Fire by Forge proudly commemorates their one-year anniversary since opening to the public. As they mark this significant milestone, they are thrilled to share the news of their outstanding achievements in the Hartford Courant Best of Hartford 2024 awards.

They are honored to receive the following accolades:

  • Best New Restaurant: Recognizing their innovation and excellence in culinary arts and hospitality.
  • Best Chef: Executive Chef Van Hurd’s dedication and culinary expertise have earned him this prestigious title.

In addition to these honors, they have secured noteworthy rankings in multiple categories:

  • First Runner Up in Best Appetizers, Best Farm to Table Dinner, and Best Happy Hour.
  • Second Runner Up in Best Cocktails, Best Restaurant, and Best Latin American Cuisine.

They are also proud to acknowledge Forge City Works Executive Director Ben Dubow as the First Runner Up for Community Leader, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to our community and commitment to social impact.

Fire by Forge is not just a restaurant; it is a social enterprise business with a profound social mission at their core. Forge City Works, who owns and operates the restaurant, provides job training and opportunities for individuals facing barriers to employment. Fire by Forge serves as a culinary training ground, where every dish contributes totheir greater social mission.

Dubow said, “This great recognition for us as a restaurant validates our core conviction that you can both do mission well and run a successful restaurant.” Justin Morales, General Manager of Fire by Forge, added, “I could not be prouder of our team and what we have accomplished over this past year.”

Chef Van Hurd expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’m honored to be recognized as Best Chef in an area that is filled with amazing chefs that I truly respect. Getting to be a part of the job training mission at Forge City Works while leading the culinary team at Fire by Forge is challenging and making me a better chef every day.”

Forge City Works and Fire by Forge extend their heartfelt thanks to their supporters, patrons, and community partners for their unwavering support throughout this incredible journey. Their success would not have been possible without the dedication and belief of those who share their vision for a better future through food and social impact.

About Forge City Works: Founded in 2007 as Billings Forge Community Works, Forge City Works is a Hartford-based non-profit who operate food-based businesses to drive their mission to provide job training and food access programs to the Hartford community. More information is at forgecityworks.org

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