Introducing our Salon Speaker Series by Le Trente x Corde Coffee

NEXT EVENT: APRIL 1st, 2025, with Walter El Nagar, founder of Reffetorio Geneva.

DEEP CONVERSATIONS IN REAL LIFE Salon Speaker Series

Le Trente Salon, founded by Anne Muhlethaler, has a history of aiming to create something rare: gatherings where people come together to share ideas, hear from inspiring individuals, and engage in thoughtful conversations—all in a safe and intimate space. This mission aligns seamlessly with the principles of using coffee as a tool to reinforce empathy and sustainability at Corde Coffee.

We are thrilled to bring our energy together with this Salon Speaker Series collaboration. We aim to elevate conversations and cultivate a sense of belonging while celebrating stories that inspire.

The Salon Speaker Series at Corde Coffee is not just an event but an experience. We are creating moments for connection, with no expectations beyond participants spending a good time together, leaving feeling inspired, connected, and uplifted.

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Each salon features a guest speaker whose work aligns with one or more of Corde Coffee’s guiding pillars:

Empathy & community

Sustainability

Coffee

The evenings are designed to foster meaningful connections and create a sense of shared discovery.

Here’s how it flows:

6:30 pm: Welcome – enjoy a drink and settle in.

7:00–8:00 pm: A presentation, conversation, and open Q&A with our guest speaker, moderated by Anne Mühlethaler.

8:00–9:00 pm: Time for connection. Engage in deeper conversations over passed hors d'oeuvres, a natural wine bar, and desserts. (Gluten free options available. We'll message before the event to ask about your dietary needs.)

Meet our next guest: Walter El Nagar

Refettorio Geneva is more than a restaurant.

It’s a promise of meals that matter, moments that mould the future, and a community united by the belief that every act of kindness can spark a revolution.

Walter El Nagar, founder of Refettorio Geneva and MATER, was born in Milan in 1981 to an Egyptian father and Italian mother, is a self-taught chef. In 2008, he fell in love with Mexican cuisine in Los Angeles, leading him to open his own restaurant, The Barbershop. In 2016, he embarked on a year-long culinary tour, visiting Barcelona, Ibiza, Moscow, Tulum, and Singapore, where he introduced his pop-up restaurant concept. After a final stop in Dubai, he settled in Geneva in 2017.

There, he managed Fiskebar before opening his own restaurant, Le Cinquième Jour, which incorporates social inclusion into its concept. Every Saturday, the kitchen brigade cooks for disadvantaged people, refugees, and those in need. Walter’s passion for both gastronomy and social causes led him to found Fondazione Mater in 2020... The aim of the foundation is to promote social inclusion through nutrition, to provide access to a balanced diet for vulnerable people or victims of social exclusion, and to combat food waste. MATER offers high-end contemporary cuisine for all, including those who cannot afford it.

Join us to learn much more about his exciting journey and projects.

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About Le Trente

Why a salon?

Here's how Anne describes the inspiration.

"Le Trente draws inspiration from many places, but one experience left a lasting mark: my time in the Bento Society, a gathering created by Yancey Strickler, ex-CEO and co-founder of Kickstarter. For over 18 months, I participated in weekly Bento groups where we explored the dimensions of self-interest proposed by Bentoism: considering not just “now me” but also “future me,” “now us,” and “future us.”

This wider lens on decision-making—one that prioritises the individual, the collective, and future generations—was transformative. It became a foundation for how I approach meaningful conversations, gatherings, and sharing new ideas.

When Yancey mentioned presenting these ideas in a salon, the concept stayed with me. At the time, I had been sitting in my own “salon”— French for living room—for each of the Bento group sessions. I intentionally chose this space, mindful to stay away from my office, so it wouldn’t feel like an extension of my career or something I was doing for work.These gatherings felt personal, reflective, generous and free from the concept of networking.

That choice planted the seed for Le Trente Salon, which has since grown into a space where we can extend these values offline: fostering dialogue, supporting each other, and reimagining the world together.

As Julian, a fellow Bento Society member, once said, it’s about creating “a welcoming space for people to rejuvenate themselves and co-imagine the world together.”

Carlina Rinaldi, owner of the specialty coffee roaster Corde Coffee, was brought by another guest to one of my Salon events. She loved the concept, I loved her energy, and we went for a coffee a few weeks later to see if we could cook up a collaboration. And tah-dah, here we are!"

What’s behind that name?

"The name Le Trente (French for the number 30) holds special significance. In numerology, the number 30 is imbued with highly creative and social energy. It resonates with optimism, imagination, and the ability to inspire others. It encourages creative expression, joy, and tolerance, and uplifts those who encounter it. Mirroring my generally passionate personality, the number 30 tends to be enthusiastic about others' work. 

For me, the number reflects the essence of what I hope these salons will bring: a dynamic space where creativity and ideas flourish, where you leave not only inspired but with your own sense of possibility reignited."

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Join Us

Seats are limited to ensure an intimate, inspiring experience. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this gathering of minds and hearts.

Embrace creativity. Engage deeply. Feel inspired.