All of us rat-race-worker-bees have only a few weeks out of the year (plus sick days, personal days, and the ubiquitous “roll over” days) to completely detach from reality and responsibility. On those precious days off, we recommend going completely extreme. We’re not talking off-the-rails-and-end-up-in-rehab extreme, but rather, up into the skies and over the rainbow.
Or better yet, out to sea…
Despite the slight chill in the air, Monaco in May is a magical time of year. If you can get past the mobs of ‘City Boy’ posers and tourists pretending to care about Formula One racing, there’s actually a lot of class and beauty hidden away to enjoy during the festivities.
The best way to do Monaco Grand Prix is to pirate yourself aboard a sailing yacht, and let the impeccable crew wave their magic wands and treat you to one of the best experiences of your life. For 2015 Monaco Grand Prix, Dine Girl managed a ‘part deux’ invite aboard a 180+ foot classic schooner. Not only a step back into time, she’s a step into an alternate universe. She floats along ever so elegantly, sailing past the gaudy motor yachts blasting out bad techno. Heads turn as she stops traffic, commanding that regal nod of respect. And, like flies hitching a ride on top of a water buffalo, we soaked it all in as she cruised along the sparkly riviera.
Our dreamy weekend kicked off with a black-tie dinner on deck. We started the evening around sunset, sipping DQ rosé, Krug champagne, and noshed on Pointy Snout caviar canapés. We couldn’t help but notice the Christofle cutlery, fine crystal and elegant flower arrangements. Immediately we knew we were in for a treat.
Classically trained at Joël Robuchon, Chef Benedicte Cochard’s five-course Mediterranean dinner highlighted local specialties such as petit farci, and the unique ‘patoto’. Not a potato or a typo, the ‘patoto’ is a cross between gnocchi and a grain. Sublime… To round out the everything-local theme, the wines for the evening were selections from Château de Bellet, a small winery located in the hills of Nice. Dining alfresco amongst our own group of ‘princes’ and ‘pirates’, with the Monaco coastline sparkling behind us made for a magical and glorious night.
The dinner descended into puffs of Macanudo vintage cigars, vintage armagnac and a hazy hangover the next morning.
Miraculously we all managed to resurface for the main attraction: the Monaco Grand Prix. Race day antics to be continued…