The fifth edition of the Festival des Etoilés Monte-Carlo concluded in spectacular fashion on November 29 with its annual gala dinner, an immersive celebration of cuisine, music, and dance. Held under the iconic dome of the Salle des Etoiles at Sporting Monte-Carlo, the event brought together over 250 distinguished guests, including H.S.H. Prince Albert II, Louis and Pauline Ducruet, and Camille Gottlieb.
The evening showcased the talents of all Michelin-starred chefs from the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer group, with legendary names such as Alain Ducasse, Emmanuel Pilon, Yannick Alléno, Marcel Ravin, Domenico d’Antonio, Dominique Lory, and newcomer Cédric Grolet, creating an extraordinary gastronomic journey.
A Year of Culinary Collaborations
This edition featured a series of “four-hand” dinners across the resort, highlighting collaborations between the world’s finest chefs:
- April 10: Dominique Lory hosted Pierre Gagnaire at Le Grill.
- June 20: Alain Ducasse and Emmanuel Pilon welcomed Albert Adrià at Louis XV-Alain Ducasse***.
- July 13: Yannick Alléno and Davide Oldani at Pavyllon Monte-Carlo*.
- July 18: Marcel Ravin and Anne-Sophie Pic at Blue Bay Marcel Ravin**.
Additional highlights included dinners at L’Abysse Monte-Carlo with Hirotaka Wada and Elsa with Florent Pietravalle.
A Gala of Culinary Brilliance and Performance
The gala opened with a welcome speech by Stéphane Valeri, CEO of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, and was hosted by Sophie Menut-Yovanovitch and Jennifer Galap. Guests were greeted by traditional costumes from Vittorio Piccininni and a performance by Balleto Dance, setting the stage for a seven-course, ten-star dinner.
Chefs prepared and finalized dishes live on stage, assisted by their brigades in a flawless culinary ballet. The menu featured highlights such as:
- Coconut blanc-manger with tapioca and sweet potato by Blue Bay Marcel Ravin
- White truffle scallops royale by L’Abysse Monte-Carlo
- Mediterranean big-eye fish with cime di rapa and spelt by Elsa
- XXL Saint-Honoré by Cédric Grolet
- Collaborative chocolates by Marcel Ravin, Yannick Alléno, and Alain Ducasse
The evening was enhanced by performances from the International School of Monaco children’s choir, dancer Desislava Kancheva, and the dance duo Marc Emmanuel Zanoli & Claire Teyssière, before transitioning into lively dancing with Divas on the Floor.
Stéphane Valeri reflected on the milestone: “This fifth anniversary marks a celebration of our culinary excellence, conviviality, and creativity. From seven stars in 2021, we now shine with ten, making Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer the most Michelin-starred resort in the world.”
