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Day: 22 April 2021

The tastes of Latin America return

by: Cassandra Tanti
22/04/2021

Attention all Coya fans. The popular Latin American restaurant is kicking off its fourth season in Monte-Carlo on Friday and this year, there’s a new chef at the helm.
Since its opening in Monaco in 2018, Coya has carried the worldwide fame of this international brand, to the delight of guests.
From its terrace overlooking the bright Mediterranean Sea, tucked away in the gardens of Sporting Monte-Carlo, guests are invited to take a unique culinary journey to South America with a cuisine inspired by the original fusion food of Peru.

In addition to a redesigned restaurant, the kitchens at Coya are this year coming under the command Victoria Vallenilla. Originally from Venezuela, Chef Vallenilla learned the “Monte-Carlo” style of cooking at the Hermitage Hotel Monte-Carlo for three years, before embarking on the Coya Monte-Carlo adventure with the opening of the restaurant, driven by her desire to return to her roots and to magnify the flavours of her childhood. This talented chef with a big smile has evolved from Sous-Chef to Head Chef, adding a modern and flavoursome touch to the restaurant’s cuisine.

The restaurant is opened on Friday 23rd April for lunch only, progressing to lunch and dinner for the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco weekend this Saturday and Sunday.
Starting Monday 26th April, Coya will open to guests for lunch and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday.
For a stress-free experience, Coya Monte-Carlo has rolled out the Monte-Carlo Cares programme for the safety of its clients and employees. Certified by Bureau Veritas, this health plan ensures that Europe’s most exclusive destination is also the safest.
 
Photos provided by SBM Monte-Carlo
 
 

Travel to Italy still restricted despite reopenings

by: Cassandra Tanti
22/04/2021

The Italian government has approved a new emergency decree setting out the rules for the country’s reopening over the coming months, including restaurants from next week. However, it doesn’t mean people from Monaco are able to jump over the border for a quick day trip. We explain why.
After a heated debate among ministers, the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Mario Draghi gave the green light to the new package of anti-coronavirus measures on Wednesday, which will be effective from 26th April to 31st July.
As Draghi indicated at a press conference last week, many activities will be allowed to resume only outdoors, while the main restrictions will be lifted in the low-risk areas classified as “yellow zones”.
Restaurants will be able to open for lunch and dinner, but only outdoors, while theatres, museums and cinemas will reopen with some limitations.
The nationwide ban on travel between regions will no longer apply to yellow zones, while people will be allowed to enter and leave areas classified as higher-risk zones using a so-called “green pass”, which will be based on vaccinations, negative tests or recovery from the virus.
Schools and universities will also be allowed to reopen.
The nationwide evening curfew will still apply at 10pm, despite opposition from the right-wing League who had been pushing to postpone the curfew to 11pm to allow people more time to eat dinner in restaurants.
But the easing of restrictions doesn’t mean that residents in Monaco or France will be able to travel freely to Italy for a day of shopping, lunch or to visit friends or family.
The government has not confirmed any plans to relax the current restrictions on travel to Italy and according to the Italian Health Ministry’s website, restrictions will remain in force until at least 30th April.
It is still mandatory for visitors to undergo a PCR or antigen test carried out within 48 hours prior to entry into Italy. Regardless of a negative result, visitors must still self-quarantine for five days and take another test at the end of this isolation period.
The tourism minister last week suggested 2nd June as a possible date for restarting non-essential travel, though this has not yet been confirmed.
 
Photo of Cinque Terre, Italy, by Tamara Malaniy on Unsplash
 
 

Calling all young environmental entrepreneurs

by: Stephanie Horsman
22/04/2021

Applications are now open for the fourth edition of the Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge in June, giving young entrepreneurial environmentalists a chance to create a business tackling the problems faced by the oceans. 

The Monaco Ocean Protection Challenge is a business concept pitching competition organised by the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, the International University of Monaco, Monaco Impact and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. It began in 2018 as a way to involve young people in creating sustainable businesses centred on ocean protection and awareness.

This year’s competition takes the theme ‘When Circular Economy Saves the Ocean’ and is open to university undergraduates, post-bachelor students and young entrepreneurs who are five years or less out of school, and who have or will have a company created after January 2020. Competitors must be English speakers who have ideas that will positively impact the seas and are willing to participate in the implementation of their ideas if selected by the jury.

To be considered, the applicant submits a business plan, a timeline of milestones in project development and a one minute video presenting the concept by 7th May.

Jurists are looking for plans that have been well-researched and relevant to today’s markets, as well as projects that can be globally implemented and that have a “measurable impact” on the oceans.

The prize and awards include a yearly induction and networking programme for the student’s category, and a check of €15,000 for the start-up’s category.

In May, jurists will choose three finalist teams from each category. The six finalist teams will be invited to Monaco for the finals on 16th June where they will be asked to present their plans intended to make the world a better place to live.

Previous winners include Elynn Yaoting Liu, who found a way to address inflatable balloon pollution, and Juan Felipe del Campo Guerreo and Julien Piveteau who created a phone case made of recycled ocean waste.

For more information visit: https://www.monaco-opc.com
 
Photo source: Pixabay
 
 

Bring on the Coupe de France

by: Stephanie Horsman
22/04/2021

The Red and Whites have clinched their spot in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France after a stunning two to nil victory over Olympique Lyonnais on the road Wednesday night.
Just 10 days before Monaco and Lyon meet for a battle in Ligue 1 action, the Red and Whites had a major confidence booster by winning over Lyon and securing themselves a spot in the Coupe de France semi-finals.
The match started off with both sides over-pumped, marked by three yellow cards being handed out to Kevin Volland, just a mere 12 seconds in, as well as to Lyonnais players Sinaly Diomandé and Thiago Mendes in the first 10 minutes of play.
Things settled down a bit after this and the first true attempt on goal was made by Melvin Bard whose shot was batted away by Monaco goalie, Radoslaw Majeki.
The Monaco side then lost Sofiane Diop to an ankle injury after a serious tackle. It was a rough start and all through the first half it was Lyon who made try after try, with Monaco primarily just playing defence to fend off the attacks.
After the half time break, Monaco took the bull by the horns and sprang into action.
Following a penalty on Fodé Ballo-Touré by Diomandé, who was sent off after his second yellow card of the game, it was Wissam Ben Yedder who took the shot and opened scoring for the game.
The two teams were definitely playing aggressive ball, with more run-ins that resulted in cards. It was the ever-cool Ben Yedder who made the next set up, passing the ball to Volland who hit a powerful shot just under the crossbar, zooming past the Lyonnais goalkeeper at 62 minutes in.
This was the last score of the game, though Ruben Aguilar almost made it three at the 74 minute mark. Thus, Monaco earned their semi-final spot in the Coupe de France playoffs.
Monaco and Lyon, ranked number three and four respectively in Ligue 1, have just a single point between them. In fact, the top four teams, which include Lille and Paris Saint-Germain, are each only separated by a point, making this season anyone’s to win.
“We didn’t come to Lyon expecting to have an easy time of things,” said Coach Niko Kovac. “We expected a tough match against one of the best teams in France and Europe, so we expected this kind of game. We had our chances in the second half and we took them so that’s what I will remember most of all about tonight.
“We are going to analyse this match, as Lyon will of course do the same. But I think that this evening we also made some changes, and Lyon did as well. So I imagine that in 10 days the match will be very different and that there will be no repercussions following tonight’s victory.”
 
Monaco Life with AS Monaco press release, photo by AS Monaco
 
 

Who won the Monaco's photo competition?

by: Stephanie Horsman
22/04/2021

Prince Albert has handed out awards for the first ever Monegasque International Solidarity Organisation’s Photography Competition in Fontvieille.

By all accounts, the first Monegasque International Solidarity Organisation’s (ISO) Photography Competition was a smashing success. Working with the theme of ‘A sustainable and united perspective’, photographers for 19 of Monaco’s associations went to work to capture images that told stories of the actions taken by the organisations, as well as to raise general public awareness.

The event was officially inaugurated by Prince Albert II, who was present at the prize-giving ceremony held on the Terrasses of Fontvieille on Friday 12th April.

Awards were given in three categories, namely, the Audience Prize, the Grand Jury Prize and the Youth Prize.

After more than 2,700 votes were counted, the Audience Prize, which was selected exclusively by members of the public-at-large, was won by Oasis for Peace for their photo called ‘A solidarity project and a peace project at the FOAP foundation in Columbia’.

The Grand Jury prize was selected by professionals in the world of non-profits and the media. This prize was awarded to AMREF for their photo entitled ‘Maria and her suitcase can change the history of a generation of women’.

Last but not least, the Youth Prize, which was chosen by students from Monaco schools Saint-Charles, FANB, and the School of Fontvieille, was won by the Monaco Humanitarian Collective for their piece called ‘Shh, life is taking back its rights’.

The ISO brings together 49 associations including NGOs, service clubs, foundations and organisation for networking and skill sharing purposes.