Haute Living’s CEO and Publisher Kamal Hotchandani celebrated his fortieth birthday with co-host Louis XIII, the publisher’s favorite Cognac. Friends and family were invited to a posh private dinner at The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar.
![Kamal Hotchandani and Selita Ebanks](http://hauteliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Kamal-Hotchandani-and-Selita-Ebanks.jpg)
![Remy Martin's Louis XIII](http://hauteliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Louis-XIII-753x502.jpg)
Guests sipped Chateau Lagrezette Pigeonnier 2009 Malbec and… they didn’t just enjoy looking at the Baccarat crystal decanter on display, they also enjoyed a tasting of the uber-premium cognac by Remy Martin.
![David Martin, friend, Keith Menin, Gil Dezer](http://hauteliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/David-Martin-friend-Keith-Menin-Gil-Dezer-753x502.jpg)
Revelers included friends JR and Loren Ridinger, developer Jorge Pérez, billionaire-philanthropist Stewart Rahr, basketball greats Alonzo Mourning and Scottie Pippen, and stunning model-actress Seleita Ebanks.
![Tracy and Alonzo Mourning, Kamal Hotchandani and Shareef Malnik](http://hauteliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Tracy-and-Alonzo-Mourning-Kamal-Hotchandani-and-Shareef-Malnik.jpg)
Dinner, prepared by the restaurant’s expert chef Christoper Lee, was served at three long tables and featured favorites like Miso-marninated Chilean sea bass and a center-cut Creekstone Farms filet mignon.
![Kevin Lyttle and wife Dr. Jacqueline James](http://hauteliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Kevin-Lyttle-and-guest-753x502.jpg)
Although it took place on a Thursday night, the dinner party evoked The Forge’s new Remastered Wednesdays, which features spontaneous performances by top-level performers. For the birthday party, there were various performances throughout the night, including an acapella performance by friend, reggae singer Kevin Lyttle.
![Larsa Pippen, Scottie Pippen, Kamal Hotchandani, Sean Wolfington, Carlos Rosso](http://hauteliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Larsa-Pippen-Scottie-Pippen-Kamal-Hotchandani-Sean-Wolfington-Carlos-Rosso.jpg)
The rest of the performances were from the cast of Project F, a collective of talented artists. This includes Jackie Mendez, a 4-time Latin Grammy winning vocalist who toured with Ricky Martin, and Karina Inglesias, a 2-time Latin Grammy winner and semi-finalist on NBC’s The Voice.
![Yves De Launay, JR Ridinger, Kamal Hotchandani, Loren Ridinger, Scottie Pippen](http://hauteliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/JR-Ridinger-Kamal-Hotchandani-Loren-Ridinger-Scottie-Pippen-753x502.jpg)
Jeffrey James Harris, of the Jeffrey James Gang performed a song in his bluesy bluster and Marybeth De Sarle, who has toured with Paul Simon and Mavis Staples, performed soulful songs with her band that effectively brought the house down.
![Jorge Perez, Kamal Hotchandani, Darlene Perez](http://hauteliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Jorge-Perez-Kamal-Hotchandani-Darlene-Perez-e1429300814209.jpg)
The evening was capped off with a surprise montage, a toast to Kamal, and a stunning cake, before guests headed off to the after party at E11EVN.
![Kamal's Birthday cake](http://hauteliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Kamals-Birthday-cake.jpg)
Photos by Aaron Davidson for Getty Images
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