationship.” Dishes on the menu were expertly paired with three difference champagnes
The Domaine Les Crayères is situated in the Champagne region, and – much to the delight of guests – champagne features heavily in the dishes that Chef Mille creates. A head sommelier is also charged with pairing each dish with a glass of this delicate and complex wine.
“We have 1,000 different champagnes at the Domaine, so it is an enormous task for the sommelier to pair champagnes with the menu. But it is the perfect way to discover this wine and the guests really enjoy it,” explained the chef.
These “starry nights” at the Vistamar are quite a coup for the Hermitage. Chef Philippe Mille says he prefers to invite chefs into his kitchen rather than guest at others, but “It is a pleasure to be here because it is a very nice hotel and the team is very good, they have a great relationship with their head chef.”
Chef Mille and his team of three travelled 980 kilometres to Monaco for the appearance, armed with their fresh local produce and perfectly paired champagnes to deliver a gastronomic dinner and a chic Sunday brunch.
For the chefs, it is an opportunity to learn from the best in their field. For the people of Monaco, it is a very short journey to some of the finest starred restaurants in Europe.
Max Biaggi and Monegasque electric motorcycle maker Voxan have marked the Venturi Group’s 20th anniversary in style, setting a total of 11 new world speed records and an outright top speed of 408 km/h. “Twenty years after buying Venturi, I am delighted that the group can now claim to have created the fastest ever electric vehicles on two and four wheels, but also in the four-wheel fuel cell category,” said Gildo Pastor, President of Venturi. “On each project, we have worked openly with major companies to share with them our expertise in the field of ground-breaking technologies, and in doing so contributed to improving ecomobility. That modest contribution reflects my commitment to ensuring we are fully inline with the values of the Principality in terms of sustainable development. So, I am sharing these records with my country, Monaco.” 366.94 km/h for the semi-streamliner Wattman
On the morning of Saturday 31st October, at Châteauroux airfield in France, Max Biaggi and the Voxan Wattman achieved their primary objective, beating the most sought-after of the 12 world records they had been targeting. With a speed of 366.94 km/h, the team set a new record in the prestigious ‘partially streamlined electric motorcycle over 300kg’ class. In doing so, they dethroned previous holders Ryuji Tsuruta and Mobitec EV-02A with their speed of 329 km/h
In line with FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) regulations, the Voxan Wattman’s speed was measured from a flying start over 1.6kms in opposite directions, within a period of two hours. Under federation regulations, the final speed is the average of the two speeds recorded over these two runs. The Voxan, with its grey Sacha Lakic-designed fairing, sent records tumbling as the GPS speedometer peaked at an instantaneous speed of 408 km/h.
Given the relatively short track (3.5km), reaching such an impressive top speed has encouraged Voxan to set its sights even higher. When they make their next attempts on a longer course, the team now has serious designs on an average speed in the region of 400 km/h 349.38 km/h for the non-streamlined Wattman
On Friday 30th October, a non-streamlined version of the Voxan Wattman without its fairing also took on the challenge over a distance of 1 mile, from a flying start. The principle was identical: 1 mile in opposite directions, within a period of two hours. Once again, the final speed was the average of the two speeds recorded over these two runs: 349.38 km/h.
The on-board systems, however, showed that the Wattman, propelled by its powerful 270 kW engine, peaked at a top speed of 372 km/h – a measurement that augurs well for the next attempts planned as Voxan is set to take on more records over the next year. Nine other records
In all, Gildo Pastor’s team achieved nine world records – six of them had never been attempted before
“When Gildo Pastor approached me about this project, I was curious, very motivated, and at the same time a little uncertain,” said rider Max Biaggi. “Having said that, right after our first meeting, I quickly realised that, like Gildo, his teams were driven by an incredible belief and determination. They told me “we came close to 600 km/h on four wheels, and now we want to flirt with 400 km/h on two wheels, nothing’s going to stop us!” I’m proud of the team and delighted to bring these titles back to Monaco!”
Top photo: The Voxan team making the number four with their hands, for the maximum speed reached of 408 km/h. Photos courtesy of Voxan Motors
In a recent interview with Madame Figaro, Caroline, Princess of Hanover and her daughter Charlotte Casiraghi have shared their thoughts on being part of a family of strong women and their love for their country.
In the interview, published 29th October by French magazine Madame Figaro, the Princess of Hanover and Charlotte Casiraghi share an easy banter, similar life outlooks and an uncanny resemblance.
While the interview focussed heavily on culture and philosophy, the mother-daughter team both made clear their feelings toward their Principality, with Ms Casiraghi saying outright, “I am proud to be Monegasque.”
Princess Caroline added, “Seriously, there’s something very special here. People are often unaware that if the history of our family has been able to last since the 12th century, it is because there is a closeness and a familiarity – in the sense of the family – between us and the Monegasque people that few people can understand. This is what makes Monaco exceptional.”
“The small size of the land allows us to accomplish things that would be impossible elsewhere,” Ms Casiraghi goes on to say. “We are a place of welcome, but also of experimentation. The bureaucracy is not heavy and the communication easy: there is a real synergy between all cultural institutions. For example, the Philosophical Meetings collaborate with Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, with the Bosio Pavilion, the Princess Grace Academy or the Oceanographic Museum. Everything is possible.”
The Grimaldi family boasts a history of strong women. Grace Kelly, Caroline’s mother and the American actress who became a princess, is the tip of the iceberg. Princess Caroline recalls her paternal grandmother Princess Charlotte who was a wartime nurse and ran a rehabilitation centre for ex-convicts.
“She was a very free woman and an original,” the Princess said, revealing that she thinks she looks more like her grandmother than her famously beautiful mother.
Ahead of Charlotte was Princess Alice, the first American princess of Monaco, who was married to Prince Albert I and who had a savvy business head, putting Monaco firmly on the right track financially as well as making it a hub of culture.
Charlotte said of the strong women in her family with more than a hint of pride: “I feel rich in all these family stories, all these contrasts, all these women who have come out of a clear path.”
And when they’re called eccentric? Charlotte replies, “Eccentrics in the sense of singulars. Free to say: I am multifaceted, I am not the one you expect.”
The Oceanographic Museum of Monaco is shuttering its doors for the month of November in an attempt to cut costs and regroup amid the ongoing Covid crisis.
Monaco’s iconic Oceanographic Museum will be closed to the general public from 3rd November to 1stDecember for reasons of simple economics and public safety. Traditionally, the museum sees the least number of guests pass through its doors in the month of November, and with the pandemic, attendance has dropped by 30% to 50%.
According to the museum’s Director Robert Calcagno, staying open for so few visitors a day makes no sense financially and poses potential safety problems. “If we stayed open, it would be for less than 10 visitors per day … First, there is a question of safety: we cannot let two visitors wander alone in case something happens to them in the museum,” the director told Monaco Matin.
Meanwhile, explained Mr Calcagno, it takes at least 20 people to run the structure, raising the question of economic balance. “This will be an opportunity for staff to take time off in November,” he explained. “They haven’t been able to do it this summer because they couldn’t take in seasonal workers.”
The museum’s operations will not be at a complete standstill, however. The break will give them a chance to renovate outdated attractions and do building works that are more difficult to do when people are present. They also plan to accommodate groups, by appointment only, as well as offer classes and exhibitions.
Monaco’s Oceanographic Museum was officially opened in 1910 by Prince Albert I, a keen lover of the seas. It is a museum of marine sciences and houses the Mediterranean Science Commission and is part of the Oceanographic Institute.
The museum boasts a huge selection of sea flora and fauna with upward of 4,000 species of fish and 200 families of invertebrates on display, as well as sea-related artifacts that include the skeleton of an 18-metre long whale that hangs from the ceiling of the beautiful Baroque revival building.
It will be the first time the museum has voluntarily closed in its 110-year history.
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts has announced the appointment of Pierre-Louis Renou as their new Managing Director of the Fairmont Monte-Carlo and Regional Vice-President of Accor Luxury hotels in Spain, Portugal and Italy.
Pierre-Louis Renou will officially take the reigns as Manging Director and Regional Vice-President for the Fairmont as of 15th November 2020 and will oversee day-to-day operations at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo. He is tasked with the hotel’s recruitment, guest relations maximisation and financial performance, starting in one of the toughest years the hospitality industry has ever seen. He will also be in charge of owner relations across the region’s Accor properties. He will be replacing outgoing Director Xavier Rugeroni, who was with the company for 13 years.
“We are pleased to welcome Pierre-Louis to the team at Fairmont Monte Carlo. His luxury background, his extensive network locally and internationally, together with his leadership and ability to engage teams and sales skills, will be key to rejuvenating this iconic hotel of the Mediterranean coastline,” said Marc Dardenne, COO Accor Europe Luxury Brands.
Renou has extensive hospitality experience, having worked with major chains such as Concorde Hotels, Sofitel, Hilton and Groupe Barrière in both Europe and North America.
In 2013, he landed the position as Area General Manager of the Majestic in Cannes whilst also being in charge of Le Grey d’Albion Cannes, as well as heading the opening of Le Carl Gustaf on the Caribbean island of St. Barts.
He is a graduate of the Gilon Institute in Switzerland and completed a leadership programme at Harvard Business School.
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