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Forge In The Forest Executive Chef Bruce Silverblatt Chef Bruce Silverblatt’s Nana was his original cooking teacher, helping him form his first potato latkes. He says, “Nana could make some latkes,” infusing them not with just tender loving care “but with real talent. You could smell them cooking when you walked into her house. They were always served fresh, crisp, and warm.” Here in Carmel, years later, we find the reincarnation of that dish on the menu of The Forge in the Forest Restaurant. But since traditional dishes are not always enough for today’s ever-adventuresome and sophisticated diners, Chef Silverblatt embellishes Nana’s potato pancakes with smoked salmon and caviar. Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pa., one of Chef Silverblatt’s first jobs was washing dishes—fortunately, it was in a restaurant where the chef recognized potential and was generous in sharing his expertise. Chef Silverblatt learned well, and after getting a degree in biology and a certificate from The Culinary Institute of America, he made his way to being a co-owner and executive chef of The Forge in the Forest. When he is not working, Chef Silverblatt enjoys tending his two koi ponds and two saltwater aquariums, hobbies traceable to his original aim at marine biology. But the most surprising thing to learn about the distinguished Chef Silverblatt is that he was once a Deadhead…and he still has some Deadhead beating within his old rocker’s soul. From his easy chair, he watches his fish while surrounded by an audiophile’s dream sound system and an incredible collection of over 400 Grateful Dead CDs, each of a different concert. He could listen to a different performance every day for over a year before having to repeat—and he would love each one. It’s good to learn that high-powered and successful chefs are not all about sharp knives, portion control, and time clocks, not to mention that one of our culture’s most revered rock musicians has a continued role in the rhythm of that chef’s life. Creativity feeds creativity, just as Nana’s potato pancakes have become immortal through her grandson’s efforts—as has the lyric “I will get by.” |
