The month of May is coming in like a lion at the Grimaldi Forum, when a series of high-profile concerts and business events are on the agenda.
The month of May is always a sort of ramp up to the busy summer season in Monaco. It’s the month of Grand Prix races and the Cannes Film Festival, to be sure, but there are also several big events being hosted at the Grimaldi Forum to get people out of their winter caves and back into the world.
First off is a concert by Christophe Mae on 7th May to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the release of his debut album Mon Paradis, which launched him to stardom.
Then on 11th and 12th May, the IM Power Congress comes to the Forum, an investment management event committed to empowering change through networking and talks. The event organisers say, “At IM|Power we believe the future is digital, the future is inclusive and the future has to be sustainable. Our mission is to connect the entire breadth of the investment management industry to create a profitable and purposeful industry that will remain relevant far into the future.”
Also on the 12th is Lass, an electro, house, ragga, afropop sensation who is coming to perform his celestial melodies as part of the free Thursday Live Sessions.
RM Sotheby’s is hosting an auction on 14th May featuring hypercars and historics all under one roof, giving car lovers another reason to come to the Principality.
Next up is Ready for IT!, a one-to-one digital meeting dedicated to digital transitions and security. The third edition of this popular event offers access to companies on the cutting edge of the digital world.
Completely switching gears, on 19th May, the legendary Iggy Pop arrives at the Forum. Known as the godfather of American punk rock, the 74-year-old is still on the road delighting audiences, only this time with a new jazzy sound.
The month ends with the Monaco Streaming Film Festival from 31st May to 3rd June. The second edition of this summit for the global streaming industry welcomes both virtual and in-person guests to enjoy premieres, acquire and distribute new content, meet financiers and see the latest in media tech.
Three Michelin star chef and ‘leader of modern cuisine’ Yannick Alléno has officially opened his restaurant the Pavyllon at the Hôtel Hermitage, endowing the people of Monaco with an unprecedented sensory experience.
It was during an exclusive press lunch on Saturday 23rd April that Yannick Alléno, holder of 13 Michelin stars, unveiled his new pride and joy – the Pavyllon at the Hôtel Hermitage.
It is the climax of an affair that began two years ago when Alléno accepted an invitation by General Manager Louis Starck to be guest chef at the Hermitage, eventually taking over the hotel’s Vistamar restaurant in May 2021.
Now, following an extensive renovation, the Pavyllon is an exciting display of the chef’s bold and creative vision for fine dining, a mirror of its Michelin starred sister, the Pavillon, in Paris.
“I felt like it was the right time to bring fine counter dining – serving up good food, fast – to Monaco,” says Chef Alléno. “It encourages people to interact and makes them feel involved, as well as being a vibrant, companionable and theatrical experience.”
Pavyllon at the Hôtel Hermitage, photo by Monte-Carlo SBM
Free from the constraints of traditional gastronomic dining, guests are invited to sit around a large bar, the counter serving as a bridge between kitchen and dining room, where guests are encouraged to talk freely to the chefs as they add their finishing touches to the plates.
It creates a relaxed and convivial atmosphere, where sophistication and attention to detail align with the simple desire to have fun.
Yannick Alléno on a plate
This ‘leader of modern cuisine’, who boasts two restaurants with three Michelin stars, is among an elite circle of the world’s greatest chefs, driven by a passion for creativity and innovation; a man who constantly pushes the boundaries of fine dining.
His ambition, he says, is not to add just another Michelin star to the one he has already achieved here, “my ego is fine”, quips the 53-year-old. But he would like to win more accolades with a Michelin Green Star, a relatively new award that highlights restaurants at the forefront of sustainable practices. He plans to achieve this by using fish that complies with the Mr. Goodfish programme and fresh produce from the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo’s own gardens.
“The Mediterranean is overflowing with colour and gardens,” says Alléno. “We enjoy working with gourmet local produce to make ethical, tasty cuisine.”
Mesclun salad with vegetables from the Hermitage Hotel’s own garden
His menu at the Pavyllon takes on a Mediterranean accent while showcasing some Parisian favourites: a simple mesclun salad is transformed with fresh peas kissed by the Riviera; his signature ‘badaboum’ egg, expertly poached, is cut open by Chef Alléno himself to reveal a surprise centre of rich caviar, complimented by the earthy tones of smoked crème fraiche; the ‘surf and turf’ with beef tartare and fish carpaccio is topped with another decadent amount of caviar; the langoustine ravioli displays perfection in one simple bite.
Among the main dishes are roasted red mullet in crispy zucchini leaf upon a collision of mango and tomato ‘fondue’; and a melt-in-your-mouth wagyu feuille à feuille, featuring thin slices of beef layered with mushrooms, seared and served with a famous Alléno sauce. It is, quite frankly, like tasting a piece of heaven.
A taste of heaven: Wagyu feuille à feuille
The desserts all feature Yannick Alléno’s unique sugar substitute – birch water – that has been extracted from trees. We tried the crispy frozen feuillantine with almonds and wild strawberries, and chocolate fondant tart – both a testament to the bounty of natural flavours available to us in the environment.
A home within a restaurant
Yannick Alléno called upon interior designer Chahan Minassian to forge the personality of Pavyllon Monaco, just as he had done at Pavillon Paris.
The designer, who normally works exclusively on residential projects, gives guests the impression they are entering the comfortable universe of a private residence – undoubtedly a private Monaco residence, but a home nonetheless. Soft furnishings, turquoise and cream tones, and various textures encourage guests to melt into the surroundings and relax.
This collaboration between chef and interior designer appeals to all the senses: taste and smell are awakened by the contemporary cuisine; solicited sounds spread around the counter, of clinking plates and cheerful conversation; the warm feel of the dark oak counter and soft textured armchairs, wall fabrics and floors; and finally, the views – of the compositions on the plates, the exceptional setting, and the chefs moving in dance-like synchronisation.
Outside, the garden terrace maintains its incredible views of the sea, the Palace, and Port Hercule.
The interior of Pavyllon was designed to inspire feelings of comfort, familiarity and homeliness
Why Monaco?
Yannick Alléno, who has restaurants in Paris, Courchevel, Marrakesh, Dubai and Seoul, says it was an obvious next step for him to open a restaurant in Monaco. “The Principality has always played a pioneering role in gastronomy, largely thanks to Alain Ducasse,” says the chef. “Being in Monte-Carlo is special, it’s an achievement of sorts.”
Conversely, it is an achievement for the Principality to have Yannick Alléno here, especially at the Hermitage Hotel. His presence reinvigorates the “grand dame” of Monaco and puts her firmly on the gastronomic map.
From the food, to the concept, to the techniques… at every turn it is obvious that Yannick Alléno just loves to rewrite the rule books, and Monaco is all the better for it.
The lunch menu, served within an hour, features three dishes for 68€, the five-course Monte-Carlo tasting menu is priced at 145€, and the seven-course Hermitage tasting menu is 235€, all excluding wine. Dishes can also be ordered à la carte.
Click on the gallery below to see more photos of Pavyllon…
Top photo of Yannick Alléno by Monaco Life, all other photos by Monte-Carlo SBM
A late Charles Leclerc spin and an early Carlos Sainz retirement consigned Ferrari to a miserable afternoon at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday, while Max Verstappen secured his second win of the season.
Verstappen’s victory is enough to cut the gap to the Monegasque driver, but Leclerc remains well and truly in the driving seat, with 27 points still separating the two rivals. The weekend belonged to Red Bull who, with a couple of small upgrades, closed a seemingly mammoth gap to the Ferrari.
Leclerc, however, isn’t worried, and still expects a tight race between the two teams. “Only time will tell how much of a step Red Bull made. Honestly, with Red Bull it is either one weekend they are stronger and another we are.”
The Championship leader continued, “I still think we are there more or less and it is track-dependent who is coming out on top. I don’t think there are any significant differences yet.”
Emilia Romagna F1 Grand Prix, credit: Scuderia Ferrari Press Office
Following Leclerc’s success down under, Red Bull came out charging on Saturday at Imola. In one of three sprint races on this year’s calendar, it was Verstappen who took the victory in dramatic circumstances. On a damp track, Leclerc got a better start off the line, to the delight of the thousands of tifosi in the stands.
With just two laps to go, Verstappen retook the lead, securing pole position and a solid eight-point haul to start to bridge the gap to his Ferrari rival.
Sunday’s race took place in similarly damp conditions, but the tifosi reaction to the race start was polar opposite to the day before. The cheers for a Leclerc overtake on Saturday were contrasted with groans and gasps as Sainz was forced to retire at the opening corner of the first lap. A clip from Daniel Ricciardo sent the Spaniard spinning into the gravel trap, out of which there was no escape.
Leclerc’s start, meanwhile, wasn’t much better. Poor traction allowed Sergio Perez and Lando Norris to pass, although the latter was easy pickings for Leclerc just a few laps later. The difficulty was in catching the Red Bulls, and it was this desperation to catch a quicker car that led Leclerc into making the late error.
Just a second behind Perez with 10 laps left, Leclerc pushed too hard and took too much curb on the chicane, sending him spinning into the barrier. The chase for second over, he had to limp back to the pit and salvage as many points as possible. Having pitted for another front wing, he came out in ninth. A valiant, charging effort saw him make his way back up to sixth, a successful salvage job from a difficult position.
Verstappen and Red Bull were comfortably the big winners of the day, Verstappen’s 34 points-haul closes the gap in the Drivers’ Championship, whilst Red Bull’s first one-two in six years closes the gap in the Constructors’ to just 11 points. Norris rounded off the top three for his first podium of the year.
Post-race, Verstappen offered his sympathies to Leclerc, although that won’t console the Monegasque who was dreaming of race victory in front of the adoring, passionate tifosi. “It’s easily done. He was pushing hard. It is painful, but he knows that himself, but it’s such a long championship.”
Despite a difficult weekend, Leclerc still holds the lead going into the maiden Miami Grand Prix in just two weeks time.
Emmanuel Macron has been elected to a second term as French president securing 58.2% of the vote on Sunday night, according to the initial IPSOS polling institute.
His far-right opponent Marine Le Pen won 41.8% of the vote.
The margin is wider than polls had measured in the last week of the campaign but was far narrower than their 2017 clash when Macron received 66.1% and Le Pen 33.9%.
Voter turnout was just over 63% according to the Interior Ministry, down 2% on the last election and the lowest figure in 50 years.
The 2022 campaign was set against a backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a cost of living crisis in France, a surge in support for the far-left among younger generations, and suggestions of widespread voter apathy.
Marine Le Pen, who has now run for France’s presidency three times, chose to distance herself from her previous rhetoric on the European Union and euro integration and instead concentrate on the economic struggles of French voters.
Centrist Macron, 44, plans to continue his reformist agenda, recently promising to help France reach full employment and change the country’s retirement from 62 to 65.
But Macron can expect little to no grace period after many, especially on the left, only voted for him reluctantly to block the far-right from winning. Protests that marred part of his first mandate could erupt again quite quickly, as he tries to press on with pro-business reforms.
“There will be continuity in government policy because the president has been reelected. But we have also heard the French people’s message,” Health Minister Olivier Veran told BFM TV.
Victory for the pro-European Union Macron would be hailed by allies as a reprieve for mainstream politics that have been rocked in recent years by Britain’s exit from the European Union, the 2016 election of Donald Trump and the rise of a new generation of nationalist leaders.
The outcome of the election is expected to be confirmed by official results overnight.
Monaco experiences: Refined authenticity at the new Em Sherif
In a country of spoils, there is always comfort in finding authenticity, tradition and family values on a plate, and that’s exactly what you get at Em Sherif in the Hôtel de Paris, with that famous Monte-Carlo touch, of course.
There has been barely an empty seat in Em Sherif since it opened its doors for the first time on 2nd April. Not only does Monaco revel in a new gastronomic experience, if it is to be had in the exquisite Hôtel de Paris, all the better.
To the left of the hotel’s grand staircase, Em Sherif welcomes you through a corridor filled with Graff diamonds – an unmistakable reminder of the two worlds that are coming together at this Beirut-born restaurant.
Mireille Hayek opened her first Em Sherif in Lebanon’s capital in 2011, the traditional restaurant concept celebrating a culture experienced through taste, sight, hearing and feeling.
She has since opened 12 more restaurants in the Middle East, and most recently in London at Harrods. This opening in Monaco is the company’s first foray into Europe and is part of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer’s (SBM) aim of adding strong, international brands to its range of restaurants to appeal to a discerning clientele.
Mireille Hayek has entrusted the running of Em Sherif Monte-Carlo to daughter Yasmina, a charismatic and confident young woman who has trained at the prestigious Paul Bocuse Institute and worked under Mathieu Pacaud, who owns several Michelin starred restaurants in Paris, as well as two-starred Jean-François Piège and three Michelin star Chef and winner of the Bocuse d’Or Rasmus Kofoed in Denmark.
“People in Monaco have very high expectations, and we are in the world of Alain Ducasse at the same time, so there are very high Michelin standards here, and we have to meet those standards,” Yasmina Hayek tells Monaco Life.
Em Sherif at the Hôtel de Paris, photo by MCSBM
Em Sherif embraces the precious Middle Eastern culture of meal times, that of communal experiences in which family and friends eat together, not with separate plates but from a shared dish. And the sheer number of dishes here means that guests should definitely arrive hungry.
“It was nice to find a middle ground between this limit of what gastronomy you can do with Lebanese cuisine, and how to keep it at the same time generous with that sharing experience,” adds the 25-year-old head chef.
The hot and cold mezze selection includes four different types of hummus, including one with melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu; mutabbal of smoked eggplant, tahini and pomegranate; yalanji of rice-filled chard leaves; fattet kraydiss – crispy prawns with yoghurt and kadaif; and smake beyroutiyeh – sea bass fillet with beyroutiyeh sauce.
In addition to the 21 mezze plates, there are five main dishes including shawarma lahme with beef fillet, and siyyadiyeh – a deliciously steamed whole sea bass stuffed with caramelised rice and aromatic herbs.
Two grilled dishes of whole chicken and beef round out the savoury menu, while a colourful array of desserts are designed to cleanse the palate with fruity flavours and floral aromas, like the orange blossom and rose milk pudding, while traditional pastries indulge the senses.
The baklava at Em Sherif Monte-Carlo, photo by MCSBM
“Pasty in France is important, so we refined all of our pastries at Em Sherif Monte-Carlo,” reveals Hayek. “We want to please clients who prefer the original while accommodating other clients who are looking for something more. Everything in Monaco needs to be elevated. It can’t be too greasy, for example, so instead of gee we use pure butter for our baklava. These are the type of edges that we try to do here in Monte-Carlo.”
Despite a string of new Em Sherif openings ahead in Paris, Greece and the United States, Yasmina Hayek plans on staying put in Monte-Carlo, excited at the opportunity to continue to share her family legacy with the people and guests of the Principality.
“I think that presence is very important here,” she says affectionately. “People love meeting the chefs, and every day we have guests wanting to visit us in the kitchen. We have already had so many people who came back to the restaurant, so it is beautiful to see the same faces.”
The journey of the senses continues outside in the Mediterranean garden where, surrounded by lemon trees, kumquat and wild sage, guests will be able to enjoy a chic Chicha Lounge Bar in the afternoons and evenings.
Yasmina and Mireille Hayek, photo by MCSBM
“Lebanon gifted me the culture I am so proud of. It’s what constantly inspires Em Sherif and it’s what has allowed me to succeed,” says the restaurant’s founder Mireille Hayek. “Bringing this culture to Monaco in a place as legendary as the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo is such a joy. It gives me the opportunity to transmit my love for my country.”
Em Sherif Monte-Carlo is open from Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. The Chicha Lounge bar will open from 4pm to 1am from Monday 18th April.
See more photos of Em Sherif in our Instagram post below…
Thursday was a day of few surprises at the Monte-Carlo Masters as big names advanced into the quarter-finals at a scorching Country Club. Here’s a round-up of all the action.
It’s not every day that foe turns friend on the tennis court. But that was the case for Taylor Fritz and Sebastian Korda on Thursday. Opponents on the Court des Princes in the morning, they found themselves on the same side of the net in the afternoon as they came up against Jamie Murray and Rohan Bopanna in the doubles.
Sharing a more literal, physical proximity on the court in the afternoon, fine margins separated the two in the morning as Fritz prevailed in an all-American affair (7-6, 7-5). It was a game of few rallies as it was played at a lightning pace.
Without any breaks of serve in the opening set, it was ultimately decided by a tie break in which serve still reigned supreme, before Fritz crucially broke the serve, prevailing 7-4.
Break points were like London buses, you wait over an hour for one and then two come at once. Fritz broke Korda midway through the second set, before the latter immediately hit back in the next game. The game seemed destined for a second tie-break, but the superiorly-ranked Fritz made sure that didn’t happen, breaking his compatriot to ensure progression to the quarter-finals.
Just moments later, both took to the court again, this time with the same goal: to progress to the quarter-finals of the doubles. Standing in their way were Murray and Bopanna.
Murray and Bopanna took the first set relatively comfortably, a single break of serve enough to decide it (4-6) before a tighter second went all the way to a nail-biting tie-break. The Americans prevailed (9-7) taking the game to a final set, which would be decided by a 10-point tiebreaker.
Four consecutive points from Murray and Bopanna changed the destiny of the tie, overturning a 6-4 deficit to go two to the good, they then converted to take the victory (4-6, 7-6, 7-10). A double dose of disappointment for Korda, who began the day in contention in both formats, but finished it out of the competition entirely.
Surprises at a premium
Fritz may be out of the doubles, but his victory against Korda in the singles was in fitting with the overriding trend of big names getting the job done, albeit sometimes in slightly arduous style.
Rhythmless, stuttering, but experienced and hard-fought best describe reigning champion Stefanos Tsitsipas’ victory against Laslo Djere (7-5, 7-6) on Court Rainier III. The Serbian Djere made Tsitsipas work for the first set, having held serve throughout, he gave his opponent two opportunities at the death, and although he held the first, two games later, the Greek player was given another chance and this time didn’t waste it (7-5).
The second set would be even tighter. In a match of very few rallies and low on quality for large swathes of it, Tsitsipas leaned back on his experience to see him over the line.
Djere took Tsitsipas to a tie-break, but thereafter couldn’t keep pace. The Serb looked exhausted, and frequent touching of his thigh alluded to an underlying injury as he succumbed 7-1 in the tie break and 7-5, 7-6 over the course of the match.
Zverev had no such issues in his match against Pablo Carreno Busta on the main court. The German, who is the highest ranked player left in the competition, sauntered to a first set victory (6-2). The Spaniard immediately hit back in the second, breaking Zverev in the first game, but the German hit back as he regained his grasp on the fixture.
Zverev then needed four bites of the apple to finish the match, but eventually broke Busta to advance into the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, giant-killer Alejandro Davidovich Fokina breezed past David Goffin (6-4, 6-1), and Diego Schwartzman eventually prevailed against Lorenzo Musetti (6-2, 4-6, 6-3). Although the trend of the day was of favourites coming out on top, a few did buck that trend. Fourth seed Casper Ruud was beaten in straight sets by Grigor Dimitrov (6-3, 7-5) and in the final match of the day, the Italian crowd roared on Jannik Sinner to victory against Andrey Rublev (5-7, 6-1, 6-3).
Whilst the opening days of the tournament were defined by shock exits, the last few days have been defined by big names imposing themselves and getting the job done. Many will have sniffed a glorious chance of a title following Novak Djokovic’s exit, and with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal absent through injury, they may never have a better chance to win it.
Make sure you follow Monaco Life on Instagram for all the action as it happens from the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters!
Photo by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life
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