AS Monaco Basketball dazzled fans with an offensive festival over the weekend, emphatically dispatching Nanterre (108-87) in the Betclic Elite to further solidify their position at the top of the table.
Between the visits of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Panathinaikos to the Salle Gaston Médecin, Monaco had to attend to domestic matters. The Roca Team are top of the Betclic Elite and qualification to the end-of-season playoffs already seems a foregone conclusion, but maintaining positive momentum is key for Sasa Obradovic’s side, who have many hurdles yet to overcome this season if they are to obtain silverware.
Yoan Makoundou steps up
Monaco are experiencing a revival of sorts, and Sunday’s victory against Nanterre further evidenced that. It was another emphatic attacking display from the Principality side, who once again broke the 100-point mark on their way to a serene victory.
As is often the case, the Roca Team heavily rotated for the domestic division. Yoan Makoundou (24 points, nine rebounds) has always heeded the call when needed this season, and this was no different on Sunday. The Frenchman was pivotal on both sides of the court, as was Alpha Diallo (22 points), who has become a very essential cog in the Monégasque machine.
A “serious” victory
The same is true of Mike James (13 points, 13 assists), who sometimes takes a more back-seat role in these Betclic Elite ties, but who was crucial in allowing Monaco to flow in attack. Bar the first quarter (25-25), the Roca Team won every other, registering 30 or more points twice.
“It was a very serious match on our part. I am happy with the victory and the performance on the court. With the Euroleague coming up, it’s a good thing,” said Obradovic post-match.
Monaco now prepare for the returns of former Roca players Paris Lee and Dwayne Bacon, who both ply their trade for Panathinaikos. Currently fifth in the Euroleague, a victory is vital for Obradovic’s side, who are looking to secure home-court advantage for the end-of-season play-offs.
Monaco Life journalist Stephanie Horsman is on a quest to find the finest brunch spots in the Principality.
Growing up in Southern California, Sunday brunch was almost a religion. The whole family piled into the car and headed out to face what usually turned out to be a massive buffet that couldn’t quite decide whether it was breakfast or lunch, but was always a popular event where everyone got to eat exactly what they wanted.
It was in this vein that the idea came about that “brunching” is a serious gourmet art, always different and ultimately satisfying. In Monaco, as we all know, art is taken very seriously so the next time a free block of time crops up on a Sunday morning, head to one of these hot spots for a masterpiece of a meal…
Italian Pasticceria Cova
Cova on Boulevard des Moulins is known for its mouth-watering pastries and intimate Italian café vibe, so it’s exciting to see the Flavio Briatore-led team branch out into the brunch scene. That classic Italian hospitality and Piedmont-sourced produce comes together on a Sunday to create a cosy, delicious experience that will easily banish the winter blues.
Big appetites are well catered for thanks to a three-course table service menu that starts with coffee, freshly pressed juice and pastries, followed by a selection of classic breakfast dishes such as pancakes with maple syrup and fresh strawberries, or eggs with bacon. Then the lunch part of brunch kicks in, and a choice of the Chef’s Sunday pasta, beef tenderloin carpaccio, oozy burrata with tomatoes or Cova’s bacon cheeseburger are all on offer.
But what brunch wouldn’t be complete without sparkling? Cova do it Italian-style, so the whole brunch comes with endless bubbles of the finest prosecco. We recommend the Franciacorta Ca’ del Bosco. Prices are very reasonable, ranging from 75€ to 95€ per person, depending on the choice of prosecco. Oh, and kids are more than welcome, so why not make it a family affair?
Endless Prosecco bubbles are a highlight of brunch at Cova, photo provided
Mozza, a Riccardo Giraudi restaurant
A perennial favourite with the added bonus of live performances, Mozza’s Sunday Jazz Brunch is hard to beat. For €59, patrons can choose from a vast selection of temptations with an Italian twist served with that classic aperitif, the Aperol Spritz. Pizza, focaccia and pasta sit alongside cheeses and charcuterie, while fish and roasted meat dishes bring a more substantial lunchtime offering to the plate. A dedicated egg station serves up uovain a variety of made-to-order ways: omelette, scrambled, hard boiled or even fried with mouth-watering additions like bacon, cheese, onions, mushrooms and even chilli.
Dessert doesn’t disappoint either, with an outlay featuring freshly prepared pancakes and waffles, cakes, brioches, tarts and – of course – tiramisu. For healthy eaters, there is also a seasonal fruit salad. Children, meanwhile, will want to come back every week for the beautifully fluffy candyfloss.
Brunch at Mozza in Monaco, photo courtesy Mozza
Jazz Brunch at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo
Over at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo, brunch is kicked up a notch with a Sunday Jazz Brunch menu at the Lobby Lounge for €115, complete with wine and champagne. For those preferring to abstain, the cost is €85. Held every Sunday from 12.30pm to 4.30pm, the carte is indulgent. Seconds are sure to be in order. The pastries and sweets tray are very good too; a treat for the eyes and the belly.
A major plus here is that children are well served. Those six to 12 years of age can eat to their heart’s content for €42 and under-fives are free. There is even a Kids Club with babysitter so tinier tots can be entertained while mum and dad feast away. Reservations are recommended as this is a popular weekend destination.
Multi Michelin starred chef Yannick Alléno at his Pavyllon restaurant at the Hôtel Hermitage. Photo by Monaco Life
Pavyllon by Yannick Alléno
The jewel in the crown of Monaco brunching is to be found at the Hôtel Hermitage’s Pavyllon restaurant. It is called the “Parisian Brunch par excellence”, which is almost an understatement for this uber-elegant offering by multi Michelin-starred Chef Yannick Alléno.
Between 11am and 3.30pm, and for €135, a selection of fresh pastries await as guests sit down, followed by a creative menu offering eggs made to order and Côte d’Azur-inspired dishes like the “Goodwich”, a warm gougère chouxpastry filled with cheese and accompanied by jambon de Paris. Desserts are equally appetising, with the soufflé pancake laced with Grand Marnier being the top choice for those in the know.
What do you think of our brunch choices in Monaco? Comment on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. For suggestions on what you would like us to cover in our new Best Of series, email us at info@monacolife.net!
Tensions and pressure dissipated on Thursday as AS Monaco Basketball ended a poor run of form with a deserved victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv (86-67).
The Roca Team headed into the game off the back of consecutive defeats. Not only that, their most recent defeat, at the hands of Barcelona in the Euroleague, brought tensions to the surface, with Mike James and Sasa Obradovic coming to blows.
A win against their Israeli opponents at the Salle Gaston Médecin was a must, not just for morale, but also to reassert their playoff credentials. Monaco started the game well enough, registering 30 points in the opening quarter to create a healthy 13-point buffer.
Chima Moneke becoming a fan favourite
However, that lead was wiped out with the Roca Team failing to score in the opening five minutes of the second quarter. Nerves began to jangle, and that early-game optimism had dissipated, giving way to stunned silence amongst the Roca Team fans.
Monaco and Maccabi began matching each other blow-for-blow, and it required a late show of force to get the job done in front of the home support. Chima Moneke (nine points), who was signed to replace the outgoing Adrien Moerman in January, has quickly established himself as a fan favourite and injected some much-needed energy in the dying stages, which was ultimately decisive.
Jordan Loyd (18 points) continued his good form, whilst Elie Okobo (11 points) helped to ease pressure in key moments. James (12 points, six assists) is slowly re-discovering his best form, but is doing so without the burden of having to carry the team on his shoulders.
Monaco ruthlessly dispatched Maccabi in the final quarter (28-8) to bounce back (86-67) from a recent poor run of form, which had threatened to derail the team’s push for the playoffs.
“It was a great victory,” began Sasa Obradovic. “It is great to have this kind of success, in particular with the way that we played. It is a victory that gives us confidence going forward. Moneke’s contribution was crucial. From the moment he came on, everything went our way,” he continued.
Monaco next face Nanterre in the Betclic Elite on Sunday before returning to Euroleague action against Panathinaikos on Wednesday.
The Monaco Life journalists behind the headlines this week talk Monaco real estate, whisky investment and passion spending habits, binge watching Netflix’s new Drive to Survive series, Monaco football club management becoming a Russian family affair, and how we figured out which F1 drivers actually live in Monaco.
Featuring Editor in Chief: Cassandra Tanti, Editor and Journalist Elsa Carpenter, News and Lifestyle Journalist Stephanie Horsman, and Sports Journalist Luke Entwistle.
To listen to the podcast, simply click play in the box below…
Qantas has revealed what the future will look like for its first and business class flyers on Project Sunrise, a network of “ultra long-haul” flights between Australia, New York and London. Here’s a sneak peak of the luxury cabins.
From late 2025, the world’s safest airline and Australia’s flag carrier Qantas will be flying non-stop from Australia – Sydney and Melbourne – to New York and London. And if you thought avoiding lengthy lay-overs was a luxury, just take a look at what passengers in first and business class will be enjoying in-flight.
Up at the front, first class flyers will feel like they’re in a mini “boutique hotel” rather than an airplane, with an “extra-wide fixed bed, separate recliner chair, personal wardrobe, dining table for two and a 32-inch ultra-high definition TV”.
First class cabins: the future of luxury long-haul flights
Each business suite will have access to an aisle and sliding doors will be fitted for the times passengers want to switch off after stretching their legs. Other features include a generous two-metre bed and plentiful storage. Even a dining table has been integrated into the space, alongside a TV and wireless induction charging.
High-speed Wi-Fi will be available to both sections following completion of key satellite launches that will eventually cover the Qantas international network.
To give passengers more space on these flights, which will encompass two sunrises, Qantas’ 12 Airbus A350s have been reconfigured to seat 238 rather than 300 passengers, as used by most other carriers.
Business class comforts
The airline has also worked with numerous scientists and specialists, including sleep experts from the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, to ensure maximum comfort on the long journeys.
“We began designing this aircraft cabin five years ago, working with Airbus and Qantas to maximise space, as well as creating a tailored lighting program that will influence mood and sleep patterns,” says designer David Caon. “All the design and service elements will work together to significantly improve in-flight comfort, convenience and health and wellbeing, and help minimise the old nemesis of jetlag.”
A new law was passed in France this week, which will give victims of domestic violence access to an emergency fund to help them escape abusive situations quickly and establish a safer future.
The law states that those in need will be eligible for either free assistance or an interest-free loan in order to allow them to remove themselves safely and rapidly from a bad situation.
The national domestic violence statistics are alarming: 208,000 reports of abuse were filed in 2021 in France and 122 women were killed by their spouses. Most didn’t have the means to leave, making them literal prisoners to abusive partners and exposing themselves and their children to danger.
The new law will help change that by “guaranteeing them the financial conditions necessary to take shelter and make a new start”, says the government on its Public Service website.
The level of help will vary case to case, but the government is saying the first installment will be ready to use within three working days. Assistance will be available for up to six months and will also include complementary solidarity health care and social and professional support.
Furthermore, in the case of a loan, the repayment may be the responsibility of the abuser, with a €5,000 cap. If the victim is paying, they could benefit from reductions depending on their situation.
Universal emergency aid will be ready by the end of 2023.
