Month: April 2024

In the bustling streets of the gastronomic capital that is Monaco, where every corner holds the promise of culinary delights, Le Deli Robuchon stands out as a new gastronomic drawcard, reflecting the lasting influence of legendary Chef Joël Robuchon. 

“You can’t cook if you don’t love people!”

This is one of my favourite Joël Robuchon quotes and it aligns perfectly with the concept of Le Deli Robuchon Monaco.

This new intimate eatery on Avenue Saint-Laurent is a bustling hub of delicious activity, from the smell of freshly ground coffee and flaky French pastries to the meticulously crafted dishes and finely-tuned servers. Everything about Le Deli Robuchon Monaco screams haute cuisine, but in the most fantastic, relaxed way.

A gastronomic legacy

Joël Robuchon, often hailed as the “Chef of the Century”, left an indelible mark on the world of gastronomy. With a staggering 32 Michelin stars under his belt across the globe at the time of his passing in 2018, Robuchon’s culinary prowess and dedication to perfection were unparalleled.

People in Monaco will associate the Robuchon name with the famous two Michelin starred restaurant at the Hôtel Metropole that unexpectedly closed in 2020 after his passing (now replaced by the two-starred Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac).

See more: Michelin Guide 2024: Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac earns two stars in its first year

With the new Le Deli Robuchon, the challenge therefore is to uphold the coveted Robuchon reputation in Monaco while identifying wholeheartedly as something different yet equally enticing.

Taking the deli concept to a new level

Le Deli Robuchon is a casual, sophisticated restaurant with a small terrace that also serves as a grab-and-go. It is an all-day affair, open from 8am to 8pm, offering fresh meals, amazing coffee and bread, and the famous cube-shaped croissants that have kicked-off a new global food trend.

At the core of Le Deli Robuchon’s philosophy lies the art of simplicity, drawing inspiration from classic French cuisine and utilising beautiful fresh ingredients from neighbouring Italy.

Gourmet breakfast delights

The menu at Le Deli Robuchon caters to all moods, so breakfast or brunch can be as simple as fresh pastries, eggs cooked to your liking, granola, rice pudding or fruit salad.

But it can also be elevated to new heights with poached eggs and blue lobster confit, scrambled eggs with truffle, or the ultimate indulgence – boiled eggs with Oscietre Caviar.

Quick lunch or long lunch? You choose

Lunch in this district of Monaco is likely to be fast-paced for suited-up workers, who will appreciate the perennial favourites like Caesar  salad, beef carpaccio and the Deli Burger.

But this is a Robuchon restaurant, and we are in Monaco, so the rest of the menu is rich and extravagant: mac and cheese with smoked duck and black truffle, duck broth with vegetables and poached foie gras, Mediterranean sea bass with oysters, croque-Caviar and the most delectable black truffle croque monsier that I have ever tasted.

I also recommend the aubergine salad with olives, a flavour-bomb of a dish that instantly took me back to my childhood days in Tasmania, Australia, where my mother would pickle fresh eggplants from the garden. Here, at Le Deli Robuchon, their tangy, bity texture pairs perfectly with a simple creamy dressing finished with pine nuts.

Note: the dishes here are large, so either come hungry or order a few to share!

Desserts to die for

The desserts are equally generous and impossible to surpass, particularly the giant Clafoutis with caramelised pear. Meanwhile, the apple tart with vanilla ice-cream is a mouthful of magic with every bite. If you haven’t tried them already, now is the time to taste the selection of pastries.

The deli side comes into play with fresh baked breads, charcuterie, cheeses, caviars and condiments that are all on display and can be conveniently picked-up and taken home for a more casual gourmet experience.

While the vibe in the eatery is relaxed luxury, the service is Michelin-star, and it is the profound feeling of hospitality, warmth and commitment to excellence exhibited by every member of this restaurant that not only honours the Robuchon legacy, but firmly establishes Le Deli’s presence in Monaco’s culinary scene.

It’s a must-try for everyone.

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Photos courtesy Le Deli Robuchon 

Barely weeks after Thomas Brezzo put himself forward as a potential candidate for the presidency of the Conseil National de Monaco, he has been voted in. The 44-year-old will be taking over from Brigitte Boccone-Pagès, the first woman to have ever held the position of President at Monaco’s parliament. 

On the evening of Wednesday 3rd April, during a live broadcast, came the confirmation that Brigitte Boccone-Pagès has been usurped by Thomas Brezzo.

The elected members of Monaco’s National Council, the Principality’s equivalent to a parliament, had convened at their headquarters to renew the members of the Board of the National Council. 

It was in this context that Boccone-Pagès, who succeeded the outgoing Stéphane Valeri as the leader of the elected body in late 2022, has been replaced by Brezzo. 22 votes were cast in his favour, while one ballot paper was left blank. 

Tensions have been bubbling for some time at the National Council, but as recently as Tuesday 12th March, in an interview published in the Monaco Matin, Boccone-Pagès assured the electorate that she was feeling “relaxed, unfazed” by the dissent among her fellow members. 

See more: Interview: Brigitte Boccone-Pagés, President of the Monaco National Council

Then came a heavy blow. 22 of the National Council’s 24 members wrote a letter supporting Brezzo, a 44-year-old lawyer, in his candidature for the presidency. He would go on to announce his intentions to run against Boccone-Pagès in the columns of the Monaco Matin newspaper. 

Boccone-Pagès remained silent, continuing on with her official duties, but it became increasingly clear that her status as president was untenable, and that she was very likely to lose the titular role. 

On Tuesday 2nd April, the day before the deciding vote was cast, Boccone-Pagès published an open letter to Brezzo, addressing him as the “self-proclaimed president”. 

With words rich in historical and literary references, and full of metaphorical imagery, Boccone-Pagès counselled, “Revolutions are always made in the name of admirable principles, formulated by so-called great men, dissatisfied with their fate and who have not been covered with honors as they wished.” 

“You rallied the wolves by uttering wild cries, but the wolves did not respond, since there can only be one and it is you,” she continued. “So it was only lambs and vipers who followed you, and if as the rumour claims, you seek honors and gold, well I offer you the honour of taking my seat, and I leave it to you to look for the gold, where it shines.” 

After comparing Brezzo to the controversial Pope Sixtus V, while noting his “dream of being a modern-day Cincinnatus”, her stinging letter presses on. 

“I do not hate you and if that were the case you would have noticed it. At least promise me not to bite your tongue, I would be terribly sorry to see you suffer by poisoning yourself.” 

The letter, which was published on social media, concludes with a weighted warning: “Teaching others lessons is good, but above all being an example is better.” 

SEE ALSO:

Interview: Brigitte Boccone-Pagés, President of the Monaco National Council

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Photo source of Brigitte Boccone-Pagès: Conseil National de Monaco