The Circuit

While Sean Penn and company dined upstairs at the Palm D'Or restaurant, The Circuit was treated to the same dinner, though in the kitchen.  Clearly the best table in the house, we had a front row seat to all fashion of kitchen drama, as Chef Christian Sinicropic barked orders to his frantic staff.  "Hurry!  Hurry! Three minutes!"  If anyone was a few milliseconds late with sauce or plates, he pounced on them. 

Time continually plagued him.  Every detail was sweated and fussed over.  In between, he'd sit with us and watch us eat, eager to know how it tasted and how it looked.  The foie gras lollipops  were served in an Iron Mask-inspired ceramic display that he created.  The fish was buttery and light, the dark chocolate dessert deep and served with three shot glasses of iced tea with fruit.  The entire meal incredible.

As the chaos died down, the chef relaxed a little.  He's eager to practice his English, which he's been studying for a year.  His hopes are to get to New York.  He soaks up any info he can on the city; he considers it his Shangri-la.  "Can he make it in New York?" we asked.

"If I can make it in Cannes," he replied, "I can make it anywhere."

Photos by Olivia Hemaratanatorn/Variety.