India Mahdavi for Michelin * L'Elsa Monaco
A surprise date earlier this year that that was thoughtful of my date who noticed my love of fine foods, and in particular organic, fresh produce.
As it turns out, L'Elsa is a Relais & Chateau restaurant and is the only 100% organic restaurant in the world (including its wine list) that. The tasting menu was spectacular and fine, each item including the wide assortments of bread were freshly made. An array of olive oils were offered to taste, each olive oil from a different region - Spain, Italy and Nice. Each a distinct flavour. I loved the spicy robustness of the southern Italian olive oil, and the almond flavours of the Spanish olive oil. The lamb was finally placed in a little cube - my favourite dish of the 5 course meal. We had sat in the romantic corner of the restaurant overlooking the view of Monaco, having the entire restaurant to ourselves during on April the 11th, a Saturday evening. A treat to be just him and I. Dressed in an elegant bordeaux off the shoulder figure hugging dress and black heels, that went click click click on the clean slated shining floors.
And here I was introduced to the designer India Mahdavi. Her light, airy lines bought a freshness and spatial awareness to the restaurant. Different to the usual cozyness most indoor restaurants tend to use down here in Monaco. The feminine colours and flowing lines unapologetically announces itself as a modern woman, as you sit enveloped by the geometric lines. The confidentally textured chairs and royal blue and white lamps caught my attention. Something cavelike in this modern crispness cocoons you as you walk into its arches. Flipping through her work on our mobiles, Mahdavi has clearly created a signature style for herself: Organic lines, attention to space, but still with the accents of high-impact, gutsy colorful flair.
A magical night to remember.
