The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar by Shareef Malnik

The Forge Restaurant is one of the greatest contemporary restaurant environments we have in South Florida, I know that , you know that , now lets let the rest of the planet know that.

Haute Living Magazine is doing their Restaurant Madness round 2 where they have compiled a list of the 32 best restaurants in Miami. They have paired them by two for each face off.

The voting is on-line right here.  Vote for the environment you love, the food you love, the brunches and Friday Nights you love, vote for The Forge.

Jennifer Lopez has had a spectacular career and has more in store of her. Negotiating her second tour as a judge for American Idol, she is also learning a new part of her life: being single after seven years of marriage. For her 42nd birthday, she, with her entourage of 16 spent this past weekend in Miami. Miami has become a true hot spot for celebrities, and Miami loves them back. A major city for television production and Spanish language media, Miami over the past decade has come into its own. It’s elegance factor has risen extensively and it has been able to generate events such as the important art fair Basel Miami Beach and world class restaurants such as The Forge. This is what attracts the famous jet setter crowd to Miami. Not surprising that Ms. Lopez chose a very private evening at The Forge Restaurant as part of her Birthday celebration; choosing the private wine cellar as the perfect environment: “Jennifer and her group arrived around 9pm and went directly to the private wine cellar for a pre-birthday dinner, an insider said. It was very secluded and beautiful among the bottles with bold and vibrant labels. The meal was served on a long rectangle mirrored table with cloud-like chandeliers hanging above.” The Forge Restaurant is very appreciative of their celebrity clientele and of the generous media coverage that these spectacular moments receive. Happy Birthday Jennifer.

It’s not often that a restaurant has both scene and substance, but the Forge is that rare exception. The decor is mad, trashy, Miami-baroque – wood paneling, over-sized chandeliers with lamps at crazy angles, huge gilt mirrors, random collections of divans and thrones to lounge on. The menus come backed by heavy mother-of-pearl stuff and the bill comes in the same sort of box with a mirrored interior (we expected 1/2 a gram along with our credit card back to be honest).

The people – well, on first glance it was more family orientated that I’d thought. There were lots of large, inter-generational tables noshing down. But on closer inspection, perhaps they were more Families with a capital F – the fathers were distinctly hard-eyed and twitchy, the daughters just the wrong side of tarty, the mothers overdyed and overstuffed. There was a lot of Russian being spoken. One party consisted of a guy accessorized with enormous blingy chains with diamond crosses, a skintight t, steroids, his girlfriend and – of course – his mum. He attracted attention from the other patrons like a celebrity and we wondered whether he was a minor reality star or a major player in the local sub-economy. It was all a bit Scarface 2011 and I loved it.

But apart from the local fauna, I’d come to the Forge to eat anytime based on this first meal. Every plate was beautifully presented and portions were European without being stingy. Oysters were lovely (perhaps not quite as good as The River but no matter) and tuna tartare and citrus-marinated salmon starters were nicely sized and extremely tasty. For seconds, a grouper fillet special was topped with an enormous scallop with mash on the side and went down very well, as did grilled salmon which let the fish shine through rather than being overpowered with Japanese flavours. Our smallest co-diner had the largest dishes, disproving the adage that you shouldn’t eat anything larger than your head. His burger and fries disappeared swiftly, followed by the excellent, enormous pre-ordered chocolate souffle with very good ice-cream, which the rest of us helped him out with. Mr. R&R then had a nougat cheesecake chaser, which he very much approved of. The service was speedy, accurate and solicitous (after initial experiences with BLT this week that was a relief) and the bill was a pleasantly reasonable surprise, probably reflecting the slightly out-of-Miami-beach location.
Overall – go dressed for Jersey Shore, but expect superb food.
Written by Zoë on April 22, 2011 from R&R

MIAMI Magazine’s July/August Issue has arrived and the cover story: ” To Live and Dine in Miami”, by Riki Altman, Margit Bisztray, Virginia Gil, Jen Karetnick and Luis R. Ruigal spotlights The Forge Restaurant as one of the top dining establishments of Miami. The fabulous grilled shrimp waffle topped with caviar, one of the new temptations extraordinaire from chef Dewey LoSasso is the cover image. Shareef Malnik won his bet. A very courageous and difficult decision to close The Forge after 40 years and re-brand it’s look and style was also a costly one. After a $10 million dollar renovation, the choice of a new executive chef, with the emphasis on a more modern and contemporary ambiance, program, and dining experience, Shareef Malnik has demonstrated that he really knows his business, and the recognition received in this month’s MIAMI Magazine is very well deserved. Do not worry, the menu favorites are still there, the amazing steaks and soufflés, but, they are complemented by the “Savory Snacks”, think Pomegranate BBQ Lamb Spare Ribs, “Starts”, think The Forge Grand Raw Bar Sampler for Two, as well as a choice of “Sides”, imagine Sage Roasted Fingerling Potatoes. Of course all served and executed with the rare elegance needed for the ultimate exquisite dining experience.

The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar has just been honored by being awarded the cover of MIAMI Magazine’s upcoming restaurant issue, with the star editorial piece being: “To Live and Dine in Miami”. Being the symbol of Fine Dining, Elegance and Excellence in Miami, this distinction is well deserved. For this occasion MIAMI Magazine is putting together a stellar “To Live and Dine in Miami” event. The selected chefs and restaurants of the July/August issue will be honored at a cocktail party hosted by MIAMI Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Luis Rigual and the magazine’s food writers; Riki Altman, Margit Bisztray, Jen Karetnick and food photographer Michael Pisarri. This evening will benefit Common Threads. This local organization specializes in the education of children on important matters such as obesity, nutrition and wellness with their energy devoted to the prevention of obesity and encouraging the new generations to start cooking to be healthy. The restaurants will each present a special item from their menu and allow students from local culinary schools to collaborate with the chefs and their team in order to learn hands on from professionals. Each participating restaurant will donate a gift certificate for a dinner for four, which will be raffled off during the evening to benefit Common Threads and their programs.

La Perla Fashion Show at The Forge

La Perla is one of the leading creators of luxury lingerie for women in the world. Started by Ada Masotti, a very skilled craftsman in the art of hand made corsetry who opened his first boutique in 1954 in Bologne Italy and named it La Perla. He named his shop inspired by the jewelers box he had crafted, lined with red velvet that he used to carry his first creations. In 1971 La Perla presents its first swimwear collection and in 1986 its first fragrance. Continuing its tradition of elegance and refined luxury in the lingerie domain where else would they want to present their collection but at the Forge for one of it’s fabulous Wednesday Night parties. Shareef Malnik installed a runway down the center of the restaurant to host the fashion show. What a great event: the most beautiful women in the world showing off the most beautiful and sexy lingerie at the Forge, with its elegant and unique environment.

One of the brilliant inventions of Shareef Malnik that brought the Forge it’s one of a kind reputation were the Wednesday evening thematic parties. For 17 years Wednesday evenings were synonymous of fine dining, fine wines, black tie service, good music and the changing themes. Each Wednesday night brought a different environment to the restaurant. The Forge’s space would be completely transformed with light, interior design and elegance. From runway fashion shows to VIP pajama parties, Shareef Malnik would respond with invention and taste. Nothing would escape his eye, and for him the most important aspect of these evenings are the people who come as it is his guests and their recognition that make the party come alive.

Lee Schrager is the Rock Star of the food and wine experience. He is the mastermind behind the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival and it’s sister in New York. Shrager has been quoted as saying that he never wanted to become a chef but what drives him is seeing the whole thing come together. A true food lover, in all of it’s dimension, he knows what is the best in Miami. Schrager, the Chief Lifestyle Advisor for Gilt City, a fabulous company that offers exquisite high end experiences at wonderful prices, asked him to curate a very special package at the Forge Restaurant and Wine Bar in Miami: An enomatic wine experience for two. Enomatic wine bars offer a new era of wine tasting as they are a state of the art preservation and serving system allowing
you to sample many different wines during the course of the evening.
Once you have been escorted to your reserved seats, you will be given a demonstration of the enomatic wine wall by the sommelier. You only have to choose if you would prefer red or white. You will be entitled to four 3 ounce glasses, of wines that have been specially selected by Lee Schrager for Gilt City. Gilt City’s website refers to this experience as akin to the childhood experience of candy bins in a sublime candy store for adults. The art of wine tasting is all that more pleasurable when complemented with the right foods. Chef Dewey Losasso has prepared a tasting plate especially for your evening with four of Lee Schrager’s favorite hors d’oeuvres.
Then you will have a private tour of the Forge’s excellent wine cellar by the Forge’s Sommelier. All of this delight for $ 75. This package is offered as of Monday May 30th; after purchasing please call 305. 538. 8533 to make your reservations, mention the Gilt City Package and enjoy.

Miami’s landmark dining establishment, The Forge, is set to re-open Winter 2010, just in time for the Season after closing in July of 2009 for a makeover. The 40 year old legendary restaurant is presently undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation and will emerge with new furniture, a fresh look and new menu. Owner Shareef Malnik took ownership of The Forge in 1991 after the restaurant survived a nearly disastrous fire, followed by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 that did severe and extensive damage to the restaurant and it’s famous wine cellar. Malnik said he’s been wanting to renovate for years and believes this newly updated Forge will stand the test of time again. “We’ve really come up with a new, updated version of The Forge,” said Malnik, “The only way you can stay ahead of the game is through change. I think this is going to give us another 40 years.”

Famous for it’s steak as much as it’s elegant charm, The Forge has long been a destination for celebrities and people with a taste for a truly elegant and unique dining experience. Located off the beaten paths of South Beach, The Forge is a true Miami landmark.

After a global search to find the new executive chef of The Forge – a culinary landmark in Miami Beach since 1969 – owner Shareef Malnik is proud to announce the appointment of Dewey LoSasso. The Forge will reopen its doors mid-December 2009 with a fresh new design, social and culinary concept.

The lengthy selection process spanned more than six months and consisted of 172 chefs showing off their kitchen skills and impressive signature dishes. Chef LoSasso proved to be top chef by beating out colleagues from around the world and being awarded the much sought-after title.

“I’ve known Dewey for many years back from his days at The Foundlings Club in Miami Beach and as Donatella Versace’s personal chef,” says Shareef Malnik. “The moment we reconnected during my worldwide search for the perfect new chef something just clicked; he understands my culinary vision and where I see The Forge going in the coming years. I’m ecstatic that he has joined our team and cannot wait to reopen the restaurant and get him and the new menu out for all to experience and enjoy.”

A founding member of the 1980s era “Mango Gang,” a group of bold young chefs who put South Florida’s fresh, tropical-accented cuisine on the national gastronomic map, Dewey LoSasso grew as a groundbreaking chef who has not slowed since those heady days. Alongside fellow Mango Gang associates including Norman Van Aken, Mark Militello, Robin Haas, Allen Susser and Douglas Rodriguez, he has continued to pioneer modern cuisine, making a name for

himself as a talented innovator in Miami and New York City. After three years of raves in New York and numerous stints as guest chef in kitchens around the world, LoSasso and wife Dale, a veteran restaurant manager and wine director, returned to Miami to open their first joint venture, North One 10.

The Forge has built a reputation as a fine dining destination with first class service and quality. The renowned establishment is best known for its superb cuisine as well as attracting leaders of businesses, devoted celebrity clientele and heads of state from around the world.

The Forge Restaurant is located at 432 Forty-First Street in Miami Beach, FL. For more information, call 305.538.8533 or visit www.theforge.com.

A Miami restaurateur is causing a bit of a stink in the New York restaurant scene. Let’s start last year, when chef Marc Forgione decided to open a restaurant called Forge. It’s his nickname, after all. Those of you in South Florida are likely familiar with The Forge; you might not know that the latter restaurant’s owner, Shareef Malnik, son of famous attorney Alvin Malnik, had the name trademarked in 1996. So last September, Shareef Malnik sued Forgione for trademark infringement. And now, Forgione has to change the restaurant’s name by February 1, despite the fact that the two restaurants are nothing alike. Here’s a great excerpt from The New York Observer’s article:

Mr. Malnik’s case was largely predicated on a pile of press describing his restaurant’s long history of catering to the rich and famous: Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson and Richard Nixon, to name-drop a few. “We submitted, I think, 400 pages of documents and we could get more,” Mr. Malnik said. “I’m sure there are some people, but I would exaggerate to say that there isn’t a person in New York who doesn’t know the Forge.”

Talk about street cred: The New York Times in 2000 described the restaurant as “sort of like Sparks Steak House South,” in reference to “the New York mob landmark” where Gambino boss Paul Castellano was killed in 1986. The article noted that Mr. Malnik’s father, Alvin Malnik, the restaurant’s prior owner, was also the famous lawyer who was friends with Meyer Lansky.

“If one didn’t know that we existed and that I had this trademark, then they would have to be somewhat naïve,” Mr. Malnik told The Observer. “You can’t help but bump into our name anytime you search ‘Forge.’”

Mr. Forgione admitted that he was aware of the Florida eatery prior to opening his own place in New York. “I Googled ‘Forge’ three years ago,” he said. “But I never in a million years thought that a restaurant in Miami would give a shit.”

To be fair, the restaurant in question has been around for quite a while and is Miami’s best restaurant, although Malnik’s claim that most people in New York know about it is ridiculous. And if his plans include expansion to New York, well, he’s got a valid point then.