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A week with Pierre Gagnaire - "A potted history" of Monopoly - "Rising trends" : Underground design in Munich - "What to do with" red peppers? - "Chic ! meets" : Living in other people's homes

A week with Pierre Gagnaire
Pierre Gagnaire, nicknamed "the Picasso of cuisine", was born into a family of chefs. In 1981, he acquired independence when he opened his first restaurant in St Etienne. In 1990, he fell for a St Etienne 1930s-style house containing listed frescoes celebrating gastronomy. A predestined venue! In 1993, he obtained his three Michelin stars and a 19.5 out of 20 rating in the Gault et Millau guide. Bankrupt in 1996, he immediately rose from the ashes in November of the same year, with the opening of his Parisian restaurant, "Le Balzac". At the age of 56, Pierre Gagnaire the Great no longer needs to prove a thing. Favouring culinary creativity, he is also a great fan of various other artistic pursuits, including jazz. He compares jazz to cooking. For him a menu is composed like a musical score, the hardest part being to create something lucid and personal, in which you can only improvise if you have a great deal of experience. Pierre Gagnaire has a thorough knowledge of different produce, of sensations and of associations of different foods, which he always blends with harmony and creativity.

"A potted history" of Monopoly
Born in the United States, in the context of the economic crisis of the 30s, Monopoly was inspired by an anti-capitalist game. More than 70 years later, real-estate transactions continue to fascinate everybody, in 80 countries and in 26 different languages. Today, we present a potted history of the most widely-sold board game in the world.

"Rising trends" : Underground design in Munich
People say that Munich's above-ground architecture will always remain in the shadow of its underground one. Encouraged by the city, and with the help of designers and artists, top names in architecture created the underground stations in their own style. In the process, some Munich underground stations have become hotspots of urban architecture. The St Quirinsplatz station is a fine example of this, where two top architects Öttl & Hermann have really gone to town.

"What to do with" red peppers?
Its latin name is Capsicum annuum, and its common name is the pepper. Initially peppers are green all over, and the different varieties appear by a change in colour as they ripen - and the taste varies with the colour. Chef Manuel Martinez concocts a mille feuilles of peppers, aubergines and basil.

"Chic ! meets" : Living in other people's homes
How can you live in a fine house without paying a thing and getting paid yourself even? Easy - you just have to be a sort of guardian. That's exactly what Michiel Van Schaveren, who lives in Holland, does. The best of both worlds! He looks after residences while their owners are away. A former trader, turned yoga teacher, he has detached himself from all material considerations - a lifestyle that seems to lead to happiness.