Tag Archives: Charlie Trotters in Chicago

A Video Tribute to Charlie Trotter

If you want to dine at one of Chicago’s top restaurants, you better make reservations ASAP! Visit Charlie Trotter’s website, which features a countdown clock until the 25th anniversary party/restaurant closure on August 17, 2012.

Charlie Trotter's poularde dish

Charlie Trotter’s poularde dish (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here’s my Video Tribute to Charlie Trotter: http://youtu.be/KaXHBY9CU9g.

This iconic Michelin-starred restaurant has also received James Beard Foundation Awards. Charlie Trotter opened Charlie Trotter’s (Chicago) in 1987 with his father, Bob Trotter as his partner. The restaurant has been open for almost 25 years.

Charlie went to the University of Wisconsin in Madison where he earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Political Science. After graduating from college, he traveled around the U.S. and Europe to dine at only the finest restaurants.

University of Wisconsin–Madison

University of Wisconsin–Madison (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The figure who most impressed  Charlie during his culinary development was Fernand Point (of the famed Ma Gastronomie). Trotter never went to culinary school. His first cooking job was at Sinclair’s on the North Shore. He was a cook there and worked under Norman Van Aken and Carrie Nahabedian.

Chef Trotter established the Charlie Trotter Culinary Education foundation. This foundation supplies scholarships to students entering culinary programs. He also spearheaded the Excellence Program which allows high school students to come in and experience the cuisine of the restaurant.

Dr. EveAnn Lovero writes Travel Guides @ www.vino-con-vista.com

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Filed under Chicago, Chicago Chefs, Chicago Restaurants

Chicago’s Creative Chefs Earn Coveted Michelin Stars

TOKYO - NOVEMBER 18:  Director of Michelin Gui...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

On November 18th, the First Edition of the Chicago Michelin Guide hits the book shelves with 342 restaurant listings that include 42 different types of cuisine in 14 of my favorite “Vino con Vista” Chicago neighborhoods. www.michelinguide.com/us/index.html

Chicago Loop

 There are only 93 restaurants in the world with exceptional cuisine worthy of three-stars. Chicago’ s ulta-modern Alinea‘s chef  Grant Achatz  at 1723 N. Halsted and  seafood-inspired chef Laurent Gras of L20 at 2300 N. Lincoln Park West just joined the prestigious club.

Rush Street Chicago

Two-star winniers are:

Charlie Trotters at 816 W. Armitage

Avenues in the Peninsula at 108 E. Superior

Ria in the Elysian Hotel at 11 E. Walton

Ria Restaurant at the Elysian in Chicago

Eighteeen of Chicago’s restaurants earned an impressive one-star rating including :

Blackbird at 619. W. RandolfBlackbird Restaurant in Chicago

 

NoMI in the Park Hyatt at 800 N. Michigan

Sepia at 123 N. Jefferson

Sepia Restaurant in Chicago

Sepia Restaurant in Chicago

 

 

Sixteen in Trump Tower at 401 N. Wabash. Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago was named the #1 Large City Hotel in the Continental U.S. and Canada in Travel and Leisure’s 2010 World’s Best Awards.

Sixteen Restaurant at the Trump Tower in Chicago

The “Bib Gourmand” rating went to 46 Chicago restaurants including:

The Girl and the Goat at 809 W. Randolf

Bistro 110 at 110 E. Pearson

The Purple Pig at 500 N. Michigan

Purple Pig Menu in Chicago

Green Zebra at 1460 W. Chicago

Frontera Grill at 445 N. Clark

Michelin Guide director Jean-Luc Naret and Mayor Daley celebrated the launch with a party at the Chicago Cultural Center with other local notable foodies. The Guide was first published in France in 1900 and today there are 25 guides covering 23 countries. There are also US Michelin Guides are for New York and San Francisco.

The selection process entails anonymous visits from Michelin inspectors that are passionate about food. They are employed full-time at Michelin to identify high quality establishments around the world. Just because a chef earns a Michelin star doesn’t mean they keep it. The biggest blow to a chef’s ego is losing their coveted Michelin stars.

Dr. EveAnn Lovero writes Travel Guides to Italy and  Vino Con Vista Travel Guides can be purchased at these sites

Salute and  Buon Appetito Chicago from www.vino-con-vista.com

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Filed under Chicago, Chicago Restaurants, vino con vista