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Day: 24 August 2023

Alain Ducasse behind first ever Sustainable Gastronomy Summit in Monaco

by: Elsa Carpenter
24/08/2023
Sustainable Gastronomy Summit

Launching next month in the Principality of Monaco is the revolutionary Sustainable Gastronomy Summit, a brand new event that is the brainchild of Michelin-starred culinary master Alain Ducasse.

Talk of food security and sustainability is everywhere. Around the world, chefs, farmers and activists – as well as conscious diners – are all considering how food can be better grown, prepared and consumed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but now these different sectors are being given a single point to meet and share their thoughts: Monaco’s upcoming Sustainable Gastronomy Summit.  

“Professional encounters and collective thinking”

The brainchild of the celebrated Alain Ducasse, the event will be held on Thursday 21st September at One Monte-Carlo. Set to take place from 9am to 7pm, the event is being marketed as a “day of professional encounters and collective thinking” on topics including fishing in the era of climate change, food education, sustainable industry initiatives, and the future of gastronomy.    

Ducasse is arguably the biggest name to be involved, but his innovate summit has also attracted international talents such as Australian star chef Josh Niland, known for his expertise in fish, “new Peruvian cuisine” pioneers Pia Leon and Virgilio Martinez, Rwandan chef Dieuveil Malonga, who combines Afro-fusion cuisine with social entrepreneurship, the US’ Alice Waters, a leader of the “slow food movement” , and Dan Barber, known for his farm-to-table approach at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, US.  

More locally, Ducasse, who is best known in Monaco for the inspirational Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse restaurant at the Hôtel de Paris, will be supported in this endeavour by Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, Société des Bains de Mer and Moët Hennessy.  

The creation of a Sustainable Gastronomy Charter 

“It is time to change our way of thinking about food and consider it as a means to preserve the planet and its inhabitants,” reads the summit’s official website. “The [floor] will be given to agents of change: scientists, producers, committed chefs, schools, future leaders, and young leaders of the ecological transition [who] will share their experiences and innovative solutions.” 

With food production responsible for one third of global greenhouse gas emissions, the mission of the summit, namely “taking action, getting involved, and building the gastronomy of the future”, will be hopefully realised with the drafting of a Sustainable Gastronomy Charter following the conclusion of this aspirational first edition of the Sustainable Gastronomy Summit.  

According to organisers, culinary school students will be encouraged to participate in this landmark document, which will ultimately be shared in kitchens and classrooms around the world.  

The summit will take place at One Monte-Carlo and will be broadcast live via an online stream for those who can’t make it in person. 

For more information, click here.  

  

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Photo by Monaco Life

 

Sailing: Black Jack set for victory in Palermo-Montecarlo

by: Luke Entwistle
24/08/2023
The start of the 2023 edition of the Palermo-Monte-Carlo regatta

Black Jack is set for victory in the Palermo-Montecarlo, however a lack of wind has blown the boat’s record-breaking attempt off course. 

Bar a disaster late on in the Palermo-Montecarlo, Black Jack will be the victor in the 18th edition of the race. However, the boat won’t beat its own record, which was set back in 2015. The boat, named Esimit Europa at the time, completed the race in 47 hours, 46 minutes and 48 seconds.

This year, Black Jack is skippered by the Yacht Club de Monaco’s very own Peter Harburg, whilst renowned New Zealand tactician Brad Butterworth is also on board.

Light winds in Corsica hamper record-breaking attempts

The race began in optimal conditions on Tuesday, with Black Jack taking an early lead. Naturally, there were hopes of a record-breaking sail from Italy to Monaco, however they were dashed due to the lack of wind off the west coast of Corsica.

The fleet sailed around the East coast of Sardinia, passing Porto Cervo before tackling the narrow straight between the Italian island and Corsica. But it was here that the fleet came unstuck. It had been expected that, in the case of a record-breaking attempt, boats would begin to arrive at the Monaco Yacht Club early in the afternoon.

However, this did not come to pass. Nevertheless, Black Jack is baring down on Monaco, and landfall is expected to be made in the night of Thursday/Friday. Shockwave 3, skippered by Andrea Micalli, is currently second, whilst I Love Poland and Kuka 3 are battling it out for the bottom step of the podium.

 

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Photo source: Yacht Club de Monaco

Amateur and kids events on offer as Ironman comes to Nice

by: Luke Entwistle
24/08/2023
Ironman event taking place off the coast of Nice

The Ironman Championships are coming to the Riviera next month, and prior to the main event in Nice, there will be plenty of amateur events on offer for the general public to enjoy.

The Men’s edition of the event will take place on 10th September in Nice. The Women’s event will take place in Kona, Hawaii in October. The opposite will be the case in 2024, and this rotation will continue until 2026, it was announced back in January.

For the event, which constitutes a 3.8km swim, a 180km bike ride and a 42km run, the streets of Nice are expected to be filled with spectators, as was the case for the Ironman event that took place earlier this summer.

What’s on offer?

Events will be held in the build-up to the event, as anticipation for the arrival of the World Championship grows. On 3rd September, exactly one week before the main event, a 3.8km swim will be open to all. A Hoka Fun Run along the Promenade des Anglais has also been organised, and will take place on 8th September.

Photo source: Ironman

Kids can also get involved through the Ironkids event on 6th September. There are four distances on offer in the Ironkids run: 1.6km, 1.2km, 0.8km and 0.3km.

There are therefore plenty of chances to get active in a family-friendly and fun atmosphere ahead of the much-awaited arrival of the Ironman World Championship.

 

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Photo source: Ironman

Hundreds of Courchevel jobs up for grabs at Monaco employment fair

by: Stephanie Horsman
24/08/2023
courchevel jobs

Seasonal hospitality and catering job seekers are invited to attend an upcoming jobs fair at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo that has 400 winter positions in Courchevel on offer.  

Each winter, representatives from hotels and restaurants across the south of France and Monaco head to the posh winter sports destination of Courchevel, but not just for the great skiing. They go to recruit employees for the summer season, and this year, for the first time ever, Courchevel is returning the favour.  

On 31st August, hoteliers and restauranteurs from the ritzy resort are coming to the Fairmont Monte-Carlo, where they will be looking to hire 400 people in the hospitality and catering sectors for the incoming winter season.  

TRIAL 

After a trial run on 29th August in Saint Tropez, 16 Savoy-based establishments will come to the Principality to scout out talented and willing workers looking to join them for the 2023/24 ski season.  

“We wanted the mirror effect to present the winter offers in the south”, says Corinne Secco, the director of Courchevel Emploi, a town hall service of the commune that facilitates the meeting of supply and demand.  

This particular event is organised in partnership with the Fairmont, but the concept is one that Courchevel’s employers hope to perpetuate.  

“The goal is to develop with the Principality as a whole,” explains Secco.  

SIMILARITIES IN SERVICE 

The decision to come to Monaco is natural, as both destinations have high quality applicants, many of whom only work part of the year. This concentration of recruits in one area means the pool is larger and more experienced than randomly putting out calls for employees.  

“It’s not easy in all areas and even more so in the seasonal hotel and catering industry,” says Secco.  

There are 5,000 seasonal workers who flock to the luxury ski station each year, so a guaranteed lot of 400 job offers is quite a large number this far ahead of the season. The jobs fair’s organisers explain that as the time draws nearer, more openings will need to be filled, and the applicants who didn’t make the first-round cut will perhaps have a second chance later in the year.  

“Other offers will arrive during the fall,” Secco adds. “It’s still early.” 

WHAT’S AVAILABLE? 

Jobs range from spa manager to receptionist, from kitchen staff to service staff, and from maintenance posts to childcare providers.  

ANOTHER JOBS FAIR 

Another event is being set up next month locally for job seekers. The Monegasque government is organising its first “Monaco pour l’Emploi” on 15th September, a forum intended, says Minister of State Pierre Dartout, to “bring together the supply and demand for employment in the Principality”.  

It will be held at the Grimaldi Forum, from 9am to 6pm, and those looking for work will be able to meet local employers sorted by sector of activity, such as banking, finance and insurance, trade, accommodation and catering, industry, construction, business services, digital, health and social action, yachting and coaching. Access is free to all, so come with a CV in hand and a smile to get the best jobs.  

For more information, please click here. 

 

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Photo source: Greg Capri / Facebook / Station de Courchevel

France extends lifespan of aging nuclear reactor for the first time 

by: Elsa Carpenter
24/08/2023
france nuclear

The Tricastin 1 nuclear reactor in southern France has become the first in the country to be certified “fit for service” after the standard 40 years of operations. Here’s an explanation for the controversial extension.  

France’s fleet of nuclear reactors is aging. In the next decade, more than half of France’s 56 reactors will reach their fourth 10-year inspection. Previously, that would have meant that the 32 sites would have ceased to operate by 2033, but officials have decided to take a new course and instead renovate and modernise these existing sites to allow them to continue their functions beyond the 40-year mark.  

And that’s precisely the case with the Tricastin Nuclear Power Plant, which consists of four pressurized water CP1 type reactors with 915MW electrical power output each. Found near Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, on the Vaucluse side of the border with the Ardèche, the Tricastin reactor has been given a 10-year extension, meaning it will remain in operation until its 50th anniversary and possibly beyond. 

€66 billion to renovate an aging fleet

Major renovations began at Tricastin in 2014 with the goal of extending the reactor’s lifespan in this way. These works are part of the Grand Carénage refit programme, which is reportedly costing the French government €66 billion and seeks to achieve the same results in other aging reactors around the country. 

France is also planning the construction of six “next generation EPR” reactors before 2050; a project that is estimated to cost €52 billion. 

Despite safety reassurances from the government, the plans aren’t without controversy. Those opposed to the extensions point to various environmentally and meteorological issues that organisation such as Greenpeace say haven’t been properly addressed.  

The increase in heatwaves in southern France is one particularly relevant to Tricastin. Warnings were given earlier this summer over concerns that the warmer waters of the Rhône River would make it difficult to sufficiently cool the reactor.  

Other countries around Europe are facing a similar situation of aging reactors and concerns over extensions. Decisions are being made at national level.  

Europe meets energy storage goals 

In other European energy news, the bloc has almost reached its energy storage goals for the coming winter.  

Gas storage is just under 90% capacity, which is the mandatory target that was set in 2022 for November 2023 after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.

This target will ensure that the EU has enough to power itself through this winter and is in part due to the joint gas purchasing platform set up by the EU in the aftermath of the crisis in Ukraine, which had seen individual European states compete against each other to buy gas from non-Russian suppliers.  

 

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Stock photo source: Lukáš Lehotský, Unsplash

Heatwave: Is the region due any relief from this heat soon?  

by: Stephanie Horsman
24/08/2023
heatwave relief

Record temperatures at day and night have been smashed in recent days, with Menton experiencing a sweltering 43.2°C on Wednesday. When will it stop? 

Intense late summer weather conditions have enveloped France. 62 departments are on high alert – 37 for heat and another 25 for storms – and daytime and nighttime temperature records have been broken across the country.  

Menton saw highs reaching 43.2°C on Wednesday 23rd August, the same as Carcassonne in the southwest while Toulouse came close with a rather unpleasant 42.4°C.  

A new national record for minimum nighttime temperatures in mainland France was hit overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday with 30.4°C.  

It won’t be until the night between Thursday 24th and Friday 25th August that temperatures are expected to drop, although only by a degree or two overnight.  

During Thursday, temperatures are likely to be in the 32°C to 36°C range near the coast and 36°C to 38°C inland. 

The heatwave is being blamed on a climatic episode that originated in North Africa and has spread to cover the Mediterranean basin, with southern France, Spain and Italy bearing the brunt. However, the more extreme weather alerts currently in place cover the interior of France.  

This hot air has been locked in place in what is called a “heat dome”, which is slowly loosening its grip on our region, but isn’t expected to end until the weekend.  

Storms are predicted for the coming weekend, predominately on higher ground, but rainfall should quench the rest of the south of France by Sunday, continuing potentially into next week, according to Météo France. With the rains will come lower temperatures closer to or matching seasonal norms. 

Read more:

How to keep your home cool without harming the environment

 

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Photo source: Ethan Robertson, Unsplash