Forgione was born on Long Island, New York, in 1952. He attended the Culinary Institute of America. He received an America's Best Chef recognition from the James Beard Foundation and Chef of the Year honors from the Culinary Institute of America.
Forgione's remake of Lord & Taylor Cafés into Signature Cafés (since rebranded as Lord & Taylor Signature) was part of the department store's 2003 restructuring.
On April 18, 2019, Forgione was found guilty of involuntary vehicular manslaughter in the city of Santa Barbara, CA.[2] Forgione ran a red light and struck and killed 90-year-old Gilbert Ramirez (a World War Two vet) while Ramirez was legally crossing the street. On July 16, 2019, Forgione was sentenced to two months in jail.[3]