There are some things in life that you shouldn’t pass up and one of those is dining at The Forge. So when I received an invite a few weeks ago to attend an influencer dinner, I happily obliged.
This blacksmith shop turned iconic Miami steakhouse has been around since the 1920’s and is known for it’s excellent cuisine, stellar wine list (there are over 30,000 in their wine cellar), and their impressive customer service. Did you know that The Forge actually has an agreement with miRide? This is a service that will pick you up for dinner and drive you home, all courtesy of The Forge. Unfortunately, for me living in Palm Beach County, I wasn’t able to experience it, as I live a bit too far away, but it will pick you up and drop you off anywhere in Miami-Dade County – courtesy of The Forge. For me, knowing it was The Forge was enough and I was willing to take the drive.
Dinner at The Forge begins
From the moment I entered The ‘new’ Forge (it received a major redesign in 2009), I was surrounded by opulence and elegance. The interior blends classic style with modern design and boasts hand-carved blond wood walls, hand-etched glass tabletops, bubble walls and more. To complete the picture is Executive Chef Julia Doyne, who previously worked as the Chef de Cuisine at The Forge under Michelin-rated chef Christopher Lee, but took the reigns over in August 2015.
Upon arrival, we were seated in the main dining room and were greeted with a few specialty cocktails. While I had a few to taste, I kept going back to the Mad Mango. Made with Avion Añejo Tequila, jalapeño, mango and fresh lime, it gave me a taste of summer (but did so without being overly sweet) and finished with some heat. If you don’t like things spicy, you might want to seek an alternative like the Kiucumber, a refreshing cocktail made with vodka, St. Germain, kiwi, cucumber, basil and lime juice.
For our first course, we were served a medley of starters, including an octopus dish – and my eyes just lit up. (Ok, I’m a little addicted to octopus.) Chef Julia’s octopus dish is a General Tso’s Octopus, and it was a standout in my book. Tender pieces of charred octopus were served atop a timbale of black rice mixed with broccoli, cashew and blood orange. The dish – although not the usual preparation – melded together perfectly in both flavor and texture and I kept going back and forth between this octopus and the Baby Beet Salad.
The Baby Beet Salad, although not on the regular menu yet (it’s being run as a special on some nights) offered dreamworthy bites of deliciousness. Roasted baby beets were served with smoked pears; a creamy, buttery Sheep’s Milk Cheese; and finished with a pistachio crumble.
The appetizers were just the beginning. Now, it was time for the main course. On the menu was a Miso Marinated Chilean Sea Bass, Roasted Chicken, a New York Strip and some sinfully delicious sides. First let’s talk about those sides, at least the Black Truffle Mac ‘n Cheese Pot Pie, because I’m still imagining myself scooping up bites of comfort – it was one of those dishes where I couldn’t stop taking that last bite. It must have been a comfort kind of day (or perhaps a truffle kind of day) because the moist Oven Roasted Lemon Herb Chicken with black truffle jus made for a perfect pairing and I highly recommend it.
The extravagance didn’t end there, as it was time for dessert and the Chocolate Napoleon was my favorite of the evening. This branded, decadent chocolate treat came plated in gold and was as impressive to look at, as it was too eat. The moist cake paired with the sweet, crunchy caramel corn offered a play on textures – and was the perfect ending to the meal.
What to know about The Forge
Visit The Forge on Friday evenings from 6 p.m. until midnight for their Veuve Clicquot Happy Hour. Guests will enjoy $10 flutes and $50 bottles of champagne, while enjoying complimentary hors d’oeuvres at the bar and music by guest DJs.
The wine cellar is truly impressive so if you ever have the opportunity to take a tour, take advantage of it. The cellar boasts over 30,000 bottles of wine and if you’re looking to impress, you’ll want to note that the cellar is also home to the first bottle of Opus One and another valued at $169k.
While I was invited in as a guest to experience The Forge, all of the opinions expressed here are my own.