Chef Charlie Trotter
Charlie Trotter opened Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago in 1987 with his father, Bob Trotter as his partner. The restaurant has been open for 21 years.
Chef Trotter did not come from a “food focused” family. His interest in food was developed while he was in college and his roommate, Joel Fish who was an avid cook, would prepare various courses for his friends to taste. After graduating from college, Trotter traveled around the U.S. and Europe to dine at only the finest restaurants. He wanted to learn how the “best” gained that title, and see what the future could possibly hold for him.
He returned to the States and began doing tasting menu format catering parties for friends of his family. This was his way to “test the waters” on his culinary skills and his focus on the caliber of service and wine emphasis he desired. After doing this successfully for just over a year, he decided to open Charlie Trotter’s with his father.
The figure who most impressed Trotter during his culinary development was Fernand Point of the famed Ma Gastronomie. Trotter was impressed most by Point’s sense of generosity and to this day it is something which resonates within Trotter’s own highly philanthropic nature.
Chef Trotter recently received an award at the White House from both President Bush and Colin Powell for his work with his Culinary Foundation and was named one of only five ‘heroes’ to be honored by Colin Powell’s charity, Americas Promise. In 2005, Chef Trotter was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year award by the International Association of Culinary Professionals for his overall service to the community.
