The Cuban-American hotspot of the 1990's Taste of Life viewers will tour the beaches and eclectic night-life of this city and sample some tempting cuisine at "The Forge", a restaurant whose art collection is one of the most impressive in the world valued at over 20 Million Dollars. Celebrity diners such a Madonna and Tom Cruise regularly dine on the dishes prepared by Executive Chef Kal. We'll watch him prepare American lamb encrusted with rosemary and goat cheese followed by a hot chocolate cupcake in assorted fruit purees.

The Forge

In the 30's, Phillips Forge became an elegant restaurant and gambling casino where socialites dined and danced under the stars. In 1968, Alvin Malnik bought the old restaurant, gutted the interior and stripped away the old fa�ade, creating a unique American classic, with original Dalis, Rousseaus framing a sconce from Napoleon's bed chamber and antiques and tapestries from Europe everywhere in sight. Schooled in European standards of cuisine and service, with a wine list thicker than Miami's telephone directory, the Forge became an internationally renowned location under Alvin and his team.

Today, under Alvin, his son Shareef and Chef Kal, The Forge has been re-fashioned in the midst of the Miami Beach Renaissance. Now, with its "Travant-Garde" cuisine (a unique blending of tradition with Chef Kal's stunning avant-garde creations) and a new generation at the helm, the restaurant continues the quest begun in the 60's to bring alive Alvin's vision of what American dining should be. Diners in the restaurant are surrounded by a worldly collection of art and antiques, while the legendary wine list features over 1000 selections between its regular and reserve collector's lists. Over 300,000 bottles are in the cellar, ranging in price from $20.00 to $100,000.00 (for an 1822 Chateau Lafite-Rothschild!)

Chef Kal

The Forge's young, creative chef, just 30 years old, is a quiet man, whose creative energy and intense concentration are the focuses responsible for many of the remarkable dishes presented at The Forge.

A master of Mediterranean seasonings, Chef Kal also excels in lighter cooking which has resulted in an imaginative and very personal cuisine.

For Taste of Life, Chef Kal has created a Rack of Lamb with Cabernet Sauce and a Chocolate Velvet Cupcake.