As Covid numbers continue to plummet, the National Council has asked that more restrictive measures be scrapped, following in the path of other European countries that have lifted many or all rules.
During its recent meeting with the government in the Joint Monitoring Committee on Wednesday 23rd February, the National Council released a statement Friday, reiterating calls for a number of restrictions to be lifted.
The Council noted that the situation in Monaco is better than that of the Principality’s French neighbouring region, the Alpes-Maritimes, where several rules have already been scrapped, and asked for Monaco to consider following suit.
Monaco has seen a 33% drop in the incidence rate in a week, down to 436 per 100,000 inhabitants. This is nearly half the French rate during the same period, which sits at 845, and the Alpes-Maritimes rate of 757.
Hospital pressure in Monaco has also dropped significantly, with only eight people being treated for Covid in regular wards, and one in intensive care.
Monaco, the Council argues, has been able to have more flexibility in deciding on what measures to instil and to what degree “because the health situation and the civic sense of our population allowed it”, and it is now hoping to see the Principality’s restrictions come into line with other countries, such as the United Kingdom, which ditched all restrictions as of 24th February. Other nations that have heavily reduced or no restrictions include Denmark, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden.
The National Council is calling for the abolition of the much-maligned health pass when the incidence rate hits 300 or less. This milestone is expected to be reached in the coming days. However, the Council argues, this should only apply to Monegasques, residents and employees of the Principality, meaning French nationals would still need a valid health pass until the French abolish the pass as well.
At schools, the Council would like the government to scrap the mandate for masks while students are seated at their desks, when outdoors, and when playing indoor sport, except in the case of close contact sports. The latter two are already in effect in France.
Additionally, elected officials repeated their request for air purifiers to be installed in all classrooms, alongside natural ventilation. The government said a week ago that it was trialling air purifiers in a handful of local schools.
The National Council would also like to see an end to enforced three-day a week teleworking, unless the employer and employee prefer this arrangement. France lifted this obligation on 2nd February.
Finally, they would like to see isolation requirements for intra-family contact cases for those fully vaccinated and with a negative test be lifted, saying that “this measure is particularly penalising for economic actors and for the organisation of families.”
Beefbar founder Riccardo Giraudi talks about his exciting new vegan venture, the Leafbar, one of four new restaurant openings in Monaco this year, while revealing what it takes to make it in an industry that is not for the faint of heart… or stomach.
Riccardo Giraudi is one of Monaco’s most popular exports. Born in Genoa, Switzerland, and raised in Monaco, the 46-year-old is CEO of the Giraudi Group, a Principality-based meat import/export business created by his father Erminio Giraudi in the 1960s that now employs over 700 people worldwide.
The younger Giraudi was educated at the European Business School in London and later took an internship at a pioneering restaurant PR company working with brands like Hakkasan, Chinawhite and Nobu.
“London really changed my philosophy on a lot of things,” Riccardo Giraudi tells me from his home in Monaco. “PR companies were only for fashion at the time, but it was at the start of the internet boom, it was the millennium, and restaurant brands were becoming lifestyle.”
When Giraudi was called back to Monaco at age 22 to take over the management of the family business, he was less than enthused.
“I told my father I would only do it if I could have another business to motivate me and allow me to be creative. That’s when I started doing restaurants here in Monaco,” Giraudi remembers. “At the time, there were only Michelin star ‘Frenchies’ and Italian trattorias. But the customers here were very cosmopolitan, well-travelled and wealthy. They thought of Monaco as this exciting capital, but in reality, there was nothing.”
So, Giraudi opened his first restaurant, the Beefbar, to huge success. Then another, and another. It was then that he realised he could in fact combine the family business of trading meat with his passion for creating restaurants.
“The restaurant taught me about the beef, not vice versa,” he reveals. “I started importing hormone free Black Angus from America and Australia, and Kobe beef from Japan. I began branding beef, which didn’t exist at the time, and so both companies grew hand in hand.”
The new chapter in the Giraudi legacy was being written.
Beefbar Monaco
Anyone who has dined in Monaco will have likely eaten in a Giraudi restaurant: Beefbar, Pizz’aria, Song Qi, Mozza, Izakaya Cozza, Mezze Kitchen, Moshi Moshi, Cantinetta Antinori, Tiny Thai, Grubers… in the teeny two-square kilometre Principality, Riccardo Giraudi has established no less than 10 restaurants, and many more are in the making.
“I keep saying ‘enough’, but I live here so I have to test it, Monaco is my lab,” he smiles.
The next big concept that this meat connoisseur will be testing is unlike anything he has tried before… a 100% vegan restaurant called Leafbar. It will sit, in complete antithesis, beside the most meatiest of restaurants and his biggest success, the Beefbar, in Fontvielle.
“In the beginning I didn’t really understand it (veganism). I thought it was mostly left-wing skinny girls that don’t want vaccines, but I was totally wrong of course,” acknowledges Giraudi. “I realised that there are a lot of people who just want to eat better meat, and sometimes they want an alternative to protein, so that’s the vision behind Leafbar. And what better place to open it than in Monaco, where it all started, and right next door to the Beefbar?”
Veganism’s radical image overhaul is largely thanks to endorsements from celebrity chefs and Instagram influencers, new cookbooks and headline-grabbing vegan restaurants that are flourishing around the world.
Last year, the World Health Organisation recommended a plant-based diet for a healthy life. That backing, along with growing concerns about the impact of farming on the environment and animal cruelty, have helped fuel a plant-based gastronomic revolution.
Estimates now put the total number of vegans in the world at 79 million. By 2026, the global vegan food market is expected to reach $24.3 billion.
To a business-minded creative like Riccardo Giraudi, creating a top-quality vegan restaurant in Monaco is the obvious next step.
Riccardo Giraudi
“Luxury meats and alternative meats are both niche products, they go through the same distribution channel, more or less,” he reveals. “The legislation for bringing in these alternative meats is actually much simpler because they’re not animal proteins, most of them are jackfruit, soy, peas and mushrooms, so it is much easier for me to bring them in and cook with them.”
The Leafbar will be a “plant-loving Beefbar”, says Giraudi, featuring all the favourite street food classics – tacos, bao buns, pizza, sushi rolls… but with plant-based proteins. Guests can also expect flavour explosions in Asian stir fries and Indian curries when the restaurant opens in June.
“It’s hard work creating the recipes and making sure the menu makes sense. I can’t mess up because we have Beefbar right next to it, and it’s very successful, so we want to surprise guests more than have them say ‘what the hell is on about now?’”
To ensure he’s covering all bases and appetites, Giraudi is also introducing a Reefbar inside the Beefbar. Leaf, Beef and Reef. How could it go wrong?
Well, it would be intimidating for perhaps anyone who isn’t Riccardo Giraudi.
Song Qi, a Riccardo Giraudi restaurant, in Monaco
In addition to the Leafbar, Giraudi will this year be bringing the legacy of famed French chef Joël Robuchon back to Monaco with a new Mediterranean restaurant on Avenue du Portier. He’s also opening a Comptoir de Nicole in the Principality featuring the eccentric Nicole herself from La Petite Maison in Nice. There’s also another Italian restaurant in the works, and all this on top of the 39 restaurants that this entrepreneur has opened, franchised, or is on the verge of opening in locations such as Rome, Malta, London, Athens, Luxembourg, New York, Mykonos, Africa and the Middle East.
But it doesn’t always work out as planned, Giraudi acknowledges. Take Beefbar Dubai for example.
“Our problem was that we thought the Beefbar brand was so strong, we could put it anywhere and people would come. And yes, they come for three months, but then they don’t return. It was a bad location in Dubai, period.”
Location accounts for about 70% of the success of a restaurant, says Giraudi. So, he made the tough decision to close Beefbar Dubai in 2019 after only 15 months of operation. “It wasn’t a complete disaster, but it wasn’t exactly what I wanted it to be, it wasn’t wow.”
Now, he and his business partners, which include billionaire Monaco resident Flavio Briatore, have reopened the restaurant in a new location along the famous Turtle Lagoon, and Giraudi is far more confident of its success.
“It took me 15 years to understand the recipe for screwing up less. You open some, you close some, you open some, you close less, then eventually you are opening many more than you are closing, so you can finally tell yourself, ‘Ok, I am getting the gist of this’,” he laughs. “Everybody notices all the successes you have, but they forget the failures, and I have had quite a few. There is no one single recipe for success in a restaurant, it is a combination of everything that ends up creating this sort of energy inside that restaurant. That’s why, when I walk into a new restaurant, I can usually tell the first day, the first week, if there are red flags, green lights or orange warning signals.”
By six months, Riccardo Giraudi generally knows whether his new venture will make it. That’s enough time for people to test the restaurant and satisfy their curiosity. The question is always: will they return?
Giraudi says the other key elements to making it in the restaurant industry is having a clear concept and selecting the right people for your staff. It’s also important to know where your strengths lie and to have the courage to say ‘no’ sometimes.
“I get proposals every day, but I make restaurants that are there for the long term and that I would want to go to every day,” says the father of two.
So, what does the year 2022 look like for restaurant guru Riccardo Giraudi?
“Firstly, I hope this will be the year that we can finally say goodbye to the pandemic. I hope this year will be the bright light at the end of the tunnel. I will be keeping my ambition high, and my head down to earth.”
Skorpios, owned by AS Monaco President Dmitry Rybolovlev, was the first across the finish line at the Royal Ocean Racing Club Caribbean 600 race in Antigua with a racing time just a shade under four hours.
Yacht Club of Monaco member and AS Monaco President Dmitry Rybolovlev’s Club Swan 125 Skorpios is continuing its winning ways. Taking line honours on 23rd February at the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) Caribbean 600, the ship came in at three hours 59 minutes and 51 seconds.
The race, which saw over 700 sailors from 32 countries competing, had a fantastic start with 15 knot winds from the northeast, gusting up to 20 knots.
“This is the first RORC Caribbean 600 for Skorpios, both for myself and some of the crew,” said Skorpios’ skipper Fernando Echavarri. “I am super-proud of all the team that have made this possible. It has been an incredible effort just to be here. It has been a very interesting race, demanding for the crew with sail changes and very tactical. The speed of Skorpios has been one of the key ingredients, but also managing the changes as we rounded the islands, especially Guadeloupe where we parked in the wind shadow, but there was enough separation for us to stay in first position.
Photo by Arthur Daniel/ROR
The RORC Caribbean 600 is firmly established as a modern classic for boats based on both sides of the Atlantic, attracting many of the best racers and crews from around the globe. The race is particularly popular given the host island of Antigua’s warm winter climate with both the start and finish lines on the island, making it also a convenient race to be part of.
The course loops around several other Caribbean hotspots, passing by perennial favourites such as St. Martin, St. Barth’s, and Guadeloupe, but also by some lesser-known places such as St. Kitts and Nevis, Redonda and St. Eustatius.
“The RORC Caribbean 600 is an amazing course because of the beauty of the islands, as well as the technical challenges, Captain Echavarri went on to say. “Thank you very much to the RORC and the people that make this race possible, it is an incredible race and we hope to be here next year.”
This race marks the second RORC victory, with Skorpios having taken line honours at the Rolex Fastnet Race in August 2021.
In between the reveal of AS Monaco’s Europa League opponent, and Sunday’s fixture against Reims, Gelson Martins and Philippe Clement addressed the media on Friday speaking about the challenge ahead.
At midday on Friday, the Europa League round of 16 draw took place, the Principality side drawing Portugese side Braga, with the fixtures to be played on 10th and 17th March. Portuguese midfielder Martins has high expectations for the clash. “It’s a team I know very well, that I’ve played against many times in Portugal.”
Martins continued, “They are a good team that has a lot of experience in the Europa League, and I think it’ll be a great match.” Clement admitted he isn’t as familiar with the side. “I watch lots of European matches, so I know lots of teams in the draw really well, but less so this Braga team. They are defensively strong and quick in attack. I know their results, but that doesn’t tell you much.”
Before that however, the side’s focus is firmly on Sunday’s match at the Stade Louis II against Stade de Reims where, according to Martins, a win is essential. “We have to chase after the points we have lost. It’s a difficult period of games, but we have shown that we can beat these teams. Clearly, there’s no more room for failure.”
Indeed, every match is vital, and the difficult matches are coming thick and fast, the Principality side set for mid-week matches every week until mid-March. Squad rotation will therefore be key in the coming weeks, and Clement told Monaco Life that there could be changes on Sunday. “On top of (Aurelien) Tchouameni and (Caio) Henrique, who are suspended, there could be other changes.” The Belgian coach added that it would be either Youssouf Fofana or Eliot Matazo who would replace Tchouameni.
Monaco Life attended Friday training at the La Turbie training centre and can confirm that, bar long-term absentee Krepin Diatta, all players were involved in group training. However, Clement revealed that many are still short on match fitness.
Despite a friendly against Brentford B on Wednesday, in which AS Monaco ran out 2-1 winners, Cesc Fabregas still hasn’t quite reached match fitness. Benoit Badiashile will also likely be absent, but Myron Boadu has the potential to perhaps play “10-15 minutes”. Russian midfielder Aleksandr Golovin is doubtful having felt some discomfort during training.
Following consecutive draws in Ligue 1, against two low-blocks, Clement is hoping that this match won’t follow the same pattern. “It’s always difficult against low-blocks. We have had great difficulty against these teams. I think that this time it will be different.”
For the sake of Monaco’s chances of European qualification, fans will hope that this is the case, whilst a victory would allow the side to build some much needed momentum ahead of a crucial month of football.
Photo of Philippe Clement by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life
Polar regions under the spotlight in new Monaco symposium
Monaco has brought together some of the world’s leading scientists for a symposium at the Oceanographic Museum this week to discuss how changes in our planet’s polar regions are affecting Earth’s climate, and how this concerns us all.
The symposium, presented to the press on Wednesday, is the first of its kind for the Principality and is organised by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) as co-conveners, in collaboration with the Scientific Centre of Monaco, the Oceanographic Institute and the Prince Albert I of Monaco Foundation.
The scientists will offer assessments and views on their fields in either the Arctic or the Antarctic. Recommendations from the symposium will form a report for management and collective action in the poles to protect and enhance resilience of the ecosystems to climate change.
Day one, 24th February, saw Prince Albert II of Monaco deliver the keynote address in person. Topics covered throughout the day include ‘Understanding Polar Changes’ and ‘Contribution of Polar Changes to Global Climate’. It also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding of the Polar Initiative.
Day two will cover the ‘Effects of Polar Changes Upon Global Human Societies and Humanities’ and ‘Management Responses in the Face of Uncertainties’.
Panellists throughout the two days include specialists from the Polar Research Board of the US National Science Academy, NASA’s Cyrospheric Space Programme, and the Alfred Wegener Institute.
The event is endorsed as an action of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
Prince Albert I and Prince Albert II
But it also holds special meaning to Monaco, this being the centenary year marking the death of Albert I, the Explorer Prince.
Prince Albert I paved the way at the end of the 19th century by organising several expeditions to the Arctic and Spitsbergen to better understand these environments which were then unknown and preserved.
After discovering the North Pole in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, and completing the journey by going to the South Pole, Prince Albert II created his Foundation, convinced that only international cooperation can save the poles. It has advocated for a number of issues including a ban on the use of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic, and for the creation of Marine Protected Areas in Antarctica, to name just a few.
Executive Director of the Oceanographic Museum Robert Calcagno and Céline Le Bohec, head of research in the Polar Biology department by Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life
During Wednesday’s press conference, Executive Director of the Oceanographic Museum Robert Calcagno announced the publication of his new book ‘At the heart of the polar worlds, challenged by global warming and exploitation’ (Au cœur des mondes polaires, entre réchauffement et convoitises) published by Glénat. The book invites readers to discover the richness and fragility of the polar regions to better understand the need to preserve them.
The museum also announced a new interactive summer exhibition starting 4th June called ‘Polar Mission’. It will cover five thematic spaces, spread over two levels, and allow visitors to discover the poles and the wildlife they shelter, as well as the people who inhabit and explore them. Objects and documents, digital content and immersive devices will come together for a 360° experience.
Photo of Olivier Wenden, Vice-President and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and Céline Le Bohec, head of research in the Polar Biology department by Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life
The final weekend of February will provide great skiing conditions. A lack of fresh snowfall at many resorts will be amply compensated by beautiful, clear skies throughout the region, and a handful of great events.
Isola 2000 – There are currently 25 ski slopes and 17 ski lifts open at Isola. The resort hasn’t experienced any snowfall since Valentine’s Day, but visitors can still expect there to be between 95 and 80 cm of snow. The forecast is for sunny, albeit chilly conditions, with highs of 7°C and lows of -7°C. The col de la Bonette and la Lombarde roads are closed until the end of the winter season.
Auron – There are currently 23 ski slopes and 14 ski lifts open at the resort, with between 85-75 cm of standing snow following the region-wide snowfall last week. It will be largely sunny over the weekend, though visitors can expect cloudier skies on Friday. It will also be considerably milder than last week with highs of 7°C and lows of -5°C. In terms of access, Route de la Tinée, Route de la Bonette, Piste de la Moustière, Piste de Demandols all remain closed. The resort will be hosting a snowshoeing festival on Saturday, with a variety of different routes on offer depending on ability.
Les Deux Alpes – There is a large choice of runs at the resort with 80 ski slopes and 43 ski lifts currently open. Fresh snowfall on Monday means that there is 65cm of fresh standing snow. It will be largely cloudy on Friday, but this will give way to beautiful sunny conditions for the remainder of the weekend.There will be lows of -9°C and highs of 4°C.
La Colmiane – There are 14 ski slopes and six ski lifts open at the resort, with between 75 and 45 cm of standing snow thanks to the region-wide snowfall on 14th February. Although it is expected to be largely sunny over the weekend, there are strong winds expected, especially on Saturday where winds between 60-75 km/h are expected. It will be chillier compared to last week, with highs of 6°C and lows of -5°C. On Friday, there will be a torch-lot ski descent for children at the resort followed by fireworks on Sunday. The resort also hosts a market on Saturdays, and will continue to do so until the end of March.
Greolieres les Neiges – There are four ski lifts open, as well as 30km of open runs. There is 40 cm of powdery standing snow at the resort, with 30 cm at lower levels. There is also the possibility of a light-dusting of snow on Saturday. Greolieres will experience clear skies throughout the weekend, and although it will be cooler than last weekend, highs of 11°C and lows of -5°C means it will be one of the milder resorts this weekend. The resort isn’t reporting any road closures.
Limone Piemonte – The Italian resort is reporting 1 open run and 2 ski-lifts. This is due to current strong winds, which could also be disruptive on Saturday, with more strong winds expected. Snow levels vary from 10 cm to 45 cm. It will be largely sunny, although a bit more cloud is expected on Friday with lows of -3°C, highs of 9°C. Passage through the Roya valley currently isn’t possible due to the collapsed bridge at Tende. Drivers must instead pass through Ventimiglia and the journey from Monaco is currently approximately three hours.
Valberg – There are 25 ski slopes and 13 ski lifts open. The resort currently has between 80 and 60 cm of standing snow, following the snowfall on Valentine’s Day. Conditions will be good throughout the weekend with wall-to-wall sunshine expected, with winds of up to 45 km/h on Friday. It is expected to be cooler than last weekend with highs of 8°C and lows of -3°C.
Note: Snow tyres must be worn on the roads up to the ski resorts.
Photo: Les Deux Alpes webcam
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