Monaco’s gastronomic food festival, the Festival des Etoilés Monte-Carlo, will return this year six months earlier than previous editions. But while the start date may have changed, the concept remains the same: SBM’s Michelin-starred culinary maestros will join forces with globally acclaimed chefs to fashion an exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime menu for an elite audience.
Since its inception in 2020, the Festival des Etoilés Monte-Carlo has become a cherished tradition within the culinary world. Founded by Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), a cornerstone of Monaco’s hospitality and entertainment scene, the festival represents a convergence of culinary mastery, creativity and passion.
Each year in autumn, the festival has drawn together a constellation of Michelin-starred chefs, all eager to showcase their talents and tantalise the taste buds of attendees.
New in 2024, the Festival des Etoilés Monte-Carlo will be held between April and October, with a “four hands” menu proposed by each of SBM’s starred restaurants: Blue Bay Marcel Ravin at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, Le Grill and Le Louis XV Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo and the Pavyllon Monte-Carlo, a restaurant by Yannick Alléno at the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo.
See also: Festival des Etoilés lures 3-starred Sven Wassmer to Yannick Alléno’s kitchen
A showcase of gastronomic excellence
The Festival des Étoiles Monte-Carlo offers a platform for participating chefs to present their signature dishes, crafted with the finest ingredients and meticulous attention to detail. From innovative interpretations of classic cuisine to avant-garde culinary experiments, each dish is a testament to the creativity and skill of its creator.
This year, world-renowned Chef Alain Ducasse will open the festival with a history-making partnership with Chef Simon Rogan, of the three Michelin starred restaurant L’Enclume in the Lake District of the United Kingdom.
On 20th April, Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse will welcome Simon Rogan and his team to create a menu that is synonymous with their shared passions: respect for the planet and ingredients that capture the very essence of the local terroir.
Simon Rogan MBE, a globally acclaimed chef and pioneer of the ‘From farm to table’ movement, opened his first L’Enclume restaurant in 2002, championing locally sourced ingredients and seasonal produce. Recognised with a green star in 2021 and three Michelin stars in 2022, L’Enclume stands tall among the nine three-starred establishments in England.
A fusion of flavours
On 11th May, Monaco’s two-starred Marcel Ravin is inviting David Toutain into his kitchen, the chef and owner of the two-starred David Toutain restaurant in Paris.
The two chefs share a deep love of nature and a passion for authenticity, as well as a keen interest in sustainable catering, particularly in terms of the quality and provenance of products. They also both have a keen interest in the materials used in their restaurants and in the development of the spaces within them. So, this pairing appears to be a natural step for them both.
Le Grill at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo will be hosting two exceptional evenings on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd June. For this fourth edition, Dominique Lory is inviting Yoan Conte, the chef and owner of the two-starred gastronomic restaurant La Table in Annecy. Chef Conte is famous for telling the stories behind his dishes, taking customers on a gastronomic journey to the heart of what inspires him.
Come 14th and 15th September, it will be Chef Yannick Alléno’s turn to steer the gastronomic ship his way, with American Chef Richard Lee alongside him at the Pavyllon Monte-Carlo at the Hôtel de Paris.
As Executive Head Chef of two-starred Saison in San Francisco, Lee is known for taking the best local and international ingredients and combining them with open fire cooking.
“It is important to me that the food has soul; that when a guest sees the dish they get excited, and when they taste it, it’s followed by delight,” says the first generation Chinese-American chef.
The Festival des Etoilés will close with a grand gala in October at the iconic Salle Empire of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, featuring all four of SBM’s starred chefs serving up their signature dishes.
For bookings, click here.
SEE ALSO:
Festival des Etoilés closes with spectacular gala in presence of Prince Albert and Princess Charlene
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Main photo by Eric Mathon, Prince’s Palace