After a year of absence, our annual Gala Dinner-Dance is back, this time at the world-famous Hotel Negresco in Nice. The Negresco first opened in 1913 and immediately drew the attention of the international Jet Set.
It was purchased in 1957 by Madame Jeanne Augier, who continued the incredible story of the Palace. She personally greeted celebrities (Salvador Dali, Princess Grace of Monaco, the Beatles, Louis Armstrong, Elton John, to name but a few) and started a collection of valuable artwork and furniture.
The flamboyant Madame Augier died in January 2019, in her 96th year, but the Negresco continues to live in splendor, with some 6000 works of art amassed over the years by this great collector. Some of you had the opportunity to view several of them in November 2017, just before our ACR Thanksgiving lunch, held that year in the Negresco’s Salon Masséna.
This is exactly where we will hold our annual Gala Dinner-Dance this year. As you know, this is one of our most popular events and it welcomes members and non-members of the Club. However, because of the Covid restrictions, we have limited our capacity to 80 participants. So, if you are planning to attend, don’t wait before registering.
Since 2018, a woman Chef by the name of Virginie Basselot is in charge of the one-star restaurant Le Chantecler and of the banquets. Virginie has received many awards in her career and, in 2015, she became Meilleur Ouvrier de France (MOF). At the beginning of this month, she was recognized for her technical excellence by the famous Gault & Millau guide.
On the day of our Gala, please plan to arrive at the Negresco by 19:30 and head towards the Galerie Masséna in order to register yourself with one of our Governors. Once registered, you will be offered a glass of champagne and will be able to meet and chat with our other guests.
After the aperitif, we will move next door to Salon Masséna, where we will be served the following gourmet menu, prepared under the supervision of Virginie Basselot.
Dinner Menu:
Pressed duck foie gras, dried fruit condiment and warm brioche
Savory lamb confit, cereal biscuit and seasoned beets
Pavlova with fresh fruits
Price:
- Euros 115 per person for American Club members.
(If you have joined as a Couple please select the "Couple Member" ticket and add 2nd member as a guest).
- Euros 130 for non-members. Guests are welcome at the non-member price.
The above prices are inclusive of aperitif, 3-course dinner, mineral water, one-half bottle of wine per person, coffee, petits fours and DJ.
I am sure that many of you, after a long break, are looking forward to dancing the night away and swaying to the rhythm of our DJ Michael Widdop, who was part of our team at our 5th of July event.
Dress code: Black-tie or dark suit for gentlemen and long or short cocktail dress for ladies.
Accommodation: The Negresco has already informed me that it is almost fully booked for the weekend of our event. Their Banquet Manager, Marion Leblond (no relation to myself), expects to have a few rooms available at a preferential rate to our guests, with a minimum stay of 2 nights. For more information, you can reach her by email at marion.leblond@lenegresco.com.
The Negresco is within walking distance to a number of other hotels with plenty of alternative accommodations, should you decide to stay overnight in Nice.
Important: This event is open to members and guests. Please confirm your reservation as soon as possible, by clicking on the button below, which will connect you to the Events page of our new website, where you will get instructions on how to register and pay for this event.
The deadline for registration is Friday 24th September, unless sold out before. In prior years, our events have been sold out prior to the final date. Without payment, your reservation cannot be confirmed. There will be no payments accepted at the door. Cancellations past 24th September are not refundable. When booking, please advise your seating preferences, any dietary requests and names of any guests.
For any questions, please contact our Membership Coordinator, Cy Todd, at news@americanclubriviera.com or myself.
Covid / Sanitary measures: The Negresco requires strict adherence to the sanitary measures imposed by the French government regulations. All attendees to our event will be required to show their Health Pass (pass sanitaire en français) and to comply with the requirements in effect at the time of this event. In the unfortunate case that we are forced to cancel the event, full reimbursement will be made to those who will have paid.
I look forward to welcoming you at the Negresco for our annual Gala Dinner-Dance.
Very best regards,
Richard Leblond
President
president@americanclubriviera.com
