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Day: 23 March 2022

New Michelin stars awarded in Monaco and Roquebrune

by: Stephanie Horsman
23/03/2022

The Blue Bay’s Caribbean Executive Chef Marcel Ravin has been rewarded his second Michelin star, while Mauro Colagreco’s Ceto at the new Maybourne Riviera has received its first star, just six months after opening.

Forget about Christmas. For foodies, this is the most wonderful time of the year, when the Michelin Guide unveils its list of restaurants that have achieved star status.

It was revealed on Monday that a second star has been awarded to Marcel Ravin, Executive Chef of the Blue Bay at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort.

“Marcel Ravin is the unique example in France of a fusion of Caribbean cuisine and exceptional products from the Côte d’Azur,” says the Michelin Guide in its press release. “Annatto oil, fish blaff, curcuma, moringa, lemongrass, tamarind: memories of his grandmother’s dishes, spices, products and recipes from his native Martinique infuse each plate with a creative score.”

For his part, Chef Ravin is touched by the honour and thoughtful of his roots.

“I’m very moved because I arrived in France at 16, I learned a lot from great chefs like Loiseau or Robuchon, and I didn’t expect to reach their level one day. I’m also very moved, I’m thinking of my father, and the West Indies.”

 

Executive Chef of the Blue Bay Marcel Ravin, photo by Monaco Life

In the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur (PACA) region, there are three new starred restaurants to be savoured, including Ceto, situated in the new Maybourne Riviera hotel in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. Chef Mauro Colagreco has made another home run in his latest endeavour perched in the heights above Monaco, just six months after opening.

The Michelin Guide reads: “Entrusted to the virtuoso Mauro Colagreco, the Maybourne Riviera’s fine dining restaurant offers to take diners on an intoxicating culinary journey. Sample the best of the Mediterranean in precise dishes featuring clean, bold and unfussy flavours. A delightful time is had in the refined marine-inspired interior or out on the terrace, which affords a breathtaking view of the sea, Monaco and Cap Martin. A special experience.”

Colagreco is also the owner of the three-starred Mirazur in Menton and has backed a number of ventures in Monaco including Komo and Mitron Bakery.

The second new one-star wonder is Les Glycines, run by Chef Hélène Darroze at Villa Coste in Puy-Sainte-Repardade in the Bouches de Rhône (13).

The newest third star in the area went to Villa Madie, also in the Bouches de Rhône (13) in Cassis under the direction of Chef Dimitri Droisneau.

Of the 627 restaurants in France given mention, over 500 of them are outside Paris, showing that the culinary traditions of the country are not confined only to the capital. It is also notable that since the health crisis, there are over 200,000 jobs waiting to be filled in French hotels and restaurants.

See the list of all the new stars below:

Michelin Guide France 2022

New three-stars  

  • Villa Madie, Cassis
  • Plénitude – Cheval Blanc Paris

New two-stars

  • Bommes (33): Lalique– Jérôme Schilling
  • Nîmes (30): Duende– Nicolas Fontaine, Julien Caligo et Pierre Gagnaire
  • Paris: Palais Royal Restaurant – Philip Chrnonopoulos
  • Paris: Table- Bruno Verjus
  • Paris: L’Oiseau blanc– David Bizet
  • Monaco: Le Blue Bay – Marcel Ravin

New one-stars

  • Baden (56): Le Gavrinis
  • Beaune (21): Restaurant Hostellerie Cèdre & Spa
  • Béziers (34): L’Alter-Native
  • Biarritz (64): La Rotonde – Hôtel du Palais
  • Binic (22): La Table d’Asten
  • Boeschepe (59): Auberge du Vert Mont
  • Bonnieux (84): La Bastide de Capelongue
  • Bordeaux (33): Maison nouvelle
  • Brest (29): L’Embrun
  • Busnes (62): Château de Beaulieu – Christophe Dufossé
  • Cheverny (41): Le Favori – Les Sources de Cheverny
  • Ciboure (64): Ekaitza
  • Courchevel (73): Sylvestre Wahid – Les Grandes Alpes
  • Dijon (21): Origine
  • Les Eyzies-de-Tayac (24): Le 1862 – Les Glycines
  • Gesté (49): Le 1825 – La Table gastronomique
  • Grane (26): Le Kléber – La Maison Bonnet
  • Lorient (56): Sources
  • Marseille (13): Une Table au Sud
  • Megève (74): La Dame de Pic – Le 1920
  • Montpellier (34): Jardin des Sens
  • Montréverd (85): La Chabotterie
  • Nancy (54): La Maison dans le parc
  • Paris: Granite
  • Paris: Auberge Nicolas Flamel
  • Paris: Ogata
  • Paris: AT
  • Paris: Contraste
  • Paris: Il Carpaccio
  • Paris: Jean Imbert au Plaza Athénée
  • Paris: FIEF
  • Paris: Bellefeuille – Saint James Paris
  • Paris: Don Juan II
  • Paris: Substance
  • Paris: Sushi Shunei
  • Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade (13): Hélène Darroze à Villa La Coste
  • Roquebrune-Cap-Martin (06): Ceto
  • Saint-Emilion (33): Les Belles Perdrix de Troplong Mondot
  • Saint-Grégoire (35): Ronan Kervarrec – Le Saison
  • Vannes (56): La Tête en l’air
  • Versailles (78): Le Grand Contrôle

Special Awards Michelin Guide France 2022

Promotion Passion Dessert

  • Les Belles Perdrix de Troplong Mondot – Adrien Salavert
  • La Rotonde, Hotel du Palais – Aleksandre Olivier
  • Le Grand Controle – Aymeric Pinard
  • Plénitude – Cheval Blanc Paris – Maxime Frédéric
  • La Marine – Jérémy Garnier

Service Award

  • La Maison dans le Parc – Roxane Coulombeau
  • Le Manoir de la Régate – Anne-Charlotte Pérou

Sommelier Award

  • Restaurant Julien Binz – François Lhermitte
  • Le Moulin de Rosmadec – Cedric Bilien

Chef Mentor Award 2022

  • Sur Mesure par Thierry Marx

 

 

 

 

By Stephanie Horsman/Cassandra Tanti

 

 

 

 

 

Monaco starts Novavax rollout

by: Stephanie Horsman
23/03/2022

The new Covid-19 vaccine Nuvaxovid, from Novovax Laboratories, is now being administered at the National Vaccination Centre in the Prince Rainier III Auditorium.

Nuvaxovid, the brand name of the inoculation, is what is known as a “protein sub-unit” vaccine, meaning it works differently to viral vector jabs, such as those by AstraZeneca and Janssen or the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna. The Novavax one is activated by injecting a piece of the virus, in this case a spike protein, into the patient.

The patient’s immune system then reacts and learns to recognise the spike proteins, which makes for better protection against the virus. It is administered in two doses, spaced three weeks apart.

This vaccine is not intended as a booster, or third jab, and is only for those who have not yet been vaccinated or those who have had only one dose of any other vaccine other than the Janssen one.

The European Medicines Agency, which signed off on Novavax last December, has approved the jab for those over the age of 18, but not yet for children, though clinical trials are showing it to be very effective in kids aged 12 to 17.

Clinical trials have been encouraging, showing a 90% effectiveness at preventing symptomatic Covid and 100% effective at warding off serious illness. Other preliminary data has shown that it is successful in neutralising Omicron antibodies.

The company has also launched educational programmes aimed at those who have thus far been reluctant to get vaccinated, explaining that this alternate technology may be for them.

“Novavax vaccines are built on a well-understood protein-based platform used for other vaccines for decades, and we are committed to fighting the current pandemic and aiding in overall global public health,” said John Trizzino, Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Business Officer of Novavax. “We’re proud to do our part to ensure that all stakeholders have awareness about their vaccine options through the launch of educational programs such as these.”

According to IMSEE, as of 13th March, 78,708 vaccines have been administered to people aged 12 and over in Monaco. They include nearly 27,700 first doses and around 28,500 second doses. The number of additional doses sits at around 19,300. Vaccination is equal among genders, with 50.6% being women.

The highest age group to have received a complete vaccination schedule is the 75+ at 95%, followed by 82% among those aged 55 to 64.

The number of people aged over 12 to have received a full vaccination schedule in Monaco sits at 71.6%.

To take advantage of this latest round of vaccines, people are asked to ring the Covid Call Centre on +377 92 05 55 00 seven days a week, or visit the website at https: //vaccination-covid19.gouv.mc

 

Photo source: Government Communication Department

 

 

 

Goldman Sachs now offers crypto options “over the counter”

by: Stephanie Horsman
23/03/2022

New York-based Goldman Sachs has made its first over the counter crypto options trade, marking its increase in digital asset holdings to investors.

American investment bank and financial services company Goldman Sachs traded a non-deliverable Bitcoin option, a derivative tied to Bitcoin’s price that pays out cash, according to a statement put out by the company.

The transaction was made by Galaxy Digital Holdings, run by former Goldman partner Michael Novogratz. Options are used by crypto investors to lessen risks or to enhance yields, and over-the-counter transactions are usually bigger trades negotiated privately.

This is the first time a major US bank has executed such a transaction and it anticipates that this trade will “open the door for other banks considering OTC as a conduit for trading digital assets,” said Damien Vanderwilt, co-president and head of global markets at Galaxy, in a statement.

Goldman opened up trading of non-deliverable forwards, a derivative tied to Bitcoin’s price that settles in cash in 2021. It offers exchange-listed options and futures trading in Bitcoin and Ether as well. Furthermore, Galaxy provided liquidity for Goldman’s first CME Bitcoin futures trade last year.

Max Minton, Goldman’s Asia Pacific head of digital assets, said, “This is an important development in our digital assets capabilities and for the broader evolution of the asset class.”

Goldman is huge in the banking world, with a 2020 revenue of US$ 44.6 billion and assets of an eye-watering US$ 2.1 trillion.

It was announced in February that the American financial services company had received approval to re-establish a private wealth unit branch in Monaco, six years after it closed a former location.

 

SEE ALSO:

Goldman Sachs set to return to the Principality

 

 

 

Photo by Art Rachen on Unsplash

 

 

 

 

Weekend ski report: 25th – 27th March

by: Luke Entwistle
23/03/2022

Snow is receding and temperatures are on the rise throughout the region, although those hoping to catch some end-of-season snow still have plenty of enticing options with good conditions in many resorts.

Isola 2000 – There are currently 23 ski slopes and 14 ski lifts open at Isola. Visitors can expect there to be between 100 and 80 cm of smooth snow. The weekend is expected to be largely overcast. As we accelerate towards April, temperatures are on the rise, and Isola can expect highs of 9°C and lows of -3°C. The col de la Bonette and la Lombarde roads are closed until the end of the winter season.

Auron – There are currently 20 ski slopes and 14 ski lifts open at the resort, with between 85-75 cm of standing snow. It will be milder than last weekend with highs of 10°C and lows of 0°C. Conditions will be pleasant although breezy over the weekend with sunny spells on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with winds reaching up to 34km/h on Sunday. In terms of access, Route de la Tinée, Route de la Bonette, Piste de la Moustière, Piste de Demandols all remain closed. The French Alpine Ski Championships will be taking place at the resort throughout the weekend with a variety of mens and womens events.

Les Deux Alpes – There is a huge choice of runs at the resort with 69 ski slopes and 40 ski lifts currently open. There is 65cm of hard standing snow. The resort isn’t expecting any snow over the weekend, whilst temperatures are expected to be up on last weekend with lows of -1°C and highs of 11°C. Meteorological conditions will be similar to many other resorts in the region with sunny spells accompanying the mild turn.

La Colmiane – There are 10 ski slopes and five ski lifts open at the resort, with between 65 and 40 cm of standing snow. It will be a cloudy weekend at the resort with moderate winds reaching up to 41km/h on Friday. As we reach the end of the skiing season, temperatures are up on previous weekends with highs of 10°C and lows of 0°C. The resort hosts a market on Saturdays, and will continue to do so until the end of March.

Greolieres les Neiges – The winter season has come to an end at the resort as the ski lifts closed on Monday. Greolieres is now preparing activities for Easter and the Summer season.

Limone Piemonte – There are currently 13 runs open and 9 ski lifts. Snow levels vary from 50 to 10 cm. Temperatures at the resort are considerably up on last weekend with lows of 4°C and highs of 12°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. Alternatively, it is possible to drive to Tende and take a 20/30 minute train to Limone Centre. The train runs 12 times a day between 07:00 and 18:45, with the journey from Monaco taking approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.

Valberg – There are 19 ski slopes and 11 ski lifts open. The resort currently has between 80 and 60 cm of standing snow, following the snowfall on Valentine’s Day. Skiers at the resort will experience some of the sunniest conditions throughout the entire region as full sun is expected on Friday and Saturday, whilst sunny spells are forecast on Sunday. It is expected to be slightly milder than last weekend with highs of 10°C and lows of -1°C.

Note: Snow tyres must be worn on the roads up to the ski resorts.

 

 

 

 

Monaco to host unveiling of next generation Formula-E racer

by: Luke Entwistle
23/03/2022

The presentation of the Gen3 race car will take place at Monaco’s Yacht Club on 28th April, just two days before the Principality hosts the ePrix.

A press release on Friday revealed that the car will be used from the start of the 2022/23 season, the ninth season of the motorsport category, which is the first to be net-zero carbon. The car will be unveiled to partners and other VIP guests at the event, whilst the release will also be broadcast on the championship’s digital channels to allow fans to participate.

Since its inception in 2014, innovation has allowed incremental improvements in the car’s performance. This latest model is no different.

“Formula E’s Gen3 race car represents a leap forward for motorsport and electric mobility,” said Jamie Reigle, Formula E CEO. “It is our most powerful, lightest and fastest race car to date.”

Indeed, Formula E is at the forefront of their field, and whilst the sport continues to provide entertainment, their research, innovation and promotion of green technology also facilitates advancements off the track.

The Monaco Yacht Club will represent a nexus at the unveiling, as the Principality’s racing history and future collide. “We look forward to finally taking the covers off the Gen3 in Monaco, a location steeped in motor racing history,” added Reigle.

Whilst the Gen3 model will “set the benchmark for sustainability,” it should also provide better racing. Being smaller and lighter than its predecessor, the Gen2, it will therefore allow faster, more agile wheel-to-wheel racing.

As well as the Gen3 unveiling, Monaco will also host a roundtable event organised by the FIA and Formula E, which will bring together leaders and manufacturers from the automotive sector, with sights already set on the Gen4 era.

The gaze of Formula E is always set on the horizon as it continues in its conquest to become ever more performative and sustainable, with the next stage of that endless journey set to be inaugurated in Monaco next month.

 

 

Photo source: FIA

 

 

 

Medicinal Plant Awareness Conference at Stars ‘n’ Bars

by: Stephanie Horsman
23/03/2022

Stars ‘n’ Bars will be hosting an event entitled Message for Humanity, a “conference and musical ceremony” highlighting medicinal plant awareness.

Once the domain of village healers and shamans, using plant-based cures for a variety of ailments has become increasingly mainstream, and has boomed since the start of the 21st century.

Many drugs that doctors regularly prescribe are plant-based, such as codeine, quinine and morphine, and the World Health Organisation says that 11% of the 252 drugs deemed “basic and essential” originate exclusively from plants.

To help people better understand what plants can do, ProActive Society and INME are hosting the Message for Humanity Conference and Musical Ceremony on 2nd April from 6pm to 8pm at Stars ‘n’ Bars. The event will have speakers who are professionals in this field such as Ryan Whitewolf, who works in the Amazon with indigenous cultures and on reforestation projects, Dr Carrie Chojnowski, who will speak on how to combine functional and plant medicine, Marina Jahlan-Matova, who will present the therapeutic potential of entheogenic substances and how they can be used for wellbeing, Simona Rakusa, who will talk about the healing potential of expanded states of consciousness, and Anastasiya Kulygin, who will discuss IMNE Wellness Retreats using plants from the Amazon.

After the talks, Ryan Whitewolf will hold a musical concert from 8pm to 10pm.

Admission is free with a reservation, which can be made at proactivefounders@gmail.com

Donations to support Ukraine are also being accepted at the event.

 

 

Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash