The Art of Living

Apr 1, 2014

THREE COOL PLACES TO EAT IN MONACO

You are going to Monaco for the day or for a trip and you don't know where to eat very cool dishes without getting fleeced ? You are in the right place! I give you in this article three of my favorite addresses in Monaco (others will come soon!). Prices are really reasonable and food is amazing. Eating in Monaco is a luxury everyone can fulfill! ;)

'OH MY FRENCH RIVIERA' - MARITIME LANDSCAPES

Cap d'Antibes

I'm thinking about doing a series 'OH MY FRENCH RIVIERA' of beautiful pictures of nature that will give an other aspect of the French Riviera (I hope!).
As you will notice, I really LOVE the place I'm living. And I want to promote that. French Riviera is a mix of amazing landscapes, luxury establishments, famous places for perfumery and intense activity clusters. OK, there are many old people that come here for their retirement! But now, many companies grow and extend their activities to internationalize themselves. So there are many young workers that come here to begin their career.
Therefore, many people criticize French Riviera because it can appear largely built up. But there are still wild and verdant spaces.

Today, I want to make an article on the beautiful maritime landscapes that my region offers us every day. I am always stunned by the diversity and the beauty of our natural landscapes.

MAYA BAY EXPERIENCE IN MONACO

Most people think that every thing is very expansive on the French Riviera, especially restaurants and bars. It can be the case if you don't go to the right places, if you go to the, what we call in French 'attrape-touristes' places, literally catch-tourists places (I don't know if there is a idiomatic expression for this idea in English, I hope you understood me).

I know a lot of very good high-standing places (restaurants and bars) that offer delicious food and perfect service for a very affordable price. For example, Monaco is chock-full of very good addresses for the lunch above all. From Monday to Friday (or Saturday according to the restaurants), we can afford yummy and complete menus at €18-€20 in luxury places. And cherry-on-the-cake, most of the parkings in Monaco are cheaper than those in Nice or Cannes.

All this to talk about my favorite address for the lunch during the week in Monaco: the Maya Bay.
Maya Bay is a Thaï and Japanese restaurant close to the Summer Sporting and the Jimmy'z, on Princess Grace Avenue.

Part of Thaï side

Today, like every day of the week (except monday, saturday and sunday), we had a 3-course menu for €18! Very good deal for very delicious food and gorgeous place.

Even people who used to dislike asian food really love Maya Bay's cooking. I promise! The best example is my boyfriend who really used to hate asian food and just love italian and french food. But at Maya Bay, he discovered how various and elaborated were Thaï and Japanese food. And now, it's my boyfriend that asks for going to the Maya Bay (or other asian restaurants like the Buddha Bar).

Screenshot of the menu of the day

Seeweed salad and Seafood salad

Marinated duck with soja and noddle with mushrooms

Gambas Tempura and Seafood salad

Chicken and Rice Noodle Salad and Miso Soup

STYLISH PLAYLIST 1: CLOSER TO THE SUN

If you are fed up with listening to the same musics on the radio and if you want to feel cozy and relax in your car or in your house, I think the best thing to do is creating a perfect playlist. But it takes time! And maybe you don't know where to search for very cool music.

I'm not saying I pretend the truth in terms of music tastes. And we all know that music tastes are very subjective!
I'm just suggesting you very good channels on YouTube and different playlists according to your mood. I will try give you various playlists with different types of music among my favorites (Jazz, Lounge, Deep House, Chillout).
Since my boyfriend and I have heard these types of music, we have collected a lot of treasures. We have found all these treasures thanks to some YouTube channels (Majestic Casual, Eton Messy), radio channels (MC 2, TSF JAZZ), very good friends that experience the same music or in lounge bars we visited like Buddha Bar.

We will find the playlist in my YouTube account. Just click the link below.

PLAYLIST 1: CLOSER TO THE SUN
The playlist on YouTube
Bass, Deep House, Lounge
Mood: On a road trip under the sun, On the beach

Oxford - You and Me
Felon - Isla
Just Kiddin - Feeling Better
Andy Caldwell ft Lisa Shaw - Warrior
Bodhi - Imperfection
Jeftuz - Girl
Chris Malinchak - So Into You
Cyril Hahn - Perfect Form ft Shy Girls
Banks - Warm Water (Snakehips Remix)
Jill Scott - Golden (Kaytranada's Life Extended Living Edition)
The Weeknd - Wanderlust (Snakehips Remix)
Bondax - Gold (Snakehips Bootleg)
Just Kiddin - Paloma (Bit Funk)
Darius - Hot Hands

Here some of our sources!

YouTube CHANNELS

RADIO CHANNELS

PLACES (AND FAMOUS FOR THEIR PLAYLISTS)

Hôtel Costes
Buddha Bar
Café del Mar

Mar 26, 2014

'WHAT'S COOKING?' INTERCONTINENTAL CARLTON CANNES

THE AFFORDABLE FOOD EXPERIENCE

It's been a long time since I noticed the big board in front of the Intercontinental Carlton Cannes presenting 7 different menus on each day of the week at affordable prices. When I say 'affordable', I mean 'less than one hundred euros per person'.
I was very intrigued and looking forward to trying it !

Last week, after a very good afterwork at the Carlton Bar - a new experience called KC Lounge (Keep Cannes & Drink Champagne) - my boyfriend decided to try the menu of the day: Lobster & Champagne.

A delicious menu with lobster makis, grilled lobster and a new 'Paris-Brest' served with two glasses of champagne. The service was perfect and the food succulent. Amazing time !

Keep Cannes & Drink Champagne Afterwork

MY OWN REVIEW

Just don't hesitate! OK, maybe the front door will intimidate you, because of the numerous luxurious cars parked outside or just because of the name 'Carlton'. But trust me, it's a total and affordable experience in a very luxurious palace. So if you have a special occasion to celebrate or if you want to impress you girlfriend (not just for the evening, believe me), push the revolving door and let yourself drift away...

'WHAT'S COOKING' WEEK

Every day, Laurent Bunel, the chef at the Carlton, prepares a gourmet menu on a different theme. For a very accessible price, you have starter, main dish, dessert and wine or champagne according the day.

Monday: a Sea of Tastes (Lunch & Dinner)

Seafood, bouillabaisse, mixed grills reinterpreted each week
€59 per person
Menu + 2 glasses of white wine

Tuesday: Menu from the Vegetable Garden (Lunch & Dinner)

€45 per person

Menu + glass of wine, water and coffee

Wednesday: Scallops & Chardonnay (Lunch & Dinner)

Lobster & Champagne

€54 per person

3-course meal with 2 glasses of Chardonnay

Thursday: Back from the farmer's market (Lunch & Dinner)

€45 per person

3-course meal with a glass of wine, water and coffee

Friday: Lobster & Champagne (Lunch & Dinner)
(See before the detail)
€70 per person.

Saturday: Beef & Wine (Dinner)
€65 per person
Starters, piece of meals, sauces and garnishes, dessert, 1/2 bottle of wine

Sunday: Carlton Brunch
€70 per person

Click here to see the detail of the offer : What's Cooking?

Mar 17, 2014

GOURMET HALT AT 'CHEZ BRUNO'

Lobster & Black Truffle

At just one hour from Cannes by motorway, you can experience a very gourmet moment at Chez Bruno in Lorgues (Var, France). The restaurant is owned by Clément Bruno, one star in Michelin Guide for this establishment.
Clément Bruno is very famous for his truffle-based menus. From the starter to the dessert, you will taste all kind of truffles (white, black) in delightful courses.
Of course, as you can imagine, it's a little bit expansive to eat there and you have to book long time in advance.
But just for your viewing pleasure, I post below the different dishes I could experience. So yummy !