Day: 27 November 2023

As part of the Prince Rainier III centenary celebrations, three Michelin starred chefs from the Société des Bains de Mer group are honouring his memory by “perfectly reproducing” menus served to French presidents during the late ruler’s reign. Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming ‘Presidential Dinner’ experiences.  

The Prince’s Palace was host to three presidents of the French Republic during Prince Rainier III’s time as Monaco’s Head of State.   

Charles de Gaulle was first, on 23rd October 1960, followed nearly a quarter of a century later by François Mitterrand on 19th January 1984. Finally, it was the turn of Jacques Chirac, who came to visit on 25th July 1997.  

Beyond being purely diplomatic visits, these trips were marked by a shared appreciation for joie de vivre and excellent gastronomical taste; sentiments set to be revived anew during the ‘Presidential Dinner’ experiences planned for the month of December.  

THREE PRESIDENTS, THREE CHEFS 

To celebrate the art of fine food in the Principality, and in memory of Monaco’s so called Builder Prince, three of Société des Bains de Mer’s (SBM) finest chefs are set to recreate the meals enjoyed by these historic leaders in days gone by. 

From 4th to 10th December, Chef Marcel Ravin will be taking on the meal created for President de Gaulle at Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort’s Restaurant L’Orange Verte. Dinner is €199 with a wine pairing option for an additional €75. To book a seat, click here.  

The next location will be Le Grill at the Hôtel de Paris for Chef Dominique Lory’s menu in homage to the meal shared by Prince Rainier and President Mitterrand. Reservations for dinners between 11th and 17th December cost €450 per person. To reserve a table for a minimum of two, click here.  

Last but not least, Chef Yannick Alléno will serve the carte offered to President Chirac at the Pavyllon restaurant in the Hôtel Hermitage from 18th to 23rd December. This meal will be accessible to parties of two or more for €450 per person. For reservations, click here. 

With three such incredible moments in time being revisited by these inspired and inspirational chefs, why not give them all a try this holiday season?  

Join the Monaco Life community – the largest English media in the Principality.  

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on  Facebook, Instagram , LinkedIn  and Tik Tok. 

Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer

‘Casa ideale’, a distinctive retrospective exhibition dedicated to the celebrated Italian artist, Pier Paolo Calzolari, promises an immersive journey through each stage of the artist’s illustrious career.  

At an exclusive preview of the exhibition on 15th November, the door to Pier Paolo Calzolari’s ‘Casa ideale’ was opened to Monaco Life.

The exhibition, which will welcome the public at the Villa Paloma of the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco (NMNM) from 17th November, showcases works from the late 1960s to 2014, traversing each step of the artist’s career from the Arte Povera movement to more contemporary expressions, and from his native Italy to Lisbon, Portugal, where he resides today.

As Björn Dahlström, Director of the NMNM, tells Monaco Life, “‘Casa ideale’ is a rare opportunity to discover the world of Calzolari, an artist who has continuously evolved while leaving a significant imprint on art history.”

The artist and his evolution 

Calzolari was born in Bologna in 1943. Early on, he was influenced by the American style of ‘germinal’ painting, but quickly turned to “other, freer forms of artistic expression”, such as sculpture and even performance art.   

He notably played an important role in the Arte Povera movement, a key Italian art movement of the late 1960s that used common materials to challenge traditional art practices and commercialisation in the art world. This period marked a radical shift in his approach, contributing significantly to his recognition in the contemporary art realm. 

The essence of ‘Casa ideale’ 

Villa Paloma, a transformed private residence, serves as an ideal backdrop for ‘Casa ideale’; Calzolari’s works, resonating with poetic and fragile materials, are thoughtfully dispersed across the property’s three floors.  

Each piece, whether the reflective ‘Tolomeo’ (1989) or the metaphysical ‘Tiara con cera e chiodi’ (2006), echoes Calzolari’s unique exploration of figurative and metaphysical abstraction. 

Calzolari’s manifesto for an ‘ideal house’ contrasts sharply with conventional architectural notions. He states, “I want expansion, democracy, madness, alchemy, insanity, rhythm, horizontality.”  

It is a celebration of passion and sensory intelligence, extending beyond physical space to encompass the worlds of imagination and emotion. 

Guided tours  

The NMNM will be offering guided tours of the exhibition without reservations on Thursdays at 12.30pm, Saturdays at 11am and Sundays at 3pm.  

The rates are €6 per person, in addition to the entrance ticket, with free admission for children under 13, school groups and members of associations based in the Principality.  

The museum also organises events and programmes for various groups, including those with special needs, and offers visits in sign language. Prior notice is appreciated.  

‘Casa ideale’ runs from 17th November 2023 to 7th April 2024. 

Click here for more information.  

Join the Monaco Life community – the largest English media in the Principality. 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter, and follow us on  Facebook, Instagram  and  LinkedIn.    

All photos by Monaco Life. This article was originally published on 16th November.