Fans of tennis legend Henri Leconte will have an opportunity to meet the star player and get his autograph at a special book signing event for his new Balles Neuves autobiography, which is being hosted by Fnac Monaco on 6th April.
French tennis star Henri Leconte is scheduled to make an appearance at the Fnac Monaco store inside the Metropole Shopping Monte-Carlo mall on 6th April.
Alongside the book signing event, where Leconte will be signing copies of his latest book, Balles Neuves, fans will also have a chance to win tickets to the upcoming Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters tournament, including a pair of tickets to the final, offered by Metropole Shopping Monte-Carlo.
Leconte is a celebrated name in French tennis and is known for his impressive career and lively personality both on and off the court. He made headlines by reaching the French Open final in 1988 and played a key role in France’s Davis Cup win in 1991. His dynamic player style and flair on the court, combined with his engaging personality off it, have endeared him to tennis fans for decades.
In this interview with Monaco Life, Robert Calcagno, CEO of the Oceanographic Institute – Prince Albert I of Monaco Foundation, delves into the essence of Monaco Ocean Week, emphasising Monaco’s strong commitment to ocean conservation, the pivotal role of institutions, and the importance of collaborative action.
As a trusted advisor to Prince Albert II, Robert Calcagno has played pivotal roles in Monaco’s environmental endeavors, transitioning from governmental positions to leadership roles within ocean conservation institutions.
When Prince Albert II assumed the throne in 2005, he invited Robert Calcagno to join his cabinet as a Counsellor and soon after, he named him Minister Of Environment And Urbanism For The Principality. Calcagno remained in that position until 2009, when he became CEO of the Oceanographic Institute – Prince Albert I Foundation in Paris, created in 1906. It was that same year that Prince Albert granted Calcagno Monegasque nationality.
As CEO, Calcagno directs the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco, better known as the Temple of the Sea, inaugurated in 1910, and the Maison de L’Océan in Paris, founded in 1911. His commitment is to support the Sovereign’s action for better knowledge, sustainable management, and protection of the world ocean, which covers 70% of the Earth and, by extension, the ecosystem of our Blue Planet. Over and above that, Calcagno manages the Monaco Explorations Society as a tool to reunify Humanity with the sea.
Robert Calcagno is also a prolific author of several books aimed at raising awareness and knowledge about the oceans in the public. They are titled ‘At the Heart of the Polar Worlds: Challenged by Global Warming And Exploitation’, ‘Corals, a Treasure to Protect’, ‘Sea Turtles – The Great Odyssey’, ‘Jellyfish – Out to Conquer the Ocean’, ‘Sharks – Beyond the Myth’.
In an interview with Monaco Life, Robert Calcagno sheds light on the institutions he leads, the objectives of the current 15th edition of Monaco Ocean Week, and the Monaco Blue Initiative (BMI) launched by Prince Albert II in 2010, which gathers major players in ocean conservation. Most importantly, he emphasises the Principality’s mission to know, love, and protect the Oceans that cover 70% of our ‘Blue Planet’.
Monaco Life: What is the mission of the Oceanographic Institute?
Robert Calcagno: It goes back to Prince Albert I and his desire to promote broader awareness about the essential role of the Ocean, leading to the creation in 1906 of the Oceanographic Institute – an officially recognised public interest foundation. While that ambition is still very relevant, what is needed now, in the early 21st century, is to add action to knowledge. To that end, the Oceanographic Institute works to build a more sustainable relationship between Humanity and the Ocean by advocating science-based political, social, technological, and economic change. It does so through its two establishments – the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco and the Maison de l’Océan in Paris.
What is the link between the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco and the Maison de l’Océan in Paris? What are their respective goals, and do they complement each other?
The Oceanographic Museum and the Maison de l’Océan were opened in 1910 and 1911, respectively. Both institutions, which regularly work together and complement one another, were the brainchild of Prince Albert I, who wanted to encourage learning and awareness, making science more accessible to the public and persuading Heads of State. One houses collections of artworks and scientific and historical items, such as the magnificent ‘Oceanomania’ cabinet of curiosities, and hosts major exhibitions, like ‘Polar Mission’, which has already been visited by more than a million people. The other occupies a splendid building in the middle of the Latin Quarter, home to some leading ocean conservation stakeholders, while hosting high-level public and professional events focusing on the burning issues of the age.
What is the primary purpose of the Friends of the Oceanographic Museum, created in 2011?
Above all, what unites the Friends of the Museum is their love of the ocean. The association has a growing membership of people from all backgrounds, and they play a vital role in supporting the Museum’s universal Ocean conservation policy and encouraging public awareness initiatives. For example, the association runs a fish sponsorship scheme, with 10% of the proceeds donated to the Oceano for All program. It also organises the Fête du Musée, which emphasises education for ecology, with its 5th edition in September.
Recently, we were honoured with a very generous donation from the association; I will reveal the amount at a press conference on March 26th. This funding will support three major projects: The Oceano for All program targeted at disadvantaged young people, the restoration of old books, and a project to improve fish health.
“Since the Ocean covers 70% of the Earth’s surface, people thought its resources could withstand anything. That was a grave mistake.”
Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface, so most life is in fact aquatic. What are the main dangers facing the sea?
Since the Ocean covers 70% of the Earth’s surface, people thought its resources could withstand anything. That was a grave mistake. We are seeing plastic pollution reaching as far as the great ocean trenches, the drive to exploit every drop of fossil fuels, the extinction of species and biodiversity under threat from overfishing, not to mention the disastrous consequences of climate change with the melting of the ice caps, water acidification, and coral dying out. The litany is long.
But giving up is out of the question. The ocean is essential to the health of our planet.
Prince Albert at the Monaco Blue Initiative 2023. Photo credit: Vinaj
What are the most significant positive actions taken to protect the oceans?
When you tackle issues head-on, it works. I could talk about the fight to protect bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean in the 2000s, a fight that Prince Albert II was the first to bring to the forefront and which has since seen stocks replenished. Or the fight against the use of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic, to which the Sovereign pledged his strong backing.
Today, though, the big ocean project that I want to highlight is the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which represents a considerable challenge, especially in the remote polar regions. The Principality of Monaco is fully committed to the highly ambitious objective set by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed at the COP15 to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and its 30×30 target aimed at conserving at least 30 percent of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030.
Let me remind you of the words of Prince Albert II: “The science is completely clear: within 30 years, marine protected areas must cover 30% of the surface of the oceans. And that’s a minimum, not a maximum, because the most recent research suggests that, to conserve biodiversity, food supplies, and ocean carbon storage, we must protect about 45% of the ocean.”
That’s why the Oceanographic Institute supports plans for three new Marine Protected Areas in the Southern Ocean, which would represent a significant step towards achieving the 30×30 target. We recently made an active contribution to that commitment by organising an expedition to the South Pole and the Danger Islands to the northeast of the peninsula to collect scientific data to enable the creation of an Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) in the region.
Polar Mission exhibition at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. Photo credit: Philippe Fitte
Less than 5% of the oceans have been explored despite modern technologies. As the Chief Executive of Les Explorations de Monaco, what are the organization’s ambitions?
Les Explorations de Monaco is a platform for Prince Albert II of Monaco’s commitment to knowledge, sustainable management, and ocean protection. Les Explorations de Monaco is, first and foremost, a conduit for sharing. Our ambition is not to make science an end but rather to combine science and communication. One of our strengths is our ability to rely on the leadership of a committed Head of State.
HSH Prince Albert II is known worldwide, and when he speaks, people listen. He can interact with the highest authorities, engage in open dialogue with governmental bodies, and rally leaders behind him. The Monaco Explorations was launched in 2017 and has built its approach on three priorities: a political commitment to intelligent, sustainable management of natural environments adopted at the very highest level; high-quality scientific research to acquire knowledge that can help us make the right decisions; and a policy of educating the public and particularly younger generations, to inform, engage, and encourage them to play their part.
Can you tell us about the present and future exploration missions?
Since its creation, The Monaco Explorations has carried out 19 missions. The most recent, the biggest ever undertaken by the Principality, occurred in the Indian Ocean between Réunion, the Seychelles, and Mauritius. On the scientific side, it aimed to explore Saya de Malha, a shallow bank described as an “invisible island”, to assess the biodiversity. A thousand species were identified, including several potentially new species.
Regarding mediation with the public, we hosted over 500 visitors during calls at ports, creating awareness about conservation issues. They included around 20 groups of schoolchildren.
Finally, from a diplomatic perspective, it was an opportunity for the Sovereign Prince to visit the Seychelles, where he held talks with local political leaders.
“After several years of focusing on coral reefs and the polar regions, we will dedicate our efforts to the Mediterranean Sea starting next year.”
From 2024 until 2030, Les Explorations de Monaco will set a course for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. We will be working to put science into practice. Our role will be to act as the conduit between various initiatives in Monaco and the 22 countries around the Mediterranean, working with governments, collaborating with stakeholders on the ground and supporting their initiatives, providing scientific input, and trying to persuade. The significant challenges once again include the 30×30 target I mentioned earlier.
This mission will complete the Oceanographic Institute’s major program devoted to specific themes. After several years of focusing on coral reefs and the polar regions, we will dedicate our efforts to the Mediterranean Sea starting next year.
Photos of marine life from the Aquarium Collection A Photo by M. Dagnino, Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
Which concrete actions would help reunify Humanity with the sea?
Today, we need to change our mindset and prioritise new economic models for more sustainable travel, consumption, and use of resources. “The blue economy and the circular economy are not pipe dreams,” Prince Albert II stresses in His book (L’Homme et l’Océan / The Ocean and Us, published by Flammarion). He also states an essential truth: “We must invent solutions, and we must completely rethink our relationship with the sea”.
For our societies, that means changing our philosophy by returning to the prevailing school of thought of the 17th century, which saw the ocean as a common good for Humanity.
How does the Oceanographic Institute closely collaborate with the Government of Monaco, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Scientific Centre of Monaco, and the Yacht Club of Monaco for a coherent action to protect our ecosystem?
The Principality of Monaco is a small country, but paradoxically, that gives it much greater latitude to adopt a different tone. Prince Albert II’s legitimacy in protecting the ocean is apparent. “I had no right to stand by and do nothing. I had, and always will have, a duty to act,” he explains. He can rely on the Prince’s Government and the different Monegasque institutions you mention, including the Oceanographic Institute. We can make our voices heard internationally if we all consolidate our efforts. In a way, it’s one whole ecosystem devoted to conserving another, the one you are talking about, namely the marine ecosystem. And Monaco Ocean Week is a perfect example of that collaboration.
The Monaco Blue Initiative 2024 at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
This year is the 15th edition of Monaco Ocean Week, which is currently taking place; What are the primary purposes of this annual gathering of experts?
The creation of Monaco Ocean Week responded to an obvious truth: key marine stakeholders must share their takes on significant marine conservation issues and take action to conserve the ocean. It’s about science, economics, and law, not to mention several events aimed at young people, our future ambassadors.
The Monaco Blue Initiative is the cornerstone, now in its 15th year. It promises to be a hectic and productive day. It will kick off with a look at the advances made in the last 15 years regarding major international agreements, marine protected areas, and so on. Most importantly, we will set a course for the next 10 years to tackle emerging challenges like protecting the Southern Ocean or addressing deep sea mining.
That sequence will be followed by another – equally important – on the Blue Economy and the role of the private sector. While it’s crucial to work with the scientific community and civil society, we also urgently need to bring economic actors and the world of finance to the table and show them that their initiatives are not just compatible with their growth targets but can be a source of growth themselves, and sustainable growth too.
Finally, a third session will examine the role and place the Mediterranean needs to occupy regarding the 30×30 target.
Building assessments, ambitions, and the right strategies to achieve them are MBI’s goals.
What is your outlook on the future? Do you have any final thoughts?
I will never be a member of a ‘team defeatist’. Many, many people today understand the issues. There is a growing realisation in civil society, the business community, and politics. That realisation can and must enable us to radically rethink our relationship with the sea, especially as it’s not about wrapping the ocean in cotton wool but instead striking a balance between environmental conservation and sustainable economic activity. I have faith in Humanity.
The Monaco Government has announced that the Police Department will be holding an arms and weapons amnesty later this month. Here are all the details.
Between 25th March and 5th April, any illegally owned weapons can be surrendered without charge to the Monaco Police Department.
A statement released by the Monaco Government regarding the amnesty reads, “Illegally owned weapons… are sometimes acquired as the result of inheritance or simply found and kept, most often without knowledge of the legalities of owning these weapons. Often stored without taking particular care, or even forgotten, these weapons create a risk of domestic accidents (involving children in particular) and, if stolen during a burglary, can be used in criminal networks.”
The statement continues, “This [amnesty] operation allows honest holders of such weapons to easily dispose of them.”
Individuals planning on surrendering arms or other weapons must make an appointment with the Police Department ahead of time. This can be organised by telephone, on +377 93 15 31 26 or +377 93 15 31 38, or via email: ppg@gouv.mc.
Monaco’s iconic Tip Top restaurant has transitioned into a new era under the ownership of MC Hospitality Group and Michelin star Chef Antonio Salvatore, who’s aiming to blend traditional charm with modern culinary innovation at the famous eatery.
The acquisition of the iconic Tip Top restaurant, located at 11 avenue des Spélugues, by MC Hospitality Group, a notable force in the luxury dining sector with establishments in both Monaco and New York, marks a pivotal moment for this historic Monaco dining venue. Founded in 1938, it has long been celebrated for its simple charm and accessibility in the ritzy district of Monte-Carlo.
“Preserving traditions while innovating for the future”
At the forefront of this new chapter is Michelin-starred Chef Antonio Salvatore, who has reimagined Tip Top’s culinary offerings. Emphasising the use of high-quality local ingredients and a commitment to maintaining the restaurant’s legendary status, Salvatore says, “At Tip Top, we believe in the importance of preserving traditions while innovating for the future.”
The interior of Tip Top
Tip Top’s rich history and status as a cultural landmark in Monaco have made it a favourite among both local and international clients. Known for its lively ambiance, the restaurant now serves a wide array of dishes that cater to diverse tastes, from salads and pizzas to burgers and fresh seafood, together with an expansive selection of wines and cocktails.
The restaurant’s recent renovation by MC Hospitality Group and its reopening on Friday 15th March forms part of the group’s strategic ambition to meld Tip Top’s traditions with a forward-looking gastronomic approach.
MC Hospitality Group own Rampoldi Monte-Carlo and La Table d’Antonio Salvatore in Monaco, as well as New York restaurants Atlantic Grill, Casa Limone, Rampoldi NYC and Patisserie de Monte-Carlo.
The Monaco Blue Initiative meeting has officially opened proceedings at Monaco Ocean Week 2024 and brought together decision-makers and players from the worlds of government and ocean conservation with the goal of finding solutions to the challenges facing the seas. Monaco’s Prince Albert II took an active role at the event and led an inspiring keynote speech, declaring, “We are no longer powerless in the face of the degradation of our planet.”
Held on 17th and 18th March at the Musée Océanographique de Monaco, the 15th edition of the Monaco Blue Initiative saw government representatives, international organisations, members of civil society and the private sector, NGOs, the scientific community and the media meet to discuss co-operative ways to both preserve the oceans and promote the Blue Economy.
Recommendations from these meetings have traditionally been taken away and run up the flagpoles of various international high-level gatherings, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the negotiations on Marine Biodiversity in Areas beyond National Jurisdiction and the International Marine Protected Areas Congress. It is hoped that this most recent edition will garner similar respect.
Monaco Blue Initiative at the Oceanographic Museum 2024. Photo credit: JC Vinaj/Olivier Huitel/FPA2
POOLING TOOLS AND RESOURCES
Co-hosted by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation (FPA2) and the Musée Océanographique de Monaco, with the support of Rolex and Indosuez Wealth Management, the conference tackled the most serious issues facing the oceans of today.
At the top of the agenda were ocean protection and governance, goals for the upcoming decade, the Blue Economy and the role of the private sector, as well as the role of the Mediterranean in achieving 30×30, the worldwide initiative for governments to designate 30% of Earth’s land and oceans as protected areas by the year 2030.
Prince Albert opened the event with affirmative words of action that clearly resonated with the international audience.
“We are no longer powerless in the face of the degradation of our planet,” he said. “We have the knowledge gained from our experience, new tools and greater resources. It is this knowledge, these tools, and these resources we will be talking about. We will be doing so by examining the prospects offered by the Blue Economy and through it, the role of the private sector in ocean protection. We will be doing so when discussing the protection of the Mediterranean Sea and the achievement of the 30×30 target, and when looking at the more specific challenge of a future treaty to combat plastic and the strict regulation of deep-sea mineral exploration.”
Other top-level speakers included: Olivier Wenden, CEO of the FPA2; Robert Calcagno, CEO of the Oceanographic Institute; Jean-François Ferrari, the Seychelles Minister for Fisheries and the Blue Economy; and Charlina Vitcheva, the Director General for the European Commission’s Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, who said, “We need public investments to address the scope, but we need private investment to reach the scale.”
Monaco Ocean Week will continue with a busy programme of thought-provoking conferences and events until 22nd March.
French cuisine is firmly back in the spotlight following the unveiling of the 2024 Michelin Guide on Tuesday, rewarding the efforts and excellence of 63 restaurants across the country with one, two or even three new Michelin stars. Among them is La Table du Castellet in the Var, whose 35-year-old Executive Chef has become the youngest ever in France to earn three Michelin stars – and he did it on his first try.
Just over a decade after joining the kitchens of the five-star Hôtel du Castellet’s gastronomic restaurant, Fabien Ferré of La Table du Castellet has earned three Michelin stars in his first year as its new Executive Chef. This makes him France’s youngest ever tri-stellar chef.
The accolade also makes La Table du Castellet one of just two restaurants in all of France to earn three stars in the 2024 edition of the famous gastronomy guide. The other is Le Gabriel in Paris’ eighth arrondissement.
From the sublime setting of the restaurant, both inside and out, to the smiles and warmth of the service staff, the judges’ reviews are full of compliments for the restaurant, which is found near the Paul Ricard racing circuit.
The dishes served by Ferré are described by one Michelin inspector as being “anchored in the Mediterranean”; the chef, who comes from a line of farmers and artisans, favours local produce and is a familiar face at the markets of Sanary sur Mer.
Fabien Ferré took over as Executive Chef of La Table du Castellet in 2023. Photo credit: La Table du Castellet
The desserts of this restaurant, created by Chef-Pâtissier François Luciano, are also honoured in the guide. Luciano is one of four pastry chefs based in the south of France to have been awarded a Prix Passion Dessert by the guide and his Nicaraguan chocolate, samphire and matured olive oil creation has been listed as a favourite among the judges.
From countryside to cityscape
Ferré’s mentor, Christophe Bacquié, from whom he inherited La Table du Castellet, also achieved a new distinction in the Michelin guide.
The Mas Les Eydins, Bacquié’s latest venture with his wife Alexandra in the village of Bonnieux in the Luberon, earned two Michelin stars. The restaurant’s style matches its pure, bucolic setting and celebrates the innate charm of Provençal gastronomy.
In the Parc National de Verdon, La Bastide de Moustiers added a green star to its one-star accolades. The cuisine here is an ode to Mediterranean produce sourced from its very own 2,000m2 garden, which is managed by two full-time staff.
La Bastide de Moustiers has added a green star to its one Michelin star. Photo credit: Coeur d’Affranchi
A revival of French cuisine
Almost half of the 50-or-so restaurants to be awarded their first Michelin star in this year’s edition are new openings and the guide’s judges have publicly lauded a “gastronomic explosion in France’s towns and cities”.
Among them is ONICE in the port neighbourhood of Nice. The restaurant is the brainchild of an Italian-Argentinian couple, Lorenzo Ragni and Florencia Montes, who met while working at Mauro Colagreco’s three Michelin star Mirazur in Menton.
ONICE on Rue Antoine Gautier in Nice has earned its first Michelin star. Photo credit: Amar Frames
Racines, a plant-based restaurant offering guests a “kitchen garden cuisine” enhanced with typical ingredients of the Côte d’Azur has also been awarded its first star. The restaurant, located on Rue Clément Roassal in Nice, is headed up by Chef Bruno Cirino.
The Alpes-Maritimes’ third restaurant to claim a Michelin star is Mandelieu’s Bessem. Chef Bessem Ben Abdallah has worked under some of the finest chefs of his generation, including Michel Del Burgo, Marc Meneau and Pierre Gagnaire, but has finally achieved acclaim at this waterside restaurant under his own name.
In Saint Tropez, La Terrasse – Cheval Blanc St-Tropez, the sister restaurant to the three starred La Vague d’Or, has also been recognised by the guide with a star. It is the premium lunchtime dining destination in the popular coastal town.
Chefs’ awards
Yannick Alléno of Pavyllon Monte-Carlo at the Hôtel Hermitage in Monaco has won the Prix Michelin du Chef Mentor. He is described in the guide as “a true reference in modern French gastronomy, an outstanding creator particularly committed to the transmission of his knowledge”.
Alongside La Table du Castellet’s Luciano, other pastry chefs of the region to be recognised for their talents are: Patrick Mesiano of Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac, the Hôtel Métropole’s flagship restaurant that has earned two stars within a year after opening; Julieta Canavate of Ceto in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin; and Pierre-Jean Quinonero of Le Cap in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
