
Article first published in Forbes Monaco March/April 2021 issue.
The two phases of Michelin chef Yannick Alléno at the Hôtel Hermitage.
The past year has been a tough one for refi ned foodies with restaurants closed completely or partially due to Covid restrictions, which is why the announcement of Yannick Alléno taking over the Michelin-starred Vistamar has whetted more than a few appetites.
In April, the multi-starred chef will transform Vistamar into Yannick Alléno at the Hôtel Hermitage. The port and palace views will remain but otherwise, the 52-year-old chef will be introducing an entirely revamped menu “off ering gastronomes in the region a chance to access this exceptional table.”
And in spring 2022, the second phase of this restaurant revolution will unveil a new signature interior, overseen by designer Chahan Minassian, the man behind Alléno’s emblematic Pavyllon brand.
“The Hermitage is everything I love, a charming historic hotel, I can't wait to cook here,” comments Yannick Alléno, who will take over from Philippe Borro. “For me, Monaco is a destination with a real culinary life and an extraordinarily pleasing spot where excellence is the order of the day.”
Alléno, who was born in Puteaux, outside Paris, became interested in cooking at age 15 and took his fi rst job at Le Royal Monceau under Gabriel Biscay. He received his fi rst Michelin star at age 31 and eight years later, in 2007, he was awarded three stars at the iconic Le Meurice on rue de Rivoli.
Today, he has two restaurants with three Michelin stars—Alléno Paris, ranked 25th in The Worlds’s 50 Best Restaurants, which he opened at the Pavillon Ledoyen on the ChampsElysées in 2014 (a meal will set you back between €230-€395 a person) and Le 1947 at Cheval Blanc in Courchevel. In 2019, he opened a third restaurant L'Abysse, a sushi counter located at the Pavillon Ledoyen, which boasts two étoiles.
For Louis Starck, general manager at the Hôtel Hermitage,.“The talent and visionary approach of this multistar chef, combined with our history and our know-how, promises great moments to our local and international clients.”