Updated on June 19, 2023
Be it delight, surprise or seduction, the Casino de Monte-Carlo is always trying new things in a bid to awaken the most wonderful emotions. Guests were transported to a dream world during a private dinner in four acts… Behind the scenes, casino catering director Stéphane Daubon helped to make this one-of-a-kind evening a success. When the Casino de Monte-Carlo goes all out to put on a dinner like no other…
When the service is part of the show
The service had to be flawlessly creative: together with his close-knit team and the event organisers, Daubon had everything prepared and rehearsed - “as if it were an haute couture fashion show”, he says. There were two tables seating 60 guests, both laid immaculately: not a thing out of place. On the night, thirty servers entered the Salle Médecin carrying two plates each: they served all the guests on each table in perfect unison. Daubon adds: “We had scripted the service to make it an integral part of the show. A bell was rung discreetly so that my team could move as one.” There were around 50 colleagues behind the scenes, working in the kitchens and on the bars to ensure that service was perfect: it was a real challenge for the servers from the various Resort Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer establishments who had come to support the Casino team for the evening.
Exceptional dinner a highlight of the evening
Whilst the show’s four tableaux gradually illuminated the Salle Médecin, guests enjoyed a dinner specially created by chef Thierry Saez Manzanares and his team. The key moment of the evening for Daubon? “Serving the main course at the right temperature, and all at exactly the same time”. A roasted fillet of Angus beef, crispy white truffle risotto, a vegetable medley and a Bordelaise jus: exceptional.
Magic and emotions both in the dining room and behind the scenes
“Once service began, I was extremely focused: it was a rollercoaster of emotions!” reflects Daubon. That didn’t stop him, however, from watching the guests during dinner, and seeing the wonder and childlike looks on their faces. Providing experiences which incite astonishment and pleasure in patrons who are used to the very best is a tall order. Moments like this are all part of the unique experience offered by the Resort Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer. For Daubon, it’s simple: “It’s what makes me honoured and proud to have worked here for 16 years”.
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