Princess Charlene has made her long-awaited return to the Principality of Monaco where she will continue the final stage of her recovery with her family, the Palace has announced.
In a statement released late Saturday, the Princely couple said: “In agreement with her doctors and while her recovery is on the right track, Their Serene Highnesses have jointly agreed that Princess Charlene can now continue her convalescence in the Principality, with her husband and children.”
The Palace revealed that the princess had just returned to Monaco where “She is happy to have found her family and loved ones.”
Princess Charlene is expected to soon resume official duties.
“As soon as her health allows, it will be with joy that the Princess will again share privileged moments of conviviality with the Monegasques who have missed her so much. In order to facilitate her full recovery, Princess Charlene is still in need of calm and serenity, the Princely couple therefore asks that we continue to respect their privacy and their family environment.”
It’s been almost a year since Princess Charlene departed for South Africa to attend the funeral of Zulu monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini and launch an awareness campaign on the plight of rhinos as part of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.
Complications from a severe ear, throat and nose infection grounded the princess in her native country for eight months where she underwent a number of medical procedures. Intermittent social media posts showed a very frail woman, far from the healthy, muscular former Olympic swimmer that Monaco and its citizens had known.
Prince Albert and their children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella visited Princess Charlene on two occasions, and throughout his wife’s time in Africa, Prince Albert was forced to publicly dispel rumours that there was a rift in his marriage.
On 8th November 2021, Princess Charlene made her return to the Principality of Monaco, her frail figure evident even from behind a mask as she posed for photographers with her family in the Palace courtyard.
Within a week, the Palace announced that Princess Charlene would be suspending public duties and had entered a treatment facility for “deep general fatigue”.
Prince Albert’s sisters, Princess Stephanie and Caroline Princess of Hanover, have both stepped in to fill the official void left in Princess Charlene’s absence, often appearing alongside her children, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella during public engagements.
Monaco Life joins the people of the Principality in welcoming Princess Charlene home.
Photo of Princess Charlene’s return to Monaco in November 2021, by Eric Mathon, Prince’s Palace
The face of the ever-transforming Casino Square will be altered once more as the iconic Café de Paris gets a substantial makeover, with work set to finish by June 2023.
The Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) revealed plans for the Café de Paris in an exclusive gathering of local press including Monaco Life on Friday. The renovation plans have been approved and the works, which are thought to total €40 million, will be completed at the end of June next year.
Architects Alexandre Giraldi and Alain-Charles Perrot were charged with modernising the Café de Paris. The aim is to maximise the potential of an iconic building, which occupies what SBM CEO Jean-Luc Biamonti described as “the most beautiful square metreage in the world”. The difficulty comes in doing this whilst keeping the building true to the Belle Epoque era.
The result of the work has yielded an incredible, modern design, which is in fitting with the modernisation of the rest of Casino Square whilst also respecting and conserving its architectural heritage.
Design plans for the new Café de Paris
Most notably, the brasserie of the Café de Paris will be getting two additional floors, including a unique rooftop and a variety of boutiques. The Brasserie will extend onto two floors, whilst a partially glassed roof will create a naturally lit ground floor bar.
The building will also welcome an ‘Amazonico’ restaurant, a concept from Madrid that combines tropical and Latin American cuisines. The restaurant, which also has a presence in London and Dubai, will be placed in the Salle Bellevue, which will be enlarged, and will also open onto a large rooftop. This will also be complemented by a speakeasy-style bar.
Although the details have not yet been finalised, there will be an additional 800㎡ dedicated to boutiques, and this will run down from Casino Square to Jardin des Spelugues.
Despite the enormity of the task, it will only take just over a year to complete and will also be largely undisruptive. As no demolition is needed to take place, there will be minimal noise pollution.
The Brasserie has moved to the Salle Empire for the duration of the work, whilst the lemonade terrace is undisturbed. The Café de Paris casino and the boutiques will also remain in place, although the SBM boutique has been moved to the Avenue de Monte-Carlo.
How do I talk to my children about the war in Ukraine?
After years of disruption and fear brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, war has now broken out in Ukraine and is making the news all day, every day. For most kids, this will be their first experience with war and the media surrounding it. Clinical psychologist and children’s author Dr. Regine Muradian has this advice for parents.
Monaco Life: How much should we be telling our kids about the war?
Dr. Regine Muradian: Kids nowadays have access to so much information, so they probably know more than we think. Even if they are not bringing up the topic, they most surely have heard it at school or from a teacher. Asking them directly what they have heard, or how they feel is a good way to broach the conversation. As a parent or caregiver, you want to first see how much they are already aware of and then take it from there.
Is it ok to feel that they need to be protected/shielded from it?
Kids need to feel safe and that’s where we come in as parents, reassuring them that we are here. We can’t completely shield them from the information as most likely they will hear about it. I would recommend avoiding having the news on in the home when kids are around as the images can be very traumatic.
The conversations we have with children under five will obviously be different than the ones we have with school age kids or adolescents. How do we tackle this?
Kids under five may certainly have questions but may not know how to express them. Sitting down with your child and using drawings as a way for them to express their emotions and feelings can be very helpful. Children are smart and can pick up on our energy, tone, and mood. Talking openly and ensuring they feel their questions have been answered is an important role modeling opportunity. For school age children and teens, they can look up the information and see a lot of content. As a parent, listening and validating their feelings is a good way to help them express their emotions and answer their questions. Allowing a safe talking space can help them and decrease any insecurities or fears they may be experiencing.
What kind of things should we be asking them?
Most likely your child by now has heard of what is occurring or they are noticing donation stations. This may elicit a lot of questions such as “What is that for?”, “What is happening in that country?”, “Will it happen here?”, and “Are we safe?”. Being honest as a parent and reassuring them that they are safe, and you are there as a parent, is the most helpful.
What do we say when we don’t know the answer?
As a parent, we don’t always have all the answers and it is okay to say you don’t know or are not sure about something.
Do you think this will add to the kids/teenager’s feelings of vulnerability, considering everything that has happened these past two years? And how can we help them overcome that?
Certainly, these past two years have been challenging, it was a time of uncertainty, and to now have a war breakout keeps the cycle of fear. As a parent, don’t wait to bring up the topic as most likely they have already seen or heard it from social media platforms and at school from friends. You can help them overcome feelings of vulnerability by starting the conversation and talking through their insecurities and fears. You can ask questions such as, “How are you feeling? Are you scared?”. Make sure that you are monitoring their sleep. Are they sleeping more or less than they used to? How are they eating? Have you noticed any changes in their eating patterns?
What other signs of concern should we be looking for in their behavior that could signal they are having trouble with grappling the issue?
In addition to keeping an eye on their eating and sleeping habits, some signs to look out for are stomachaches, feelings of tension, refusing to go to school, feeling withdrawn and not doing activities they used to enjoy.
How important is it to use age-appropriate language and depth for topics such as this, and why?
With the younger ones, communicating via drawings and pictures can be a good way to have them express their feelings. For the older ones, using open-ended questions can help them express their emotions around any topic in general.
Should we be watching or talking about the war in front of certain age groups of kids?
Refraining from watching the news in front of our kids is best as kids are constantly watching our behaviors. If we are feeling scared or anxious, they will as well. This doesn’t mean you should refrain from expressing emotion as an adult, but be mindful that kids tend to emulate parent behaviors. We can express how we feel in a healthy way such as saying, “Yes, it is scary what is happening but we are safe and we are here to support eachother”. We can practice compassion, kindness, and helping in our own way, encouraging them to write a letter or donate a toy, however one can help.
Dr. Regine Muradian, a former Monaco resident and regular visitor to the Principality, is a licensed clinical psychologist, children’s author, speaker, consultant and mental health advocate. In her clinical practice, Dr. Muradian works with children, adolescents, and adults who present with a wide range of emotional stressors. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are her own, and not necessarily those of Monaco Life.
Beefbar founder Riccardo Giraudi talks about his exciting new vegan venture, the Leafbar, one of four new restaurant openings in Monaco this year, while revealing what it takes to make it in an industry that is not for the faint of heart… or stomach.
Riccardo Giraudi is one of Monaco’s most popular exports. Born in Genoa, Switzerland, and raised in Monaco, the 46-year-old is CEO of the Giraudi Group, a Principality-based meat import/export business created by his father Erminio Giraudi in the 1960s that now employs over 700 people worldwide.
The younger Giraudi was educated at the European Business School in London and later took an internship at a pioneering restaurant PR company working with brands like Hakkasan, Chinawhite and Nobu.
“London really changed my philosophy on a lot of things,” Riccardo Giraudi tells me from his home in Monaco. “PR companies were only for fashion at the time, but it was at the start of the internet boom, it was the millennium, and restaurant brands were becoming lifestyle.”
When Giraudi was called back to Monaco at age 22 to take over the management of the family business, he was less than enthused.
“I told my father I would only do it if I could have another business to motivate me and allow me to be creative. That’s when I started doing restaurants here in Monaco,” Giraudi remembers. “At the time, there were only Michelin star ‘Frenchies’ and Italian trattorias. But the customers here were very cosmopolitan, well-travelled and wealthy. They thought of Monaco as this exciting capital, but in reality, there was nothing.”
So, Giraudi opened his first restaurant, the Beefbar, to huge success. Then another, and another. It was then that he realised he could in fact combine the family business of trading meat with his passion for creating restaurants.
“The restaurant taught me about the beef, not vice versa,” he reveals. “I started importing hormone free Black Angus from America and Australia, and Kobe beef from Japan. I began branding beef, which didn’t exist at the time, and so both companies grew hand in hand.”
The new chapter in the Giraudi legacy was being written.
Beefbar Monaco
Anyone who has dined in Monaco will have likely eaten in a Giraudi restaurant: Beefbar, Pizz’aria, Song Qi, Mozza, Izakaya Cozza, Mezze Kitchen, Moshi Moshi, Cantinetta Antinori, Tiny Thai, Grubers… in the teeny two-square kilometre Principality, Riccardo Giraudi has established no less than 10 restaurants, and many more are in the making.
“I keep saying ‘enough’, but I live here so I have to test it, Monaco is my lab,” he smiles.
The next big concept that this meat connoisseur will be testing is unlike anything he has tried before… a 100% vegan restaurant called Leafbar. It will sit, in complete antithesis, beside the most meatiest of restaurants and his biggest success, the Beefbar, in Fontvielle.
“In the beginning I didn’t really understand it (veganism). I thought it was mostly left-wing skinny girls that don’t want vaccines, but I was totally wrong of course,” acknowledges Giraudi. “I realised that there are a lot of people who just want to eat better meat, and sometimes they want an alternative to protein, so that’s the vision behind Leafbar. And what better place to open it than in Monaco, where it all started, and right next door to the Beefbar?”
Veganism’s radical image overhaul is largely thanks to endorsements from celebrity chefs and Instagram influencers, new cookbooks and headline-grabbing vegan restaurants that are flourishing around the world.
Last year, the World Health Organisation recommended a plant-based diet for a healthy life. That backing, along with growing concerns about the impact of farming on the environment and animal cruelty, have helped fuel a plant-based gastronomic revolution.
Estimates now put the total number of vegans in the world at 79 million. By 2026, the global vegan food market is expected to reach $24.3 billion.
To a business-minded creative like Riccardo Giraudi, creating a top-quality vegan restaurant in Monaco is the obvious next step.
Riccardo Giraudi
“Luxury meats and alternative meats are both niche products, they go through the same distribution channel, more or less,” he reveals. “The legislation for bringing in these alternative meats is actually much simpler because they’re not animal proteins, most of them are jackfruit, soy, peas and mushrooms, so it is much easier for me to bring them in and cook with them.”
The Leafbar will be a “plant-loving Beefbar”, says Giraudi, featuring all the favourite street food classics – tacos, bao buns, pizza, sushi rolls… but with plant-based proteins. Guests can also expect flavour explosions in Asian stir fries and Indian curries when the restaurant opens in June.
“It’s hard work creating the recipes and making sure the menu makes sense. I can’t mess up because we have Beefbar right next to it, and it’s very successful, so we want to surprise guests more than have them say ‘what the hell is on about now?’”
To ensure he’s covering all bases and appetites, Giraudi is also introducing a Reefbar inside the Beefbar. Leaf, Beef and Reef. How could it go wrong?
Well, it would be intimidating for perhaps anyone who isn’t Riccardo Giraudi.
Song Qi, a Riccardo Giraudi restaurant, in Monaco
In addition to the Leafbar, Giraudi will this year be bringing the legacy of famed French chef Joël Robuchon back to Monaco with a new Mediterranean restaurant on Avenue du Portier. He’s also opening a Comptoir de Nicole in the Principality featuring the eccentric Nicole herself from La Petite Maison in Nice. There’s also another Italian restaurant in the works, and all this on top of the 39 restaurants that this entrepreneur has opened, franchised, or is on the verge of opening in locations such as Rome, Malta, London, Athens, Luxembourg, New York, Mykonos, Africa and the Middle East.
But it doesn’t always work out as planned, Giraudi acknowledges. Take Beefbar Dubai for example.
“Our problem was that we thought the Beefbar brand was so strong, we could put it anywhere and people would come. And yes, they come for three months, but then they don’t return. It was a bad location in Dubai, period.”
Location accounts for about 70% of the success of a restaurant, says Giraudi. So, he made the tough decision to close Beefbar Dubai in 2019 after only 15 months of operation. “It wasn’t a complete disaster, but it wasn’t exactly what I wanted it to be, it wasn’t wow.”
Now, he and his business partners, which include billionaire Monaco resident Flavio Briatore, have reopened the restaurant in a new location along the famous Turtle Lagoon, and Giraudi is far more confident of its success.
“It took me 15 years to understand the recipe for screwing up less. You open some, you close some, you open some, you close less, then eventually you are opening many more than you are closing, so you can finally tell yourself, ‘Ok, I am getting the gist of this’,” he laughs. “Everybody notices all the successes you have, but they forget the failures, and I have had quite a few. There is no one single recipe for success in a restaurant, it is a combination of everything that ends up creating this sort of energy inside that restaurant. That’s why, when I walk into a new restaurant, I can usually tell the first day, the first week, if there are red flags, green lights or orange warning signals.”
By six months, Riccardo Giraudi generally knows whether his new venture will make it. That’s enough time for people to test the restaurant and satisfy their curiosity. The question is always: will they return?
Giraudi says the other key elements to making it in the restaurant industry is having a clear concept and selecting the right people for your staff. It’s also important to know where your strengths lie and to have the courage to say ‘no’ sometimes.
“I get proposals every day, but I make restaurants that are there for the long term and that I would want to go to every day,” says the father of two.
So, what does the year 2022 look like for restaurant guru Riccardo Giraudi?
“Firstly, I hope this will be the year that we can finally say goodbye to the pandemic. I hope this year will be the bright light at the end of the tunnel. I will be keeping my ambition high, and my head down to earth.”
In between the reveal of AS Monaco’s Europa League opponent, and Sunday’s fixture against Reims, Gelson Martins and Philippe Clement addressed the media on Friday speaking about the challenge ahead.
At midday on Friday, the Europa League round of 16 draw took place, the Principality side drawing Portugese side Braga, with the fixtures to be played on 10th and 17th March. Portuguese midfielder Martins has high expectations for the clash. “It’s a team I know very well, that I’ve played against many times in Portugal.”
Martins continued, “They are a good team that has a lot of experience in the Europa League, and I think it’ll be a great match.” Clement admitted he isn’t as familiar with the side. “I watch lots of European matches, so I know lots of teams in the draw really well, but less so this Braga team. They are defensively strong and quick in attack. I know their results, but that doesn’t tell you much.”
Before that however, the side’s focus is firmly on Sunday’s match at the Stade Louis II against Stade de Reims where, according to Martins, a win is essential. “We have to chase after the points we have lost. It’s a difficult period of games, but we have shown that we can beat these teams. Clearly, there’s no more room for failure.”
Indeed, every match is vital, and the difficult matches are coming thick and fast, the Principality side set for mid-week matches every week until mid-March. Squad rotation will therefore be key in the coming weeks, and Clement told Monaco Life that there could be changes on Sunday. “On top of (Aurelien) Tchouameni and (Caio) Henrique, who are suspended, there could be other changes.” The Belgian coach added that it would be either Youssouf Fofana or Eliot Matazo who would replace Tchouameni.
Monaco Life attended Friday training at the La Turbie training centre and can confirm that, bar long-term absentee Krepin Diatta, all players were involved in group training. However, Clement revealed that many are still short on match fitness.
Despite a friendly against Brentford B on Wednesday, in which AS Monaco ran out 2-1 winners, Cesc Fabregas still hasn’t quite reached match fitness. Benoit Badiashile will also likely be absent, but Myron Boadu has the potential to perhaps play “10-15 minutes”. Russian midfielder Aleksandr Golovin is doubtful having felt some discomfort during training.
Following consecutive draws in Ligue 1, against two low-blocks, Clement is hoping that this match won’t follow the same pattern. “It’s always difficult against low-blocks. We have had great difficulty against these teams. I think that this time it will be different.”
For the sake of Monaco’s chances of European qualification, fans will hope that this is the case, whilst a victory would allow the side to build some much needed momentum ahead of a crucial month of football.
Photo of Philippe Clement by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life
Ferrari’s challenger for the upcoming season, the F1-75, has been revealed in Maranello, its sleek, futuristic design catching the eye during a presentation with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
A new set of regulations, brought in for the upcoming season, has revolutionised the appearance of the F1 car. The changes are, however, far from purely aesthetic. The aim is to create a car that follows better in the slipstream of other cars, hopefully providing more exciting, wheel-to-wheel racing. Laurent Mekies, Ferrari’s racing director, stated in a press release, “Our race team is gearing up for possibly one of the most surprising seasons of the last decade.”
The F1-75, whose name pays homage to the 75-year history of the Prancing Horse brand, is fitted with a slightly darker red livery. Commenting on the livery, Leclerc said during the presentation that, “It looks a bit more aggressive, and for a car like this, it fits perfectly.”
On its appearance in general, the Monegasque driver added, “I love it. I really, really like it, and I think I’ll love it even more if it’s fast on the track, but I absolutely love the look.”
This season’s car is the product of almost two whole years of work, and although the 2021 season was an improvement on the previous one, it was always clear that the team’s focus was on the development of the 2022 car with the new regulations in mind. It can be no surprise then that many are expecting a title challenge from Ferrari this season.
“This season is going to be very important for the team. The expectations are very, very high. We are making sure that all of the work that we’ve done behind the scenes will achieve good results during the season,” said Leclerc.
The 24-year-old will be hoping that the car, which he described as a “beast” on Twitter, will propel him towards a title-challenge which, given the regulation changes, is poised to be one of the closest and most exciting in recent history.
Click on the video below for more from Charles Leclerc….
Photo source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre
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