Monte Carlo (Monaco) - Luxury At Every Breathe & Dining At The World’s #1 Restaurant
Monaco, the world’s second-smallest independent country, is a tourist haven for those who want to spend their days surrounded by perfect weather and enchanting beauty. Spread over barely two square km of land, placed between France and Italy, this country offers stunning Mediterranean views that can make one forget all the worries and immerse into a leisurely stroll.
From a startling number of ultra-luxurious hotels and resorts, to the world’s most prestigious brands, topped with the world’s number 1 restaurant, to the most elegant and well-equipped luxury yachts, as well as its own Formula One racetrack, Monaco seems to have it all.
The city’s calendar is always booked with a wide range of events – all aimed at specific segments of the fancies and desires of the world’s wealthiest people. Monaco is the jewel of the French Riviera, it is said to have the highest concentration of multi-millionaires and per capita income in the European Union. The coastline is dotted with dozens of beachside restaurants and nightclubs that redefine fine dining, while those with a shopping bug will not be disappointed by the collection of the world’s most expensive and prestigious labels.
Exploring the city and connecting with the locals :
As soon as we reached the city, we started to explore the top places as we had planned to leave for San Sebastián the next day.
Ensuring that my kids don’t feel left out in a city famous for its casino and glamor, I did some groundwork of the best places to visit before reaching Monaco. There was no shortage of inspiration when it came to finding things to do in Monaco with kids, including local attractions and entertainment, playgrounds, parks and museums.
Dining At The World’s #1 Restaurant (Restaurant Mirazur) :
In the afternoon, we set out to a place which was just 30 mins away from Monaco for dinner. Within 10 mins of drive, we had entered the beautiful territory of France.
France may be filled with many Michelin star restaurants, but it was Mirazur which clinched the title of the “World’s Best Restaurant” in the year 2019. It is located in Menton, southeast of France and has received multiple awards in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants category and achieved the ultimate No.1 spot in 2019.
Ever since its opening by Chef Mauro Colagreco in 2006, it has instantly become a favorite among the local French residents. The setting of the restaurant is stunning, overlooking the sea at the end of a winding coastal road along the Côte d’Azur (coast of azure) on the border of France and Italy. Once you enter the restaurant, a smiling member of the staff greets and guides you to your table. The dining area is well-lit, and there is plenty of space between the tables. It was said that the vegetables in the restaurant were grown at the chef’s home which is located right across the street.
The sun shines beautifully through every window of the restaurant, which provides panoramic views of the ocean from practically every table. When you sit down and look forward, it appears as if you are cruising in the blue ocean.
In fact, this unique view is the origin of the name of the restaurant, Mirazur, which means” look at the azure” in Spanish. That being said, if you plan to visit the restaurant, it is important that the reservations are made well in advance, as they quickly get pre-booked for an entire year.
I have been to several restaurants that emphasize on using local ingredients for their food, and I’ve always felt that the most remote eateries, outside of a city, execute this type of cuisine in a splendid manner.
Mirazur is one such restaurant, it’s where tradition meets modern taste buds.
Over the three months of closure in 2020 due to the pandemic, Colagreco took the opportunity to overhaul Mirazur’s culinary offer. The new ‘Lunar Menu’, inspired by the cycle of nature, is divided into four offerings (root, leaf, flower and fruit) based on seasonal adjustments.
They include creations such as a delicate rose built with San Remo prawns, or a striking combination of cucumber and nasturtium.
Review of what we ate at Mirazur :
The welcome appetizers were delicious and greatly exceeded the standard amuse bouche, it included black truffle and comte grilled cheese, cauliflower tart with roe, pumpkin seed tarts, root vegetable “grissini” with ham, as well as several others I missed to note, as I was busy enjoying each bite from every dish. I often find welcome appetizers boring from most of the three-star restaurants that I try from, but the case with Mirazur was different.
As they were original, beautifully presented, and thought-provoking on each bite. My kids loved the black truffle grilled cheese, well who doesn’t like black truffle grilled cheese? It also included cheese comte which made the dish melt when it entered the mouth.
I’m not a big fan of bread, but the presentation caught my attention, as it was placed with a perfect loaf of pain du partage. Which was petal-shaped bread “meant to share” as its various petals pull apart into roll-shaped bites. Hmmm, Yummy.
This was a fantastic bread that was served warm, with an outstanding crust and soft pillowy insides.
The salt crusted beetroot with oscietra caviar cream is Mirazur’s signature dish. Combining one of the most ordinary agricultural components with one of the most exquisite caviars is what Chef Mauro refers to as “redefining luxury.”
Then there’s chanterelle stew with Christophine and Mediterranean baby squid. The squid had a powerful sea flavor that was wonderfully tempered by the mild tasting chanterelle.
The first legitimate meal was a dish that had been on and off the Mirazur menu for quite some time: Gillardeau oyster with shallot cream and declination of William’s pear. This was an excellent pairing, with the meaty and salty Gillardeau complementing the sweet pear and the creamy sharpness of the shallot cream.
Following that was a wonderful piece of Grouper served with black garlic, roasted leek, and licorice hollandaise. This was a simpler dish than the previous ones, consisting primarily of fish and a rich sauce.
The main meat course was duck from challans with carrot and hibiscus sauce spreaded on all sides. The breast was on the plate, and the leg was presented on the side in the style of a duck confit sandwich.
Typically for French cuisine, we were served cheese before starting on desserts. The cheese truck was an adventure in itself. The waiter brought the entire cart up to our table and opened the sides to expose the most incredible cheese variety I’d ever seen in a restaurant.
The main dessert was another Mirazur signature dish which consisted of Grand cru of Peru Chuncho “Maison Duplanteur” with burnt rosemary ice cream and sospel olive oil. The combination was just terrific and the bitter chocolate was the perfect pair for the creamy ice cream.
In conclusion, Mirazur is definitely one of the best restaurants I have ever been to.
Here are some fun moments from our travel to Monaco.
