The World Chambers Congress, held in Dubai last week, was a huge success for the Monaco Economic Board, which took the opportunity to strengthen contacts and prepare for future missions.
Top photo: Guillaume Rose with Hamad Buamim, Président of the Chambre of Commerce and Industry of Dubaï, credit DR
Former Formula 1 driver Thierry Boutsen was awarded a special 10-Year Prize at the annual Eco Club Trophies ceremony on Tuesday.
Photo by Manuel Vitali, Government Communication Department
Feel the spirit of Christmas at the Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo this festive season, where giant firs, Santa’s sleigh and sweet treats await the young, old and everyone in between.
To see more Christmas at the Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo, visit Monaco Life Instagram: click here.
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Photo by Monaco Life
In Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, AS Monaco head coach Nico Kovac said the match against Angers will be difficult. His misfiring side will be looking to get their Ligue 1 season back on track.
Currently presiding over sixth place in the Ligue 1 table, Angers, managed by Gerard Baticle, are currently exceeding all expectations. Last season the side finished in a respectable, but unspectacular, 13th place. But the side are rejuvenated this season thanks partially to their new manager and also some key performers on the field.
It will therefore be a difficult game for Kovac’s men, especially given their recent poor form in the domestic division. “We know the statistics. The last four games in Ligue 1 we didn’t win (one defeat, three draws),” said Kovac during Tuesday’s press conference. “Now we are facing Angers, a team which is performing really well. Their new coach has implemented a new system. They have some very good individual players, and we are expecting a tough opponent.”
Sofiane Boufal in particular, a former Southampton player and Moroccan international, will likely cause Monaco’s back four a lot of difficulty, especially as the Principality side transition tactically from a back three. AS Monaco are also hampered by the loss of centre-back Benoit Badiashile who, along with Cesc Fabregas and long-term absentee Krepin Diatta, will be unavailable for the trip.
Angers’ forwards certainly have the capacity to cause problems further up the field which, coupled with ASM’s difficulties in the attacking third, could make for a tough game for Kovac’s side. The Monaco manager addressed the side’s attacking issues, when questioned by Monaco Life about the low confidence of strikers Kevin Volland and Myron Boadu in particular.
“Kevin (Volland) is maybe not scoring too many goals compared to last season, but he is assisting. What is important for me though is that Kevin is a very intelligent player. A player who is giving 100% over the course of the 90 minutes… Myron it is the same. He is a young player, and he needs a little bit of time… It is the small click that we need for him. We are waiting for this, but there is no problem waiting… when it starts, there could be a flow of goals.”
Kovac will be hoping that the goals start flowing soon, as Monaco look to quickly catch-up with their rivals in the battle for the European qualification places. A win against Angers on Wednesday evening will certainly help in their fight to climb back up the table.
Top photo by Luke Entwistle for Monaco Life
Monaco has marked the entry of Josephine Baker into the Pantheon in Paris with a moving ceremony at the Monaco cemetery where her remains will stay, at the request of her family.
Josephine Baker, who died in 1975, was the world’s first black superstar and one of Europe’s most sought after entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. She was renowned for her beauty as well as her talents, but she was also an ardent civil rights activist, and put her life on the line as an intelligence gatherer during World War II.
She spent her twilight years near Monaco, where she befriended fellow American expat Grace Kelly, who was by then Princess Grace. Upon her death, she was interred at the Monaco Cemetery where her remains will stay despite having a space in the Parisian monument.
To mark Josephine Baker’s entry into the Pantheon on Tuesday, a ceremony was held at the Monaco cemetery on Monday in the presence of Prince Albert II, Minister of State Pierre Dartout, Ambassador of France Laurent Stefanini, US Consul General Kristen Grauer, Baker’s family and other personalities.
The Prince first delivered a speech in front of the Monument aux Morts, recalling the strong ties that united Josephine Baker to the Principality of Monaco as well as the friendly relationship that existed between the artist and Princess Grace. This was followed by a minute of silence, before the American, French and Monegasque hymns were played by the Orchestre des Carabiniers du Prince.
The Prince and guests then went to Josephine Baker’s grave where a blessing was given by Father Cézar Penzo, who himself had carried out the burial of Josephine Baker on 2nd October 1975.
Prince Albert was invited to symbolically remove some earth which he placed in a wooden chest and handed over to Laurent Stefanini.
According to the wishes of the Baker family, the singer’s remains will remain in the Principality of Monaco. The Monegasque earth has been mixed with that of the city of Saint-Louis – where Joséphine Baker is from, as well as that of Paris – where she made her career, and the Château des Milandes in France where she lived and raised her “Rainbow Tribe”.
The ceremony at the Monaco cemetery ended with a moment of meditation.
Monaco has named a new square on the promenade overlooking Larvotto Beach ‘Place Josephine Baker’, set to be completed by Christmas, in yet another tribute to this remarkable woman.
Top photo by Manuel Vitali, Government Communication Department
It was the highest concentration of starred chefs in one of the most beautiful settings in the world: the grand finale of SBM’s Festival des Etoilés at the Casino de Monte-Carlo, a spectacular display of everything that makes Monaco extraordinary.
One of the many things that the Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) does undeniably well is offer unique experiences, and this year it was all about fine dining.
The company behind Monaco’s most famed establishments, including the Hôtel de Paris, the Casino, and the Hôtel Hermitage, launched the first ever Monte-Carlo Festival of Stars (Festival des Etoilés) in May, bringing together Michelin starred chefs from its own resorts with renowned starred guest chefs for exceptional gastronomic experiences.
Saturday 27th November marked the unique festival’s grand finale as SBM opened the doors of its most prestigious gaming room in the Casino de Monte-Carlo, the Salle Médecin.
Yannick Alléno, Franck Cerutti, Alain Ducasse, Manon Fleury, Dominique Lory, Marcel Ravin… all of SBM’s starred chefs joined forces for one evening of pure enjoyment. It was a landmark event featuring the highest concentration of stars in the most beautiful setting in the world; a new symbol of the ‘Great Art of Living’ (Grand Art de Vivre) by the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer.
HSH Prince Albert of Monaco, accompanied by his nephew Louis Ducruet and wife Marie, joined fortunate guests for a five-course, 750€ dinner featuring each chef’s signature dish, accompanied by a wine pairing selected by the sommeliers of the Cellars of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, the largest of its kind in the world.
Opening the menu was gastronomic legend Alain Ducasse and his right-hand man, Head Chef of Le Louis XV (***) Dominique Lory, with San Remo gamberoni, rock fish gelée and caviar, served with a 2020 Chablis from Domain Jena-Paul & Benoît Droin.
In celebration of truffle season, Chef Marcel Ravin (Blue Bay*) put forth the Monte-Carlo egg with alba truffle, cassava and maracudja. It was complimented by a fruity white wine from Villa Minna Vineyard in the Bouches-du-Rhône.
Chef Manon Fleury (Elsa*) was on full display with her classic vegetable dish of squash and citrus fruits with orange blossom water cream, a refreshing plate ahead of Chef Franck Cerutti’s (Le Grill*) rich farmed veal with black truffles and wild mushrooms, served with a luxurious 2009 Pomerol from La Petite Eglise.
The meal ended on a splendid note with the ‘Leader of Modern Cuisine’, Chef Yannick Alleno (Hermitage Hotel), and his surprising fir tree extract in coffee frozen jelly, spicy crystalline shards and hot chocolate cream.
The grand finale was an incredible climax to what was a very successful fine dining festival for SBM. The first edition was marked by the unveiling of a souvenir plaque by CEO Jean-Luc Biamonti, engraved with the names of the six chefs. The walk of fame of the Festival of Stars Monte-Carlo was thus launched and the 2nd edition announced for the autumn of 2022.
See the Monaco Life Instagram post by clicking here.
SEE ALSO:
New pairings announced for Monaco’s ‘Festival of Stars’
Yannick Alleno: What to expect from Monaco’s most anticipated new restaurant
Manon Fleury: “This is the future of gastronomy”
Top photo source: SBM Monte-Carlo
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