C&I Blog

I did not go to Miami Beach looking for a great steak. A Cuban sandwich, yes. Rice and beans, yes. Seafood and sushi, yes. But a steak? I'm a Dallas girl, and I believe I am surrounded by some of the best beef the world has to offer right in my own backyard. But on Saturday night I found myself at The Forge Restaurant in Miami sitting in an oversized Alice-in-Wonderland pearly white wingback chair holding an equally out of proportion menu, feeling slightly out of my element, when the words popped out at me like a taunt: "BEST STEAK IN AMERICA."

Could they be serious? I grabbed my tall, tan, and shaved-headed waiter Nick by the arm. By then he had already disclosed that he was Argentinian, was raised in a household of sisters, and rightly proclaimed that my cocktail of choice should be the Summer Thyme (a deliciously earthy blend of Tanqueray, blackberries, blueberries, thyme-infused agave nectar, lime juice, and what tasted like cloves). "You are from Buenos Aires," I said, "next to Texas, the land of beef. You must know your steaks. Are you honestly going to say that your glitzy, high-glam restaurant serves the best?" "Yes," he said, as he slipped off his Citizen watch and clasped it around my wrist. "If I am wrong, the watch is yours." What was I to do? Order the steak and pre-order a pistachio souffle for dessert, that's what.

I didn't know it at the time, but The Forge is a Miami institution, named after an actual forge opened by blacksmith Dino Phillips on the spot in the 1920s. Phillips later turned it into a casino and restaurant where the likes of Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland came to enjoy the restaurant's signature open-hearth grilled steaks. Bought by international financier Alvin Malnick in the '60s and decorated with his personal art collection, the restaurant continued to be frequented by celebrities like Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and Desi Arnaz. Alvin's son Shareef took over operations in the '90s and undertook a massive year-long renovation in 2009, resulting in an over-the-top interior worthy of today's A-listers like J-Lo, Sting, Al Pacino, and Will Smith.

When it arrives, my medium rare steak (which was described on the menu as a 16 ounce New York strip, 21-day aged prime) is accompanied by two artful whole peeled tomatoes. Playing coy, and still skeptical, I took a bite of tomato first. I have no idea what the chef did to it, but it tasted effervescent, with a sparkle like Champagne yet a pure, tomato-ey flavor. Now I was intrigued. I cut into the blackened exterior of the steak revealing a still raw center. I took a bite. It was everything a great steak should be. The char on the outside spoke of every end-of-trail cowboy campfire, while the luscious pink interior was pure decadence. Warmed through, it was buttery soft, all of the meaty juiciness having been reabsorbed in the steak itself, with none of it lost on the plate.

I gave Nick his watch back, but not until I had finished off my pistachio souffle. Like the steak, and the service, it was perfection. That was one bet I was happy to lose.

Free for you from Hulu.com: Vera Cruz, director Robert Aldrich's two-fisted 1954 Western starring Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster as soldiers of fortune involved in a post-Civil War scheme to steal a stagecoach filled with Emperor Maximilian's gold. Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Jack Elam and Cesar Romero co-star.

We're always interested when Wyman Meinzer puts out a new book - the Texas photographer's work reflects an obvious devotion to the Western landscape, particularly that of his home state. You can get a taste of his latest offering, "Under One Fence-The Waggoner Ranch Legacy," in this short but beautiful video (about 3:30).

Introducing: Under One Fence - The Waggoner Legacy from Wyman Meinzer on Vimeo.

From the publisher's description: "Imagine the jingling of spurs, the hiss of a rope, and a cowboy calling for his ride of the day...come along on this historic journey as Wyman introduces the Legacy of the Waggoner Ranch. Listen as Wyman takes you to a place that exudes the essence of the ranching legacy across Texas, if not the world. "

Visit www.wymanmeinzer.com for more details

Glee, Modern Family and Mad Men may have attracted more attention from viewers and handicappers during the days and weeks leading to last night's Emmy Awards. But the biggest winner of the evening turned out to be Temple Grandin, the uplifting story of the extraordinary woman who triumphed over autism to become an internationally renowned expert in humane livestock handling. The acclaimed HBO drama -- now available on DVD -- received a total of five awards: Outstanding Made For Television Movie, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie (Claire Danes), Outstanding Supporting Actor (David Strathairn) and Supporting Actress (Julia Ormond), and Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or Movie (Mick Jackson). If you'd like to know more about the story behind the story: Chuck Restivo interviewed the real-life Temple Grandin for the September issue of Cowboys & Indians, and you can can read his story here.

Taos Pueblo will commemorate the history, the struggle, and the victory of Blue Lake on September 17th and 18th, 2010.

“We hope all our neighbors in the Taos Valley will plan to be with us as we celebrate this momentous event for the people of Taos Pueblo,” said Taos Pueblo Governor James A. Lujan.

"Blue Lake – A Symbol of Cultural Strength and Determination” will commence on Friday, September 17th with an opening mass at St. Jerome Church on Taos Pueblo, and an evening reception. 

The highlight events will take place on Saturday, September 18th with activities scheduled throughout the day in the plaza of Taos Pueblo’s historic village.

In this photo from 1970, President Nixon officially signed the documents returning 48,000 acres taken by President Theodore Roosevelt and designated as the Carson National Forest early in the twentieth century. Blue Lake was included in this return of Taos land. An additional 764 acres south of the ridge between Simpson Peak and Old Mike Peak and west of Blue Lake were transferred back to the Pueblo in 1996.