The fifth edition of the Étoilés Monte-Carlo Festival concluded on November 29 with its traditional gala dinner, a dazzling anniversary celebration under the celestial dome of the Salle des Étoiles at the Sporting Monte-Carlo. The evening unfolded in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Ducruet, Ms. Pauline Ducruet and Ms. Camille Gottlieb, as more than 250 privileged guests experienced a rare gathering of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer’s Michelin-starred chefs.
Alain Ducasse and Emmanuel Pilon, Yannick Alléno, Marcel Ravin and Domenico d’Antonio, Dominique Lory, and this year’s distinguished guest Cedric Grolet came together for a night that fused haute cuisine with the magic of live performance. With ten Michelin stars now shining across its restaurants, the Resort - the most star-awarded in the world - celebrated a festival that has become an essential moment in Monaco’s cultural and gastronomic calendar.
Throughout the year, four-hand dinners shaped the festival’s rhythm: Dominique Lory with Pierre Gagnaire at the Grill on April 10; Alain Ducasse and Emmanuel Pilon hosting Albert Adrià at Louis XV-Alain Ducasse*** on June 20; Yannick Alléno cooking alongside Davide Oldani at Pavyllon Monte-Carlo* on July 13; and Marcel Ravin with Anne-Sophie Pic at Blue Bay** on July 18. This anniversary edition, marked by the arrival of three new stars, also featured a dinner at L’Abysse Monte-Carlo** with chef Hirotaka Wada on April 27, followed by a dinner at Elsa* on September 23 with chef Florent Pietravalle.
The gala evening brought these talents together for a meticulously orchestrated seven-course dinner, from the Blue Bay’s tropical-inspired hors d’œuvre to Cedric Grolet’s monumental Saint-Honoré XXL. A giant Pass Live installation allowed guests to watch the chefs and their brigades finalize dishes on stage - a display of precision, focus, and camaraderie, echoed by the seamless service of the Sporting’s teams in a room transformed into an immersive culinary universe.
Artistic performances enriched the evening, including the children’s choir of the International School of Monaco, dancer Desislava Kancheva, and the duo Marc Emmanuel Zanoli and Claire Teyssière. The celebration culminated in lively dancing to the rhythms of Divas on the Floor.
“This evening is special, as it marks the fifth anniversary of this 100% SBM event celebrating one of our great know-hows - gastronomy,” said Stéphane Valeri, Président-Délégué of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, in his opening remarks. “Since its creation in 2021, our Festival des Étoilés has accompanied our rise into an even more star-studded sky. From seven, we have grown this year to ten stars, with new chefs joining us and new tables opening, making Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer the most star-awarded Resort in the world.”
Photo credits: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer