Food

So our hotel is pretty crazy, and so is Monaco.

We had breakfast in the hotel which was pretty fancy and went for a walk for several hours. There was a horse jumping event in Monte Carlo, so we got to see lots of horses and lots of people wearing skin-tight white jodphurs (it’s all the rage). There were a lot of very expensive cars and people taking their photos with very expensive cars. This is the only photo I have of an expensive car, and it is not in Monaco.

After a while we headed back to the hotel, as I had a spa appointment.

I was booked in for 1.30pm but informed that it would be best to arrive 45 before to more fully appreciate the facilities. So arrive I did.

I seemed to be the only one there, and got ushered into the waiting room for some snacks (crystallised ginger anyone?) and then informed that I had the hammam and steam rooms at my disposal. It was a big circular room, with a sauna, steam room, calderium, tropical shower, mist shower - and lets not forget the ice fountain.

I tried out the steam room for a bit, got confused with what to do with the ice fountain, the calderium wasn’t really cold, and tried out the showers. I have to say the rainforest shower was pretty cool. I went into the sauna to help dry myself off.

Then back to the waiting room, with some water and candied coconut to sip/eat while I waited.

My friendly lady came and picked me up and took me to my treatment room. I think they co-ordinate it all so you don’t see anyone else, as I went down this long candle lit corridor with stars in the roof, and didn’t pass anyone.

In my treatment room I got to selet my scent and music, then an hour of swedish massage bliss.

After it was finished I was asked to recover in the recovery room, on an automatic lounger with a blanket and some more nibbles. While she was getting me a hot water I nibbled on 4 slices of mandarin and more strange coconut. After recovering I headed up to the pool to meet Ben.

We hung out at the pool for the afternoon, before getting changed for dinner at the hotel, Joel Robuchon. This place has two Michelin stars and is kinda crazy.

We were inundated with “bonsoirs” and bread. And I had a purse worthy of a purse-stool.

First up, the bread and the amuse bouche of coriander - a cute little shot glass with a straw.

And up next, a bread cart.

Then we had our starters, starting with Caviar with an asparagus blancmange. This was kind of like a cold soup around the edges, with a slightly more solid base under the caviar (little balls of salty goodness). You could taste the asparagus faintly, and the whole dish was quite good, but the coloured drops in the soup-liquid were a bit full on.

We then had lobster with purslane leaves (don’t ask me what they are) and it was nice, but I have had better lobster. Perhaps the availability and quality of the lobster back home means I have higher expectations of what it should taste like?

How I love my foie. I try not to think about how it is made, but this was the best foie I have had. It was warm, tender and delicious.

The prawn up next was rather large, and covered in fried noodles, to be dipped in a sauce. Once again, it was nice, but I have had better quality prawns.

There were more courses but unfortunately the light disappeared.

We had next the Arroz Bomba - a rissoto-type dish with mussels, prawns and a few other pieces of seafood, but not overly fishy. This was good.

I had the lamb for my main and Ben had quail - both were very good.

For desserts we had a carmelised peach with champagne granita hidden under a dome of merangue, and a chocolate dessert which seemed to have crispy milo on top. Mmm Milo.

Dinner overall was pretty fantastic, as was the service - we had a nice wine dude who was cool. Also, the wine glasses were from Riedel, where we saw glasses getting blown, so that was a nice tie in.

After dinner we had a quick stroll over to the Casino, which was definitely not jumping. It was quiet inside, but the decorations and architecture are worth a look. After this, we head back to the hotel for our last night in Monaco.