Monaco Yacht Show 2016

I went to Monaco once with my family when I was about 17. I remember the winding road down the harbour, the same road where the beautiful Princess Grace met a fatal accident. It was sunny, quiet and clean, a sleepy sea side village. We went into the Monte Carlo Casino for a tour and strolled along the Marina admiring the yachts and taking photos next to the super cars like ultimate tourists.   

Fast forward only a few years (because I wasn’t 17 almost 10 years ago…. I swear) you can imagine how thrilled I was when my new job said we would all be going to the Monaco Yacht Show 2016.

Free trip to Monaco to be wined and dined on big ass boats - ummm...  YASSSSS!

Main Event

The Monaco Yacht Show is the biggest event for the world’s yachting industry leaders, crew and clientele. The exhibition displays things you and I wouldn’t even believe need to exist. This is where it all comes together, and where the people who seem to have it all come to find the things they don’t.

And who popped up again?! The yacht from my previous posts *it’s a small world after all* I swear the Chief Stewardess said to me “You’re wearing a lot more clothes than the first time we met!” I nearly died.

The most exquisite yacht we visited was M.Y. 11 11. This yacht belongs to Nick Candy and his wife. Nick Candy is the property designer and architect behind One Hyde Park. A penthouse in this particular building is rumoured to be the most expensive real estate in the world... So you can imagine what this guy's personal yacht is like. The place was UP UP UP - like I nearly cried from how amazing it was and how mind-blowing it is that people can actually live like this. 

Of course, no photos allowed. So photos courtesy of Benetti Yachts

Food Food Food

The best meal I had on the trip was at Beef Bar. It’s apparently one of the best places in Monaco to dine, especially if you’re a meat lover who likes to see and be seen. 

I'm not a huge meat eater so I stuck with sea food. Perfect as we were sat right next to the ocean. It was a superb dinner, good wine and the food was fresh and delicious. I even had truffle and Parmesan cheese mashed potatoes (gasp, indulgent much). I didn’t get any good photos of the food because it just felt SO weird photographing food with my work colleagues around!

Must tries

Lobster & caviar tacos

Classic French fries with truffle, Parmesan cheese & rosemary

Sea bass ceviche, tamarind & passion fruit

Wine - Tenute Silvio Nardi Brunello Di Montalcino 2010 

The photos above are from http://monaco.beefbar.com/

Werk Tingz

The company I work for put on a presentation for about 40 yacht crew and captains that were attending the Yacht Show. 

We did a 4 course dining experience, each course the attendees swapped so everyone got some food. I won't go too much into it, but it involved a big production with a van with thousands of £ worth of product being driven from London to Monaco by two Jamaicans... blind folds...Phantom of the Opera masks... fake cocaine with sterling silver straws.. long list. 

photos from @Harlequinldn Instagram

I can't wait to go back, next time with more beach days and friends.

Maybe I'll see you next summer Monaco.

x o x o