18 ° C
Profile

Tag: monaco

New restaurant to open in Monaco: Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac

by: Cassandra Tanti
05/02/2023

The Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo will this spring unveil a new fine dining restaurant headed by its Michelin starred chef. It will be called Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac, in homage to the hotel’s rich past.

The 137-year-old Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo is in the midst of its biggest renovation to date. Every corner of this iconic institution is getting a revamp, including its kitchens – which have already completed, and its trademark fine dining restaurant, which is soon to be completed.

The hotel opened in 1886 and, with its palace façade in the flamboyant neoclassical style typical of the Belle Epoque, the Metropole Monte-Carlo quickly became a favourite among international visitors to the Principality.

In the 1920’s, the hotel opened Les Ambassadeurs, a French gastronomic restaurant serving the who’s-who of aristocracy, diplomacy, royalty and celebrity the world over. It was also a hit with the local Monegasque clientele.

It is a story that inspired Executive Chef Christophe Cussac to pay homage to this bygone era, in the naming of his new restaurant. The chef, who has been awarded numerous Michelin stars throughout his career, will offer a gourmet contemporary Mediterranean cuisine, inspired by his own gastronomic heritage, called Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac.

Rendering of the new Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac

Cussac comes from a family of restaurateurs. His grandmother ran an establishment in an 11th century abbey, which was transformed by his father into a Relais Châteaux and gained a Michelin star. Working with legendary Chef Joël Robuchon, whom he considers his “spiritual father”, Cussac has headed many gastronomic restaurants in France, before running the kitchens of the two-starred Joël Robuchon restaurant in Monaco. Now, he is responsible for all of the Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo’s restaurants: Yoshi, the only Japanese restaurant on the Riviera to have a Michelin star, Odyssey, a poolside restaurant designed by Karl Lagerfeld, and the Lobby Bar, popular among locals and guests of the hotel.

The new restaurant, Les Ambassadeurs by Christope Cussac, will be an elegant, warm and welcoming space designed by Jacques Garcia, in the same ambience as the hotel itself. Garcia is also charged with renewing 125 rooms and suites, a major task that will require the hotel to suspend its accommodation offerings for eight months from this September.

The good news is that this new restaurant, Les Ambassadeurs by Christope Cussac, and all the hotel’s restaurants, will remain open throughout the final stages of renovation, much to the delight of locals and visitors who have come to expect nothing less than perfection from Chef Christophe Cussac and his team.

SEE ALSO:

The story behind the closure of the Hôtel Métropole

Monaco Experiences: Spa Metropole by Givenchy

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

 

Photo: Chef Christophe Cussac, credit: Aline Gerard

 

 

Living with Covid – France drops isolation rule for people with the virus

by: Cassandra Tanti
01/02/2023

As of 1st February, people in France who test positive for Covid-19 will no longer have to self-isolate, as the country learns to live with Covid.

Almost three years after Covid-19 arrived in France and the country went into lockdown, the government is lifting the last of its control measures.

Now, people with Covid symptoms, contact cases, or those who have categorically contracted the virus are able to live their normal lives, without the need for isolation. The French government does, however, ask that these members of the population adhere to the well-known safety rules to protect the vulnerable members of the community.

If someone is a contact case, the government recommends that they notify people around them, including those in the same house, work colleagues and friends, avoid contact with fragile people, and work from home if possible. While in public, they are asked to keep a two-metre distance from others and wear a mask.

What do I do if I have Covid-19 now?

People who have tested positive for Covid-19 must still warn people around them and those they met within 48 hours of testing positive for the virus, and for a length of seven days. They must wash their hands, wear a mask and limit contact with people as much as possible. While they will no longer be contacted by the health department as part of contact tracing, these people must contact their GP as soon as possible, who can prescribe a sick-leave notice if needed.

From 1st February, the government will no longer compensate Covid-positive people who are unable to go to work.

People with the virus should not hesitate to contact their doctor in case of unusual symptoms, or call 15 immediately if they have difficulty breathing.

People with Covid have 48 hours to send a sick-leave notice from their doctor to their health insurance fund and employer.

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Photo of the Promenade des Anglais in Nice in March 2021 during Covid restrictions, credit Monaco Life

 

The best of the superyacht industry to be honoured with new awards

by: Cassandra Tanti
01/02/2023
private sector monaco

The Superyacht Life Foundation and the Monaco Yacht Show have launched the nomination process for its inaugural ‘The Honours’ – an awards ceremony that “recognises the people at the heart of the superyacht industry and praises their efforts to produce exceptional work and inspire meaningful change”.

Nominations are now open for owners, crew, and industry professionals to put forward their suggestions for candidates. Honourees will be celebrated during ‘The Honours’ evening that will be hosted on 26th September 2023 in Monaco, on the eve of the Monaco Yacht Show.

A nomination for The Honours can be given to anyone within or connected to the superyacht industry who is doing extraordinary things reflecting the extraordinary nature of this global industry, such as preserving the environment, developing communities, driving conservation, advancing design and technologies, contributing to diversity and inclusion, or instigating positive change across the industry and beyond.

Among the application rules, nominees should have achieved concrete results that have a tangible link to the superyacht industry during the past five years, the focus should be on the impact, novelty, creativity of the nominees, and their willingness to create a difference within the superyacht industry.

Nominations will close on 31st March 2023.

To put forward your nominee, click here.

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

 

Photo by Monaco Life

 

Covid-19 latest: WHO maintains highest alert level as circulation in Monaco continues to drop

by: Cassandra Tanti
31/01/2023

The spread of Covid in Monaco has hit a remarkable low, with just 5% of all tests now coming back positive. The latest figures come as the World Health Organisation this week maintained its highest alert level, saying the virus is in a “transition phase”.

The weekly health figures from the government show that in the week ending 29th January, 14 new cases of Covid were identified in Monaco. The incidence rate has fallen to 36, down from 43 the previous week, however seven people are being treated for severe Covid in the Princess Grace Hospital Centre, including four residents.

Of the 655 PCR and antigen tests conducted among residents and non-residents, only 5% returned a positive result, confirming that the virus is barely present now in the Principality.

It is a similar situation around the world, apart from China, as Covid circulation has dropped dramatically thanks to widespread vaccinations and immunity through infection.

Experts are reluctant to signal the end of the pandemic just now, however they are hopeful that the world will enter a new phase of the virus in 2023.

After the 14th meeting of a Covid-19 committee on 27th January, the World Health Organisation said on Monday that the virus “continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern”, its highest form of alert.

“The Director-General acknowledges the Committee’s views that the Covid-19 pandemic is probably at a transition point and appreciates the advice of the Committee to navigate this transition carefully and mitigate the potential negative consequences,” said the WHO in a statement.

It has been three years since WHO first declared that Covid represented a global health emergency. More than 6.8 million people have died during the outbreak, which has touched every country on earth.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said he hopes to see an end to the emergency this year, particularly if access to the counter-measures can be improved globally.

“We remain hopeful that in the coming year, the world will transition to a new phase in which we reduce (Covid) hospitalisations and deaths to their lowest possible level,” said Tedros on Monday.

WHO will be hosting a webinar on 8th February on the current Covid-19 situation and what’s next. To take part, click here.

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

 

Photo of WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, source: WHO

Hugo Nys loses out in Australian Open final

by: Luke Entwistle
28/01/2023

Alongside Jan Zielinski, Monaco’s Hugo Nys reached his first Grand Slam final in Australia on Saturday, but couldn’t overcome Jason Kubler and Rinky Hijikata, who won in straight sets. 

Despite the loss in the Australian Open final, Nys nonetheless made Monégasque sporting history by becoming the first Monaco player to reach a Grand Slam final.

After an impressive run to the final, Nys and his Polish partner Zielinski came unstuck against an Aussie duo, who had the home crowd behind them. Kubler and Hijikata only got one chance to break, but took it, allowing them to take the upper hand and win the first set.

There was little separating them on the hard court of Melbourne, but the Aussie pairing got the job done in the second set, winning on a tiebreak (6-4, 7-6).

Nys’ exploits Down Under have been reflected in the ATP rankings. Going into the tournament ranked 40th in the world in doubles, the Monaco player is now 22nd.

His focus will now turn to Monaco’s upcoming Davis Cup tie against the Dominican Republic, which takes place at the Monte-Carlo Country Club next weekend, with the country’s place in Group II on the line.

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

Photo by Monaco Life

Dubai Cares partners with COP28 to put education at forefront of climate action

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/01/2023

It was during the World Economic Forum in Davos that Dubai Cares signed an historic agreement to put education, and specifically climate education, on the main agenda of this year’s COP28.

The incoming presidency of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Dubai Cares have agreed to partner on a suite of climate education outcomes on the sidelines of COP28, which will take place at Expo City Dubai from 30th November to 12th December 2023.

Dubai Cares will notably host the second edition of the RewirEd Summit, the global education cooperation platform, in conjunction with the global climate summit with a focus on climate action education and approaches this year.

“The theme of the RewirEd summit will be climate and education: green skills and green jobs towards green economies. This will be the first ever COP to have an education day as a main pillar,” Dr. Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of Dubai Cares, told Monaco Life.

Dubai Cares will lead a global preparatory process from now until the summit to mobilise public and private actors around new policy, financing, and technology outcomes that both equip learners for the net-zero economy and enhance accessibility and resilience in the education sector.

“In developing countries, we always look at it through the lens of opportunity for the children and youth who missed out on education or who don’t have any jobs even if they are certified,” added Dr. Al Gurg. “We look out how we can have the best ecosystem built in the context of that country, so we can give the opportunity of training and upskilling to these youth for future jobs.”

Dubai Cares was created in 2007 as part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, and has been working towards providing children and youth in developing countries with access to quality education through the design and funding of programmes that aim to be impactful, sustainable and scalable. To date, the UAE-based global philanthropic organisation has successfully launched education programmes reaching over 21 million beneficiaries in 60 developing countries.

Dubai Cares plans to support the efforts of COP28 by convening climate and education stakeholders from around the world to unify efforts towards a common vision.

“COP28 represents the UAE’s enduring commitment to addressing the climate crisis and accelerating progress towards a better and more secure and prosperous world,” said Dr. Tariq Al Gurg. “As COP28’s education partner, Dubai Cares looks forward to supporting the UAE’s efforts by uniting education and climate actors towards a common vision of unlocking the potential of transformed education systems to not only mitigate climate challenges, but also contribute to national and global aspirations. We are pleased to see that COP28 will be the first COP gathering to prioritise education in climate discussions by placing it at the forefront of its agenda.”

“We are grateful to the COP28 Presidency for believing in our mission and for selecting Dubai Cares to coordinate stakeholders in designing the COP’s education programming.”

Dubai Cares plays a key role in helping to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and quality education for all, and promote lifelong learning by 2030, by supporting programmes in early childhood development, access to quality primary and secondary education, technical and vocational education and training for youth as well as a particular focus on education in emergencies and protracted crises. Dubai Cares also adopts a strategic approach to improve student enrollment and learning outcomes through an integrated school health and nutrition model that is made up of school-based deworming activities, school feeding, and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) in schools.

“Climate change is the defining challenge of our era. It is essential for us to empower our youth and society with the knowledge and skills to become changemakers and contribute to meaningful action,” said H.E. Amb. Majid Al Suwaidi, Director General of COP28. “We welcome this partnership with Dubai Cares, to connect with diverse stakeholders, create capacity-building opportunities and mobilise a concerted drive for inclusive climate progress.”

“Green and climate education is what we can include in our curriculums today in schools to instill a mindset in our children of the importance of climate and planet Earth and how we have to take care of it,” said Dr. Al Gurg. “Our generation will not be able to solve these issues, but we can instigate small solutions and prepare the upcoming generation to make the change that needs to happen.”

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

SEE ALSO:

“Education has been neglected globally”

Photo: H.E. Amb. Majid Al Suwaidi, Director General of COP28 and Dr. Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of Dubai Cares, source: Dubai Cares