Latest news with #Valence
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Astronaut Sophie Adenot and chef Anne-Sophie Pic to launch Michelin meals into space
Two Frenchwomen are set to give new meaning to the expression: "The sky's the limit". As announced by the European Space Agency, Sophie Adenot (who, next year, will fly to the International Space Station with her co-graduate from the class of 2022 Raphaël Liégeois) has worked with French chef Anne-Sophie Pic to develop the "bonus" dishes that she will take on board the ISS. No unappetising substitute at the bottom of the tube for this representative of the homeland of haute cuisine: as ESA points out, Sophie will be bringing a piece of French gastronomy into space with a special menu created with Anne-Sophie Pic, the world's most Michelin-starred chef. The dishes selected - "bonuses", not the full menu - are emblematic of French cuisine, but have been completely revisited, such as: Onion and pink berry soup with croutons au gratin Poultry with voatsiperifery pepper, tonka bean and creamy polenta with comté cheese Chocolate cream with cazette flower and coffee Anne-Sophie Pic, notes ESA, is one of the leading figures in haute cuisine, constantly pushing back the boundaries of taste and emotion with her daring creations and intuitive approach. Her three-star restaurant 'Pic', in Valence, France, won Tripadvisor's 'Best Restaurants' award in 2024. She was also named best female chef in the world in 2011 by the San Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards. 'Cooking for space is an exhilarating challenge, and it's a real honour to be part of this extraordinary adventure.' "It's a great challenge that Sophie Adenot has offered me and it's quite extraordinary", commented Anne-Sophie Pic, the three-Michelin-starred chef from Drôme, on ICI Drôme Ardèche on Thursday. When "last winter" the astronaut asked her to prepare festive dishes for the ISS, the chef "didn't hesitate for a single second to say yes". These bonus dishes account for 10% of astronauts' meals in space. "It's a bit of exceptional cuisine to give them courage", smiles Anne-Sophie Pic. Shellfish bisque, crème de foie gras esprit, onion soup with pink berries, braised beef effiloché, rice pudding and hazelnut and coffee chocolate cream: "The aim is to give them a taste of things they like". But to go into space, "these dishes are necessarily textured in a certain way", explains Anne-Sophie Pic. "It's classic cooking, but at the end, these dishes are restructured, blended and cooked thoroughly to remove any bacterial problems" and to make them "easy to eat". "It has to be fairly compact", but as the chef points out, it "can be extremely good and tasty". The food was packaged in partnership with Servair, a French company specialising in airline catering, using sterilisation in flexible sachets to preserve the taste qualities while guaranteeing very long storage at room temperature. Nothing suggested our paths would cross, yet we decided to work together to celebrate French gastronomy. Anne-Sophie is an exceptional professional and a true source of inspiration, and I am delighted to have her by my side in this adventure! Adenot, 42, a former helicopter test pilot, is due to carry out her first mission aboard the ISS in spring 2026. During a six-month mission called εpsilon, she will perform a variety of tasks, including European-initiated scientific experiments, medical research and station maintenance. Travelling at a speed of 28,800km/h at around 400km above the Earth, the ISS completes around 16 orbits around the planet each day, which can make it difficult to spread out breakfasts, lunches and dinners, notes The Guardian. Astronauts generally eat three meals a day, with a daily calorie intake of 2,500 calories as a rough guide. Because of the special requirements for food preservation and hygiene, feeding an astronaut can cost more than €20,000 a day. The food delivered aboard the International Space Station must be non-friable, light and have a shelf life of at least 24 months, according to the ESA. The bulk of the menus in space consist of canned or freeze-dried meals in plastic packaging that astronauts can select from a predefined list of options provided by the institutions. Fresh fruit and vegetables are a luxury and are only available when a spacecraft arrives with new supplies. Traditional gastronomy in space may not be the preserve of science fiction, continues The Guardian. Last April, ESA announced a project to assess the viability of producing laboratory-grown food in conditions of low gravity and high radiation, in orbit and on other planets. The team involved said the experiment was a first step towards developing a small pilot food production plant on board the ISS within two years, enabling future French astronauts to make 3D-printed bibs and laboratory-grown chips.
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Le Pen granddaughter to face trial over accusing school operator of Muslim Brotherhood affiliation
French far-right MEP Marion Marechal is set to face trial in September over claims she falsely accused an association that runs a private Muslim school of links to the Muslim Brotherhood. While the Muslim Brotherhood is not outlawed in France, authorities view the movement as promoting values, particularly through educational institutions, that conflict with France's strict secularism, or laicite - a foundation principle of the republic. In 2023, Ms Marechal publicly alleged that the school operator, Values and Success, was affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, describing the group as sharing goals with Al Qaeda and ISIS, according to a legal document reviewed by AFP. Ms Marechal, grand-daughter of French far-right political figure Jean-Marie Le Pen, who died in January, is a prominent voice in the nation's politics. She is the niece of three-time presidential candidate Marine Le Pen. The association at the centre of the controversy runs a small private school in the south-eastern city of Valence, teaching about 40 pupils. As a non-contract institution, the school is not bound by the national curriculum and can set its own education programme. Values and Success filed a defamation lawsuit against Ms Marechal early last year. The group has been under scrutiny since 2022, when it attempted to buy land from the local municipality. French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo published an article linking the association to the Muslim Brotherhood, a claim that triggered public outcry. The land sale, initially approved by the city council, was ultimately blocked after intervention by the local prefecture, which has administrative authority at departmental level. Following the article, Values and Success sued Charlie Hebdo for defamation but the magazine was acquitted on appeal. The court ruled that "the accusation of proximity between the school and the Muslim Brotherhood ... is a matter of free debate" and an "infinitely subjective value judgment", according to AFP. The court also noted the Muslim Brotherhood movement is not banned in France. In a Facebook page dated June 21, Values and Success complained of "facing unprecedented persecution". It said "the reasons given are arbitrary and profoundly unfair" but did not mention the Muslim Brotherhood.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vector AIS Welcomes John Spiridis as SVP of Enterprise Growth & Services
SAN FRANCISCO, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vector AIS, the modern fund administrator purpose-built for closed-end alternative investment funds, is excited to announce that John Spiridis will join the firm as Senior Vice President, Enterprise Growth & Services, beginning in early June. John brings over two decades of experience spanning fund administration and private markets operations, having held senior roles at industry-leading firms including Credit Suisse, Citco, BNY Mellon, TPG, and most recently Man Varagon. With deep expertise across both the GP and fund administrator perspectives, John is uniquely positioned to help guide Vector's next phase of growth and platform evolution. As Vector continues expanding its footprint across private equity and adjacent private market strategies, John's appointment underscores the firm's commitment to building strategic infrastructure and capabilities that scale with client needs. In his new role, John will lead efforts to strengthen Vector's private equity service offering, refine go-to-market strategies, and support cross-functional growth initiatives across product, delivery, and business development. "We're thrilled to welcome John to the team," said Molly Yakubian, CEO. "His background, values, and vision align closely with where we're headed as a company. John's experience on both sides of the private markets ecosystem gives him an exceptional ability to see around corners and ensure we scale intentionally, sustainably, and always with the client at the center." John's mandate will span asset classes, with an initial focus on private equity. He will also play a key role in shaping the roadmap for Valence, Vector's proprietary technology platform, and in fostering strategic partnerships, referral relationships, and industry visibility through thought leadership. Known for his collaborative approach and emphasis on team culture, John is already resonating with Vector's values and mission. "From the outset, it's been clear that John brings not just exceptional experience, but also the energy, warmth, and curiosity that make Vector special," said Molly. To learn more about John Spiridis, visit his LinkedIn profile. Contact Information hello@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Vector AIS Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
