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{{Short description|American chef and resaurateur (1959–2013)}}
{{Infobox Chef
{{Infobox chef
| name = Charlie Trotter | name = Charlie Trotter
| image = | image =
| caption = | caption =
| birthdate = {{birth date and age|1959|9|8|mf=y}} | birth_date = {{birth date|1959|9|8}}
| birthplace = ], ] | birth_place = ], US
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|11|5|1959|9|8}}
| deathdate =
| death_place = ], Illinois, US
| deathplace =
| spouse = {{Plain list|
*{{marriage|Lisa Ehrlich|1986|1990|end=div}}
*Lynn Thomas (div. 2001)
*{{marriage|Rochelle Smith|2010}}
}}
| style = ] | style = ]
| education = California Culinary Academy | education = {{Ubl
| ]
| ratings = ] {{Rating|5|5}}<br>] {{Rating|5|5}}
| ]
| restaurants = ''Charlie Trotter's'' &ndash; ], ]<br>''Trotter's To Go'' &ndash; Chicago, Illinois<br>''Trotter's To Go Express'' &ndash; Chicago, Illinois<br>
| ]
| prevrests =
}}
| television = 1999 &ndash; ] &ndash; ''The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter''
| ratings = {{Ubl
| ]s {{Rating|1|3}} (Restaurant Charlie)
| ]s {{Rating|2|3}} (Charlie Trotter's)
}}
| prevrests = {{Ubl
| ''Charlie Trotter's'' — Chicago, Illinois
| ''Restaurant Charlie'' — ], ]
}}
| television = 1999 – ] — ''The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter''
| awards = {{awd|]|1999|||Outstanding Chef}} | awards = {{awd|]|1999|||Outstanding Chef}}
| website = http://www.charlietrotters.com/
}} }}


'''Charlie Trotter''' (September 8, 1959 – November 5, 2013) was an ] and ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Caro|first=Mark|title=Charlie Trotter preaches excellence to the extreme|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-charlie-trotter-chicago-chef-part-1-20120827,0,3418094.column|access-date=November 5, 2013|newspaper=]|date=August 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/dining/charlie-trotter-chicago-chef-who-elevated-american-dining-dies-at-54.html?hpw&rref=dining&_r=0 | work=The New York Times | first=William | last=Grimes | title=Charlie Trotter Dies at 54; Chef Made Chicago a Must | date=November 5, 2013}}</ref> His best-known restaurant, Charlie Trotter's, was open in ] from 1987 to 2012.
'''Charlie Trotter''' (born {{birth date|1959|9|8|mf=y}}<ref></ref>) is a ] ] and ].


==Early life and education==
==Biography==
Trotter was born in ] and graduated from ] in ], ]. He attended ] in ] from 1977 to 1979, and then transferred to ]. Trotter started cooking professionally in 1982 after earning a ] ] from UW–Madison.
A graduate of ], Trotter started cooking professionally in 1982 after earning a degree in ] from the ]. For the next 5 years, he worked and studied in Chicago, ] at the California Culinary Academy, ] and ].


==Career==
Charlie Trotter is the host of the 1999 ] cooking show ''The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter'' in which he details his recipes and cooking techniques. He likens cooking to an improvisational jazz session in that as two riffs will never be the same, so too with food. He has also written 14 cookbooks, three management books and has a line of organic and all natural gourmet foods distributed nationally.
For five years after college, he worked and studied in Chicago, San Francisco (at the ]), Florida and Europe. He opened his first restaurant in Chicago with his father, Bob Trotter, as his partner.


Trotter was the host of the 1999 ] cooking show ''The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter,'' in which he details his recipes and cooking techniques. He likened cooking to an improvisational jazz session in that as two riffs will never be the same, so too with food. He also wrote 14 cookbooks and three management books, and promoted a line of organic and all-natural gourmet foods distributed nationally.
Trotter is involved with his ] ''Charlie Trotter Culinary Education Foundation'' and other causes. He was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year award in 2005 by the International Association of Culinary Professionals. He invites groups of public high school students into his restaurant as part of his Excellence Program 2 to 3 times per week: they eat a meal and are told how the food was prepared and the motivations of those preparing it.


Trotter was involved with his philanthropic ''Charlie Trotter Culinary Education Foundation'' and other causes. He was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year award in 2005 by the International Association of Culinary Professionals. He invited groups of public high school students into his restaurant as part of his Excellence Program two to three times per week: after eating a meal, the students were told how the food was prepared and the motivations of those preparing it.
Charlie Trotter made a cameo appearance in the 1997 film '']'', screaming at an assistant "I will kill your whole family if you don't get this right!" a parody of a stereotypical screaming angry chef.

Trotter also was unusual among ]s for his outspokenness in matters of ethics, most famously when he took ] off the menu in 2002 for ethical reasons.<ref> Mark Caro, '']'', 7 April 2005</ref> However, Trotter refused to be associated with the animal rights group ] stating, "These people are idiots. Understand my position: I have nothing to do with a group like that. I think they're pathetic. … ome of their tactics are crude and uncivilized even."<ref>{{cite book |last=Caro|first=Mark|title=The Foie Gras Wars|year=2009|publisher=Simon and Schuster |page=|isbn=9781416556688|url=https://archive.org/details/foiegraswarshow500caro|url-access=registration|quote=These people are idiots. Understand my position: I have nothing to do with a group like that. I think they're pathetic..}}</ref>

Trotter made a cameo appearance in the 1997 film '']'', screaming at an assistant, "I will kill your whole family if you don't get this right! I need this perfect!"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canavan |first=Hillary Dixler |date=2013-11-06 |title=Watch Charlie Trotter in My Best Friend's Wedding |url=https://www.eater.com/2013/11/6/6335963/watch-charlie-trotter-in-my-best-friends-wedding |access-date=2023-02-25 |website=Eater |language=en}}</ref> a parody of a stereotypical screaming angry chef.


==Restaurants== ==Restaurants==
] ]
]
''Charlie Trotter's'' restaurant in Chicago, which opened in 1987, was named as the 30<sup>th</sup>-best restaurant in the world, and 5<sup>th</sup>-best in the ] in 2007 by the well-respected "]".<ref></ref> It has received awards and praise from other publications and travel guides.
] dish]]


* ''Charlie Trotter's'' restaurant in Chicago opened in 1987. It was named as the 30th-] by ], and 5th-best in the United States in 2007.<ref name="worldpress">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldpress.org/2804.cfm|publisher=worldpress.org|title=World's Top 50 Restaurants 2007|access-date=April 10, 2017}}</ref> In 2010 Charlie Trotter's was one of three restaurants in Chicago to be awarded two stars by the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michelin.com/corporate/news/products/article?articleID=CP_GM_Chicago_2011 |title=Chicago 2011 |publisher=] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204232025/http://www.michelin.com/corporate/news/products/article?articleID=CP_GM_Chicago_2011 |archive-date=December 4, 2010 |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://chicago.eater.com/2010/11/16/6709967/chicago-michelin-guide-revealed-alinea-l20-get-3-stars |title=Chicago Michelin Guide Revealed: Alinea, L20 Get 3 Stars |last=Bendersky |first=Ari |date=November 16, 2010 |access-date=August 23, 2016}}</ref> In the following year's Michelin Guide, the restaurant again was rated with two stars.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-michelin-guide-chicago-announces-2012-star-recipients-20111115-story.html |title=Alinea, Ria, Charlie Trotter's among Michelin-starred restaurants in 2012 Chicago guide |last1=Vettel |first1=Phil |last2=Pang |first2=Kevin |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=November 15, 2011 |access-date=August 23, 2016 }}</ref> On December 31, 2011, Trotter announced that the restaurant would close in August 2012, citing a desire to travel and to pursue a master's degree.<ref name="DAVID KAMP 30trotter">
Trotter owns ''Trotter's To Go'', a high-end ] and ] store in ]. In 2006 he opened Trotter's To Go Express, a simplified delicatessen located in Chicago's downtown Equinox Fitness Club selling fast food to carry away.
{{cite news
| last = Kamp
| first = David
| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/dining/30trotter.html?pagewanted=all
| title = Charlie Trotter, a Leader Left Behind
| work = The New York Times
| date = March 30, 2011
}}
</ref>


* Trotter also owned ''Trotter's To Go'' at 1337 W. Fullerton, a high-end ] and catering store in ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.charlietrotters.com/togo/ |title=Trotter's To Go |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920015230/http://www.charlietrotters.com/togo/ |archive-date=September 20, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> This closed in July 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/trotters-to-go/Location?oid=1023460 |title=Trotter's to Go |newspaper=Chicago Reader |last=Shatkin |first=Laura Levy |year=2005 |access-date=August 23, 2016}}</ref>
In February 2004, ''C'', a seafood restaurant, opened in ], ] under the direction of Charlie Trotter.
* In 2008, Trotter opened his second namesake restaurant in Las Vegas known as ''Restaurant Charlie''. The restaurant garnered extraordinary praise from critics and received the ] One Star award in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.michelinguide.com/us/lv_09_stars.htm/ |title=2009 Michelin Guide}}{{dead link|date=August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://vegasmavens.com/2010/the-michelin-stars-of-las-vegas/ |title=The Michelin Stars of Las Vegas (Michelin 2009 Guide) |publisher=Vegas Mavens |access-date=August 23, 2016}}</ref> The restaurant also received the 2009 ] for "Best New Restaurant". Within the restaurant was a smaller, private bar known as ''Bar Charlie'' in which diners were seated overlooking the kitchen preparation and received a hands-on experience. It closed in March 2010.<ref name="Janet Rausa Fuller">{{cite news
|last=Rausa Fuller
|first=Janet
|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/food/2010/03/charlie_trotter_closes_las_veg.html
|title=Charlie Trotter closes Las Vegas restaurant
|work=Chicago Sun-Times
|date=March 19, 2010
|access-date=August 23, 2016
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101143528/http://blogs.suntimes.com/food/2010/03/charlie_trotter_closes_las_veg.html
|archive-date=November 1, 2013
|df=mdy
}}</ref>
* In 2004, Trotter opened ''C'', a seafood restaurant in ], Mexico. It closed in November 2008.<ref name="Janet Rausa Fuller" />
* Trotter had planned to open a restaurant in New York City in a new building being built at ],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/realestate/25deal1.html |title=The Butler Could Do It |last=Barbanel |first=Josh |newspaper=New York Times |date=November 25, 2007 |access-date=August 23, 2016}}</ref> but a foreclosure crisis prevented it.<ref name="Janet Rausa Fuller" />
*In 2014, Trotter's son, Dylan, and Trotter’s mother, Dona-Lee Trotter, announced that the nonprofit Trotter Project would open in the original Charlie Trotter's restaurant space on Armitage Avenue.<ref name=Caro2014>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/recipes/chi-trotter-cantu-nonprofit-20140612-story.html |title=A rebirth for Charlie Trotter's restaurant space |last=Caro |first=Mark |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=June 12, 2014 |access-date=August 23, 2016}}</ref> Though the buildings had been put on the market after the restaurant closed in 2012, they were taken off the market. As of 2024, the project's stated mission is: "The Trotter Project nourishes dreams, transforms lives and empowers communities through food, education, and community initiatives".<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Trotter Project |url=https://www.thetrotterproject.org/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=The Trotter Project |language=en-US}}</ref>


==Lawsuits==
Trotter announced in 2006 that he would open a new restaurant, as yet unnamed, in the new ] tower near Michigan Avenue in Chicago to open in late 2008.
Trotter was the subject of a number of lawsuits. In 2003 he was the subject of two ] lawsuits pertaining to the compensation of his employees and alleged violations of ], both front-of-the-house (service) and back-of-the-house (cooks).<ref name=caro>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/08/30/03-lawsuit-challenged-work-conditions/ |title='03 lawsuit challenged work conditions |first=Mark |last=Caro |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=August 30, 2012}}</ref> The first, filed by former waiter Kurt Sorensen, alleges that rather than receiving the tips they collected, waiters were paid from a restaurant-wide pool, and their share was significantly lower than the amount they had collected, in violation of ] law.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/03/06/lawsuit-alleges-trotters-stiffed-wait-staff-on-tips/ |title=Lawsuit alleges Trotter's stiffed wait staff on tips |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=March 6, 2003}}</ref> This suit was ].<ref name=caro/> The second, filed September 17, 2003 by former cook ], alleged that cooks were required to work unpaid overtime. This suit was settled in 2005, resulting in a liability of almost $700,000, though of this only about $300,000 was paid out, as many eligible former employees returned their share.<ref name=caro/>


On June 13, 2013, Trotter was sued by brothers and wine collectors Bekim and Ilir Frrokaj, who accused him of selling them a ] bottle of 1945 Domaine de la ] for $46,000; Trotter denied any wrongdoing.<ref>"", ''],'' June 14, 2013</ref>
Trotter is an investor and brand name behind a seafood restaurant at the Palazzo casino in Las Vegas called Restaurant Charlie.


==Personal life==
Trotter is also opening a restaurant in New York City in a new building being built at One Madison Park.<ref></ref>
Trotter married his first wife, Lisa Ehrlich, on August 31, 1986. They met in 1981 at ]. Lisa helped open the restaurant and served as its first dining room manager and wine director until the couple divorced in August 1990.


Trotter's second marriage, to Lynn Thomas, produced a son, Dylan, born on May 24, 1991 (]'s 50th birthday), who was 22<ref name=RausaFuller2014>{{cite news |url= https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140117/lincoln-park/charlie-trotters-wife-on-his-last-days-he-was-so-full-of-joy |last= Rausa Fuller |first= Janet |title= Charlie Trotter's Wife on His Last Days: He Was 'So Full of Joy' |date= January 17, 2014 |newspaper= DNAinfo |location= Chicago |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160911060604/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140117/lincoln-park/charlie-trotters-wife-on-his-last-days-he-was-so-full-of-joy |archive-date= September 11, 2016 |df= mdy-all }}</ref> years old at the time of his father's death.
==Books by Charlie Trotter==

* ''Charlie Trotter's'' 1994 ISBN 0-89815-628-9
In February 2010, Trotter married girlfriend Rochelle Smith,<ref>{{cite news |author=Leach, Robin |title=Strip Scribbles: Chef Charlie Trotter weds in the Maldives |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/feb/26/strip-scribbles-chef-charlie-trotter-weds-maldives/ |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=February 26, 2010 |access-date=March 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302151254/http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/feb/26/strip-scribbles-chef-charlie-trotter-weds-maldives/ |archive-date=March 2, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> who later became his ].
* ''Charlie Trotter's Vegetables'' 1996 ISBN 0-89815-838-9

* ''Charlie Trotter's Seafood'' 1997 ISBN 0-89815-898-2
In 2021, a feature-length documentary about his life, titled '']'', was released in the United States.
* ''Gourmet Cooking for Dummies'' 1997 ISBN 0-7645-5029-2

* ''Charlie Trotter's Desserts'' 1998 ISBN 0-89815-815-X
==Death and legacy==
* ''The Kitchen Sessions With Charlie Trotter'' 1999 ISBN 0-89815-997-0
On November 5, 2013, his son Dylan found him in their Lincoln Park home. Trotter was taken to ], where he was pronounced dead as a result of a ].<ref>{{cite news|last1= Sobol|first1=Rosemary Regina |last2= Gorner |first2= Jeremy |last3=Vettel|first3= Phil|last4= Caro| first4=Mark|title=Charlie Trotter, famed Chicago chef, found dead in home|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-charlie-trotter-dead-20131105,0,3424072.story| work= ] |date= November 5, 2013|access-date=November 5, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/25/charlie-trotter-autopsy_n_4338383.html |title= Charlie Trotter's Autopsy Shows Famed Chef Died From Stroke, According To Medical Examiner |website= HuffingtonPost.com |date= November 25, 2013 |access-date=December 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209164448/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/25/charlie-trotter-autopsy_n_4338383.html |archive-date= December 9, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref> Former understudy ] called Trotter a "mentor, trailblazer, philosopher, artist, teacher leader."<ref name=Bellware>{{cite news|title= Charlie Trotter Dead: Chicago Fire Department Says Famed Chef Has Died At 54 |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/05/charlie-trotter-dead_n_4219980.html| work= Huffington Post|date= November 5, 2013|access-date= November 5, 2013|first=Kim|last=Bellware}}</ref>
* ''Charlie Trotter Cooks at Home'' 2000 ISBN 1-58008-250-5
Charlie Trotter's spirit of mentorship continues via The Trotter Project, a ] charitable organization created by family, co-workers and friends including ], Trotter's mother Dona-Lee, sister Anne, brothers Scott and Tom, and his son Dylan.<ref></ref>
* ''Charlie Trotter's Meat and Game'' 2001 ISBN 1-58008-238-6

* ''Workin' More Kitchen Sessions With Charlie Trotter'' ] ISBN 1-58008-613-6
==Published works==
===Coauthored by Charlie Trotter===
* Clarke, Paul and Charlie Trotter. ''Lessons in Excellence from Charlie Trotter'' 1999 ISBN 0-89815-908-3 * ''Charlie Trotter's'' 1994 {{ISBN|0-89815-628-9}}
* Lawler, Edward and Charlie Trotter. ''Lessons in Service from Charlie Trotter'' 2001 ISBN 1-58008-315-3 * ''Charlie Trotter's Vegetables'' 1996 {{ISBN|0-89815-838-9}}
* Trotter, Charlie and Roxanne Klein. ''Raw'' 2003 ISBN 1-58008-470-2 * ''Charlie Trotter's Seafood'' 1997 {{ISBN|0-89815-898-2}}
* ''Gourmet Cooking for Dummies'' 1997 {{ISBN|0-7645-5029-2}}
* ''Charlie Trotter's Desserts'' 1998 {{ISBN|0-89815-815-X}}
* ''The Kitchen Sessions With Charlie Trotter'' 1999 {{ISBN|0-89815-997-0}}
* ''Charlie Trotter Cooks at Home'' 2000 {{ISBN|1-58008-250-5}}
* ''Charlie Trotter's Meat and Game'' 2001 {{ISBN|1-58008-238-6}}
* ''Workin' More Kitchen Sessions With Charlie Trotter'' 2004 {{ISBN|1-58008-613-6}}
* ''Homecooking with Charlie Trotter'' 2009<ref>{{cite web |title=Review of Home Cooking with Charlie Trotter: Modern Elegance Meets Home-Style Cooking |publisher=Food Paper |access-date=August 23, 2016 |url=http://www.thefoodpaper.com/cookbooks/homecooking-charlietrotter.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170924/http://www.thefoodpaper.com/cookbooks/homecooking-charlietrotter.html |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

;Coauthored
* Clarke, Paul and Charlie Trotter. ''Lessons in Excellence from Charlie Trotter'' 1999 {{ISBN|0-89815-908-3}}
* Lawler, Edmund and Charlie Trotter. ''Lessons in Service from Charlie Trotter'' 2001 {{ISBN|1-58008-315-3}}
* Trotter, Charlie and Roxanne Klein. ''Raw'' 2003 {{ISBN|1-58008-470-2}}
* Trotter, Wareing, Hill and Hall. ''Knife Skills in the Kitchen'' 2008 {{ISBN|978-0-7566-3391-2}}

== Awards and honors==

* Culinary Hall of Fame<ref name="culinaryhalloffame">{{cite web|url=http://www.culinaryhalloffame.com/culinary-media/press-releases/2905|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130215190701/http://www.culinaryhalloffame.com/culinary-media/press-releases/2905|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 15, 2013|title=Charlie Trotter Inducted|work=Culinary Hall of Fame|access-date=April 10, 2017}}</ref>
The Best Restaurant in the World for Wine and Food, 1998
The Grand Award, 1993 – 2012
Wine Enthusiast
America’s Best Wine-Driven Restaurants, 2006
International Food Manufacturers Association
Silver Plate Award Winner, 2008
Gold Plate Award Winner, 2008

The James Beard Foundation
Best Food Photography, Meat & Game, 2003
Outstanding Service, 2002
Outstanding Restaurant, 2000
Best National Television Cooking Show for "The Kitchen Sessions, with Charlie Trotter," 2000
Best Food Photography, Desserts, 1999
Outstanding Chef Award, 1999
Who's Who in Food & Beverage Award, 1996
Outstanding Wine Service, 1993
Best Chef, Midwest, 1992
Humanitarian of The Year 2012
Nation's Restaurant News
50 Power Players 2000
Fine Dining Hall of Fame (elected by peers), 1991
Chicago Tribune
Four Stars (highest rating)
Crain's Chicago Business
Four Forks (highest rating)

==See also==
{{commons}}
* ]


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0873684}}
*
*
* *
*


{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Trotter, Charlie}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Trotter, Charlie}}
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Latest revision as of 23:03, 17 September 2024

American chef and resaurateur (1959–2013)
Charlie Trotter
Born(1959-09-08)September 8, 1959
Wilmette, Illinois, US
DiedNovember 5, 2013(2013-11-05) (aged 54)
Chicago, Illinois, US
Education
Spouses
Lisa Ehrlich ​ ​(m. 1986; div. 1990)​
  • Lynn Thomas (div. 2001)
Rochelle Smith ​(m. 2010)​
Culinary career
Cooking styleDegustation
Rating(s)
Previous restaurant(s)
    • Charlie Trotter's — Chicago, Illinois
    • Restaurant Charlie — Las Vegas, Nevada
Television show(s)
  • 1999 – PBS — The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter
Award(s) won

Charlie Trotter (September 8, 1959 – November 5, 2013) was an American chef and restaurateur. His best-known restaurant, Charlie Trotter's, was open in Chicago from 1987 to 2012.

Early life and education

Trotter was born in Wilmette, Illinois and graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois. He attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois from 1977 to 1979, and then transferred to University of Wisconsin–Madison. Trotter started cooking professionally in 1982 after earning a political science bachelor's degree from UW–Madison.

Career

For five years after college, he worked and studied in Chicago, San Francisco (at the California Culinary Academy), Florida and Europe. He opened his first restaurant in Chicago with his father, Bob Trotter, as his partner.

Trotter was the host of the 1999 PBS cooking show The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter, in which he details his recipes and cooking techniques. He likened cooking to an improvisational jazz session in that as two riffs will never be the same, so too with food. He also wrote 14 cookbooks and three management books, and promoted a line of organic and all-natural gourmet foods distributed nationally.

Trotter was involved with his philanthropic Charlie Trotter Culinary Education Foundation and other causes. He was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year award in 2005 by the International Association of Culinary Professionals. He invited groups of public high school students into his restaurant as part of his Excellence Program two to three times per week: after eating a meal, the students were told how the food was prepared and the motivations of those preparing it.

Trotter also was unusual among celebrity chefs for his outspokenness in matters of ethics, most famously when he took foie gras off the menu in 2002 for ethical reasons. However, Trotter refused to be associated with the animal rights group Farm Sanctuary stating, "These people are idiots. Understand my position: I have nothing to do with a group like that. I think they're pathetic. … ome of their tactics are crude and uncivilized even."

Trotter made a cameo appearance in the 1997 film My Best Friend's Wedding, screaming at an assistant, "I will kill your whole family if you don't get this right! I need this perfect!" a parody of a stereotypical screaming angry chef.

Restaurants

Sign outside Charlie Trotter's
Interior of Charlie Trotter's kitchen
Charlie Trotter's poularde dish
  • Charlie Trotter's restaurant in Chicago opened in 1987. It was named as the 30th-best restaurant in the world by Restaurant Magazine, and 5th-best in the United States in 2007. In 2010 Charlie Trotter's was one of three restaurants in Chicago to be awarded two stars by the Michelin Guide. In the following year's Michelin Guide, the restaurant again was rated with two stars. On December 31, 2011, Trotter announced that the restaurant would close in August 2012, citing a desire to travel and to pursue a master's degree.
  • Trotter also owned Trotter's To Go at 1337 W. Fullerton, a high-end delicatessen and catering store in Lincoln Park, Chicago. This closed in July 2012.
  • In 2008, Trotter opened his second namesake restaurant in Las Vegas known as Restaurant Charlie. The restaurant garnered extraordinary praise from critics and received the Michelin Guide One Star award in 2009. The restaurant also received the 2009 James Beard Award for "Best New Restaurant". Within the restaurant was a smaller, private bar known as Bar Charlie in which diners were seated overlooking the kitchen preparation and received a hands-on experience. It closed in March 2010.
  • In 2004, Trotter opened C, a seafood restaurant in Los Cabos, Mexico. It closed in November 2008.
  • Trotter had planned to open a restaurant in New York City in a new building being built at One Madison Park, but a foreclosure crisis prevented it.
  • In 2014, Trotter's son, Dylan, and Trotter’s mother, Dona-Lee Trotter, announced that the nonprofit Trotter Project would open in the original Charlie Trotter's restaurant space on Armitage Avenue. Though the buildings had been put on the market after the restaurant closed in 2012, they were taken off the market. As of 2024, the project's stated mission is: "The Trotter Project nourishes dreams, transforms lives and empowers communities through food, education, and community initiatives".

Lawsuits

Trotter was the subject of a number of lawsuits. In 2003 he was the subject of two class action lawsuits pertaining to the compensation of his employees and alleged violations of labor law, both front-of-the-house (service) and back-of-the-house (cooks). The first, filed by former waiter Kurt Sorensen, alleges that rather than receiving the tips they collected, waiters were paid from a restaurant-wide pool, and their share was significantly lower than the amount they had collected, in violation of minimum wage law. This suit was settled out of court. The second, filed September 17, 2003 by former cook Beverly Kim, alleged that cooks were required to work unpaid overtime. This suit was settled in 2005, resulting in a liability of almost $700,000, though of this only about $300,000 was paid out, as many eligible former employees returned their share.

On June 13, 2013, Trotter was sued by brothers and wine collectors Bekim and Ilir Frrokaj, who accused him of selling them a counterfeit bottle of 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti for $46,000; Trotter denied any wrongdoing.

Personal life

Trotter married his first wife, Lisa Ehrlich, on August 31, 1986. They met in 1981 at University of Wisconsin–Madison. Lisa helped open the restaurant and served as its first dining room manager and wine director until the couple divorced in August 1990.

Trotter's second marriage, to Lynn Thomas, produced a son, Dylan, born on May 24, 1991 (Bob Dylan's 50th birthday), who was 22 years old at the time of his father's death.

In February 2010, Trotter married girlfriend Rochelle Smith, who later became his publicist.

In 2021, a feature-length documentary about his life, titled Love, Charlie: The Rise and Fall of Chef Charlie Trotter, was released in the United States.

Death and legacy

On November 5, 2013, his son Dylan found him in their Lincoln Park home. Trotter was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead as a result of a stroke. Former understudy Graham Elliot called Trotter a "mentor, trailblazer, philosopher, artist, teacher leader." Charlie Trotter's spirit of mentorship continues via The Trotter Project, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization created by family, co-workers and friends including Homaro Cantu, Trotter's mother Dona-Lee, sister Anne, brothers Scott and Tom, and his son Dylan.

Published works

Coauthored

Awards and honors

  • Culinary Hall of Fame

The Best Restaurant in the World for Wine and Food, 1998 The Grand Award, 1993 – 2012 Wine Enthusiast America’s Best Wine-Driven Restaurants, 2006 International Food Manufacturers Association Silver Plate Award Winner, 2008 Gold Plate Award Winner, 2008

The James Beard Foundation Best Food Photography, Meat & Game, 2003 Outstanding Service, 2002 Outstanding Restaurant, 2000 Best National Television Cooking Show for "The Kitchen Sessions, with Charlie Trotter," 2000 Best Food Photography, Desserts, 1999 Outstanding Chef Award, 1999 Who's Who in Food & Beverage Award, 1996 Outstanding Wine Service, 1993 Best Chef, Midwest, 1992 Humanitarian of The Year 2012

Nation's Restaurant News 50 Power Players 2000 Fine Dining Hall of Fame (elected by peers), 1991 Chicago Tribune Four Stars (highest rating) Crain's Chicago Business Four Forks (highest rating)

See also

References

  1. Caro, Mark (August 28, 2012). "Charlie Trotter preaches excellence to the extreme". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  2. Grimes, William (November 5, 2013). "Charlie Trotter Dies at 54; Chef Made Chicago a Must". The New York Times.
  3. Trotter won't turn down heat in foie gras flap Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune, 7 April 2005
  4. Caro, Mark (2009). The Foie Gras Wars. Simon and Schuster. p. 12. ISBN 9781416556688. These people are idiots. Understand my position: I have nothing to do with a group like that. I think they're pathetic..
  5. Canavan, Hillary Dixler (2013-11-06). "Watch Charlie Trotter in My Best Friend's Wedding". Eater. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  6. "Kitchen Table Confidential: The Last Word on Charlie Trotter (For Now) | Newcity Resto". 2012-12-21. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  7. "World's Top 50 Restaurants 2007". worldpress.org. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  8. "Chicago 2011". Michelin Guide. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010.
  9. Bendersky, Ari (November 16, 2010). "Chicago Michelin Guide Revealed: Alinea, L20 Get 3 Stars". Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  10. Vettel, Phil; Pang, Kevin (November 15, 2011). "Alinea, Ria, Charlie Trotter's among Michelin-starred restaurants in 2012 Chicago guide". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  11. Kamp, David (March 30, 2011). "Charlie Trotter, a Leader Left Behind". The New York Times.
  12. "Trotter's To Go". Archived from the original on September 20, 2011.
  13. Shatkin, Laura Levy (2005). "Trotter's to Go [now closed]". Chicago Reader. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  14. "2009 Michelin Guide".
  15. "The Michelin Stars of Las Vegas (Michelin 2009 Guide)". Vegas Mavens. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  16. ^ Rausa Fuller, Janet (March 19, 2010). "Charlie Trotter closes Las Vegas restaurant". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  17. Barbanel, Josh (November 25, 2007). "The Butler Could Do It". New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  18. Caro, Mark (June 12, 2014). "A rebirth for Charlie Trotter's restaurant space". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  19. "The Trotter Project". The Trotter Project. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  20. ^ Caro, Mark (August 30, 2012). "'03 lawsuit challenged work conditions". Chicago Tribune.
  21. "Lawsuit alleges Trotter's stiffed wait staff on tips". Chicago Tribune. March 6, 2003.
  22. "Charlie Trotter sued over wine sale", Crain's Chicago Business, June 14, 2013
  23. Rausa Fuller, Janet (January 17, 2014). "Charlie Trotter's Wife on His Last Days: He Was 'So Full of Joy'". DNAinfo. Chicago. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016.
  24. Leach, Robin (February 26, 2010). "Strip Scribbles: Chef Charlie Trotter weds in the Maldives". Las Vegas Sun. Archived from the original on March 2, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2010.
  25. Sobol, Rosemary Regina; Gorner, Jeremy; Vettel, Phil; Caro, Mark (November 5, 2013). "Charlie Trotter, famed Chicago chef, found dead in home". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  26. "Charlie Trotter's Autopsy Shows Famed Chef Died From Stroke, According To Medical Examiner". HuffingtonPost.com. November 25, 2013. Archived from the original on December 9, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  27. Bellware, Kim (November 5, 2013). "Charlie Trotter Dead: Chicago Fire Department Says Famed Chef Has Died At 54". Huffington Post. Retrieved November 5, 2013.
  28. The Trotter Project
  29. "Review of Home Cooking with Charlie Trotter: Modern Elegance Meets Home-Style Cooking". Food Paper. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  30. "Charlie Trotter Inducted". Culinary Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2017.

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