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Day: 14 September 2021

Prince Albert: "I hope you can also be ambassadors of a more sustainable world"

by: Cassandra Tanti
14/09/2021

Monaco’s ambassadors, guests and Prince Albert have come together for a brilliant summer party organised by the Monaco Ambassadors Club, during which the Prince praised the efforts of the club and encouraged its members to also serve as ambassadors of the planet.
Reminiscent of the iconic beaches that line the famous Promenade des Anglais in Nice, ‘MAC Plage’ came to life at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort on Monday evening for the Last Days of Summer party, hosted by the Monaco Ambassadors Club (MAC).
The balmy night may have very well marked the last true summer’s eve for 2021, and guests were lapping up the beach atmosphere, accentuated by a beautiful display by luxury jeweller Pomellato.
The champagne and Martinis flowed as the music played and guests mingled around the fountain, taking the opportunity to reconnect after a year marked by the pandemic.
Joining Prince Albert and 150 MAC members and guests were the Board of Directors of MAC, French Ambassador in the Principality Laurent Stefanini, and Lady Monika Bacardi.
In addressing the guests, MAC President Christian Moore said: “One of the things that we tried to do as a new board is to responsibalise what the club is supposed to do and carry the message of Monaco, which emulates a lot of positive, responsible and powerful messages that the world needs to hear today. I believe that with the strength of this club, its members and the power that we all possess in the worlds that you live in, to pass this message along so we can have better change for good.”

It was a message that was emulated by the MAC’s Honorary President, Prince Albert of Monaco, who thanked Christian and the club’s members, before adding: “It is very important as we struggle to reach a normal life after the pandemic that we reflect on what caused this pandemic and what is at the root of many of our problems, and the crises that affect the world today – the lack of interactions between us humans and our natural surroundings. If we get a better understanding of what natural eco-systems, both terrestrial and marine, can provide for us, we will be better off.
“So, to go forward, we can not go back to a world of business as usual, we have to live more sustainable lives and think of our impact, all of our impacts, on this planet. I hope that in Monaco, with what we’ve tried to do in terms of clean mobilities and all the different schemes that we have put together, that we can be at our scale an example for others to follow. I hope that you can all be a part of this, that you can be ambassadors also of a more sustainable world and more sustainable societies for others to follow.”

The Monaco Ambassadors Club is a non-profit association that was founded in 1973 with the encouragement of Princess Grace of Monaco. The goal of the founders, who came from more than 40 different countries, was to defend and promote the values of the Principality of Monaco throughout the world.
Over 45 years later, under the Honorary Presidency of Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Club continues its activities today, bringing together communities of different backgrounds and cultures while keeping political and religious neutrality, in a spirit of international friendship and multi-ethnicity.
Other major MAC events of the year include the Goodwill Gala and the Christmas Gala.
 
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Travel pioneer Geoffrey Kent named Monaco’s Goodwill Ambassador

 
Top photo: Prince Albert with the MAC Board of Directors, left to right – Christian Eidem, Alessandra Sparaco, Christian Moore, Mike Powers and Jean-Paul Goodwin. Photos supplied by the Monaco Ambassadors Club
 
 

MYS Series: The Superyacht Chef

by:
14/09/2021

Glorious food is a far-reaching fundamental on a superyacht and a talent for tickling the taste buds is essential. It’s not surprising then that yacht chefs vie for top spot as the ‘most important person onboard’ (and quite often are).
Will Fiddy is Head Chef on board 82m MY Grace. His passion for food is what eventually shipped him on to superyachts after training at Norwich Catering College in the UK, followed by a stint working in private catering.
“I started washing dishes for my local restaurant at weekends,” explains Fiddy. “I loved watching the passion and hard work the chefs put into the food and I wanted to be apart of it.”
He learnt about yachting whilst working a winter season as a chef in a ski resort: “It was something I was always keen on and when my wife left university, we took the risk and headed out to Antibes to find a job.”
Fiddy has been in the industry eight years and previous yachts include MY New Hampshire and MY Mary Jean II. Memorable highlights include cruising the Amalfi coast and going through the Panama Canal.
Fiddy get his kicks from the enjoyment people have while eating food and he loves to be able to provide them with that experience. And with constant changes to food trends, there is always a new set of skills to learn that keeps the job exciting and challenging.

Superyacht Head Chef Will Fiddy

The Covid pandemic was a particular challenge to yacht chefs and threw up problems with provisioning, travelling, recruiting and doing courses. That aside, in general, chefs need to adapt, adjust, create and be ready for ever-changing dietary requirements of guests and crew.
“As an example,” he says, “ Vegan/vegetarian food is continuously evolving and you have to adapt, learn and change the way you look at this. Michelin starred restaurants are leading the way in this area. They are using more vegetables as the star ingredient to showcase what can be done with them, instead of an expensive piece of meat or fish. One three-star restaurant has changed its whole menu to vegan because they believe it’s possible to achieve this standard of food with this cuisine.”
So, as superyacht chefs get ready for the onslaught of non-stop parties and soirées at the Monaco Yacht Show, Head Chef Fiddy throws his top canapés tips into the ring: Curried Beluga Lentil Panpuri or Wild Mushroom Scotch Quail Eggs. His recipe for eight little warm chocolate fondants is below.
And what is his favourite recipe to cook? “A teppanyaki night would be my favourite as it’s a great way to interact and cook in front of the guests, and sushi is always a winner for the crew.”
Chef Will Fiddy preparing teppanyaki

At Close Quarters with Head Chef Will Fiddy

If you weren’t a yacht chef, what would you be?
Probably a butcher as it’s the family business and something I’ve always been passionate about.
What is your advice to someone wanting to have a career like yours?
When becoming a yacht chef, enjoy the experience, it’s very different to being a land-based chef. Work with an experienced yacht chef, go to the markets and see the local produce, eat out and experience the local cuisine when you have the opportunity. Most importantly, be a good crew member, you will work very closely with the crew and having a good relationship with them is essential to having a successful charter. Oh, and if you are sea sick then the galley isn’t a good place to be so maybe this isn’t the job for you!
What was the worst moment of your career?
I wouldn’t say worst, but the most challenging would be my first two seasons on smaller boats. Working in a new environment which had very little space and different charter guests each week was difficult.
The most difficult part of your job?
On a personal note, being away from my family for long periods of time. From a work perspective, it would be provisioning, especially in remote locations. Having a good agent/supplier and well-stocked stores is vital to having a smooth trip. Cooking in rough seas and the endless amount of time washing dishes also makes the job a little bit more challenging.
The best part?
Having a great sous chef. Having worked on other boats as sole chef, it’s a game changer having another chef on larger boats. Also, being lucky enough to work with the finest produce available to create the ultimate culinary experience.
What are you most proud of?
Taking the risk and deciding to do yachting. It was a massive moment in my career and it took me out of my comfort zone. I also got to experience the first four years doing the job I love alongside my wife.
Your favourite meal?
Every chef’s worst question, it’s impossible for me to have a favourite meal. I love too many.
A figure you admire?
My dad, he has shown me that with hard work and dedication to your trade you can achieve what you want in life. He still works just as hard now as he did 30 years ago because he’s passionate about what he does.

Will Fiddy’s Chocolate Fondant

3 Egg Yolks
3 Whole Eggs
200gr Caster Sugar
75gr Plain Flour
150gr 70% Dark Chocolate
150gr Unsalted Butter
 
Method

  1. In a bowl over simmering water melt the chocolate and butter together.
  2. In a kitchen aid with a paddle attachment slowly combine the eggs and sugar together until well incorporated.
  3. Slowly add the melted chocolate and butter to the eggs and sugar and mix well on a medium speed.
  4. Stop the machine and sieve the flour into the mix.
  5. On a slow speed fold in the flour but be careful not to over mix the mixture.
  6. Chill the mixture in the fridge for 1 hour and then weigh 80gr of mixture into 8 pre buttered and cocoa powdered tin moulds.
  7. Bake at 180c for 9 minutes.
  8. Use a pallet knife to loosen the side and then dust with cocoa and serve with vanilla ice cream.

 
 
 

Prince backs new Highly Protected Mediterranean Initiative

by: Cassandra Tanti
14/09/2021

The Prince Albert Foundation has supported the creation of a new funding scheme that will help with the creation of more Marine Protected Areas and thereby safeguard marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean.
The Mediterranean Sea is threatened by many pressures that lead to a degradation of ecosystems, a significant drop in fish populations – 85% of which are overfished – and a decline of emblematic species, such as the monk seal or sea turtles.
Many scientific studies have shown that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) with strong protection level are effective tools to protect biodiversity, provided that they have sustainable human and financial resources. However, in the Mediterranean, most MPAs are not effectively managed and do not benefit from strong protection measures.
Guided by science and encouraged by the commitments of several leaders to increase the number of MPAs with strong protection in the Mediterranean, the MedFund Board of Directors decided to create a new financing window dedicated to MPAs with a high level of protection called the Highly Protected Mediterranean Initiative.
The MAVA Foundation, which has been involved for many years in the protection of nature in the Mediterranean, is supporting this initiative, thus becoming the first partner to join the funding mechanism.
The MedFund and the MAVA Foundation officially launched the Highly Protected Mediterranean Initiative on 7th September during the World Conservation Congress organised in Marseille on the shores of the Mediterranean and in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The MedFund will issue a call for interest dedicated to highly protected MPAs at the end of 2021 in order to support them from 2022.
 
 
Monaco Life with press release, photo by Axel Bastello/Palais Princier
 
 
 

Princess Grace Theatre unveils new season

by: Stephanie Horsman
14/09/2021

The 2021-22 season of the Princess Grace Theatre has been revealed, with 30 events ranging from reinterpretations of the classics to more modern creations to spark the imagination.

The Princess Grace Theatre (TPG) recently unveiled their new season of theatrical offerings, which will feature “texts, authors and collaborations that are more than ever at the heart of the programming of the TPG. This new season deepens and develops these orientations.”

Under the patronage of Princess Stephanie, the theatre, which became the namesake of her late mother in December 1981, has a long history of entertaining the people of Monaco.

Opened in 1932 as the Théâtre des Beaux-Arts, the art-deco theatre was, for its time, state-of-the-art. It attracted the biggest French names of the era including Edith Piaf, Maurice Chevalier, Jean Debucourt, Lucien Callamand, Jean Worms, Madeleine Renaud and Edwige Feuillère with creations by Roger Martin du Gard and Sacha Guitry.

Over the years, the theatre lost its lustre, and Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III took the restoration of the grand old dame to task. On 17th December 1981, they inaugurated the renovated space, renaming it the Princess Grace Theatre.

Today, 40 years on, the theatre hosts music, entertainment and theatre offerings, some quite out the ordinary.

The season opens on 7th October with the classic Agatha Christie whodunnit The Mousetrap, followed by another story of murder, this one with a more comedic bent, called ‘Adieu Je Reste’ on 19th October. Depression-era woes come front and centre on 21st October, with a performance of John Steinbeck’s ‘Les Raisins de la Colère’. Rounding out the month on 28th October will be the tale of prodigious piano genius Clara Haskil, who as a small child was able to reproduce, with one finger, a complex Schumann melody she had heard her mother play, but wasn’t truly recognised until six decades later.  

In all, there will be 30 evenings of top-quality experiences that evoke emotion and entertain audiences. For a fill listing of the 2021-22 season programme, visit the Princess Grace Theatre website at https://www.tpgmonaco.mc/fr/programme.html

 
Photo: Françoise Gamerdinger, Director of the Princess Grace Theatre by Michael Alesi, Government Communication Department
 
 

Trott’n’Roll is back this weekend

by: Stephanie Horsman
14/09/2021

The Flavien Foundation’s annual Trott’n’Roll charity event to benefit the fight against paedeatric cancers and rare diseases is back this year after being forced to cancel in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The Flavien Foundation, a charitable organisation dedicated to fighting childhood cancers and other rare maladies, is putting on its much-loved yearly Trott and Roll event on 18th September for its 11th edition.

Since 2014, the event has been a pivotal fundraiser for the charity, and a fun day out for kids as well. Everyone involved in the event are all asked to dress in orange, whilst the children take to their scooters, skates and bikes to follow a fun circuit.

The day also has a meet and greet by Ironman and Spiderman for the kids, clowns and balloons, bouncy castles, interactive Star Wars and Blitz stands, street artists and much more. Additionally, there will be a raffle to win over 30 prizes, including the grand prize of a trip for two to Dubai to visit the universal expo and a cheque presented to the Scientific Centre of Monaco for cancer research for €100,000.

€643,000 has been donated since the inception of the charity, which came about after the tragic death of 8-year-old Flavien Maccario from brain cancer.

“We can all do something for sick children who fight against scourges which to this day do not even benefit from any effective treatment,” say the organisers. “There is no vaccine against cancers, just successful research that very often works and so much the better. So, let’s make sure to increase the chances of healing more and healing better.”

Trott ‘n’ Roll will take place at Les Jardins d’Apolline and Allée Sauvaigo, from 9am to 6pm.