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Gourmet Magazine

October 2005

Throughout a successful 27 year career, Forgione has focused mainly on our national cuisine and played an integral role in giving it international renown. His reputation and culinary influence landed him a place as one of LIFE magazine's "50 Most Influential Baby Boomers." Further more, no other individual from the restaurant industry was listed.

His contributions to his industry and those in it are innumerable. Leading the effort to support local farmers, he has helped ensure the success of farmer's markets, regional products and specialties, cottage industries and culinary artisans in America. To help showcase these products and the individuals producing them, along with Justin Rashid he co-founded American Spoon Foods, a catalogue and group of retail shops offering specialty food products from the same native sources that he uses. Continuing in his campaign to elevate American cuisine he published An An American Place Cookbook in 1996. His publication won a James Beard Foundation award for best American cookbook.

Forgione has also given much attention to national and local charities. He co-founded the annual American Chef's Tribute to James Beard, held in the Plaza of Rockefeller Center, benefiting New York's Meals on Wheels program. In the past twenty years, the event has raised half a million dollars annually.

He has catered to many celebrated figures including: Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams, President and Mrs. Clinton, Rosie O'Donnell, Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson, Princess Grace of Monaco, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Kenny Rogers, Madonna and the Rolling Stones.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

July 2006

Ranked number 35 on St. Louis Post-Dispatch's "115 HOTTEST people, places and things in St. Louis" (July 2006). "Larry Forgione of An American Place was on the cover of Gourmet within the past year. In foodie land, that's the equivalent of GQ or Vogue."