The world-renowned Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo arrives for its exclusive West Coast engagement at Segerstrom Center for the Arts (February 9-12) with a modern interpretation of the timeless romance, Cinderella. In order to celebrate the company’s arrival, South Coast Plaza is throwing a weeklong celebration called “Taste of Monaco” at various South Coast Plaza restaurants and cafés. With collaboration between the Consulate General of Monaco, the Monaco Government Tourist Office and the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, the celebration also showcases a special exhibit in South Coast Plaza’s Jewel Court recalling Monaco’s rich cultural heritage and Princess Grace’s contribution to the arts.
The celebration kicked off on February 6 (and will run through the 12), with seven of South Coast Plaza’s award-winning restaurants creating their own tribute to the famous cuisine of the Principality. Prix-fixe menus, created in honor of the Ballet, showcase Monaco’s regional dishes. Visitors can also enter a sweepstakes to win a grand prize trip to Monaco for two plus a $1000 gift certificate to South Coast Plaza!
ANTONELLO RISTORANTE
Sample appetizers of braised artichokes with roasted heirloom tomatoes; Swiss chard soufflé with cheese fondue and truffle, and sautéed stuffed zucchini blossoms created by Chefs Gino Buonanoce and Salvatore Ferrara. End on a sweet note with an almond-pear tarte.
$10-12
ANTONELLO ESPRESSO CAFÉ
Stop by for a toasty panini of Brie, Italian ham and tomato-basil spread pressed and toasted. Indulge in Pastry Chef Massimo Cosmano’s tartlet with almond paste, sliced pears and toasted pine nuts.
$3.50-5.95
LEATHERBY’S CAFE ROUGE
Perfect for pre-theater dining, Chef Ross Pangilinan’s three-course Ballets de Monte-Carlo menu features choices like the famous “Barbagiuans” crisped vegetable ravioli; “Poor Man’s Dish” of fresh cod, garden vegetables, fingerling potatoes, aioli, and crepes au chocolat with Nutella ice cream (February 9-12 only).
$41 per person; $56 with wine pairing
QUATTRO CAFFÉ
Chef Miriam Ramirez’s light touch marries with Monegasque specialties. Crisped zucchini blossoms stuffed with ricotta and Parmigiano-Reggiano; soufflé with asparagus and Gruyère de Comté fondue; white wine-braised artichoke hearts with roasted heirloom tomatoes on arugula, and panna cotta with candied nuts and fig sauce have been created for the week.
$10-15
MARCHÉ MODERNE
Chef-proprietor Florent Marneau salutes Monaco with an exquisite five-course tasting menu of langoustine served with artichoke violet en risotto; rouget from the Med with socca frites and grilled fennel; sepia cuttlefish jus de veau “olives-anchois;” lamb rack with squash blossom gratin and tarte tropézienne with lavender gelato.
$89 tasting menu, $13-25 a la carte
NELLO CUCINA
Partner Franco Vessia and Chef Tim Nolan offer a special menu of grilled mushroom-zucchini salad with lemon vinaigrette; crispy pork belly with creamy polenta and forest mushroom ragu; shrimp Provençale, and Monte Carlo biscuits filled with raspberry jam glaze and vanilla gelato.
$8-16
PINOT PROVENCE
Executive Chef Jason Petrie creates a three-course, prix-fixe menu starting with brandade croquette; fruit de mer bouillabaisse with rustic ratatouille entrée; and a compressed melon, tangerine pâté, basil sorbet dessert.
$50 per person
Interested in purchasing tickets to the Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo? Click here for show times and tickets.
