Posted on 11/05/2013 12:10:11 PM PST by dennisw
Trotter burst on the scene in 1987, when the self-taught chef opened Charlie Trotter’s restaurant on Armitage Avenue. In short order, the chef’s intense creativity and never-repeat-a-dish dictum made Trotter’s the most talked-about restaurant in Chicago, and his fame quickly spread throughout the country and beyond.
Charlie Trotter, whose eponymous Chicago restaurant was considered one of the finest in the world, has died.
The 54-year-old chef was found unconscious and not breathing in his Lincoln Park home this morning and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Trotter was found by his son Dylan at the home in the 1800 block of North Dayton Street and an ambulance was called at 10:45 a.m., according to a family friend and fire officials.
"My baby's gone," Trotter's wife Rochelle told the friend, Carrie Nahabedian.
Steve Kolinski, a neighbor who lives several houses down, said he came outside late this morning and saw six police cars and an ambulance pulled up at Trotter’s home. Kolinski then saw Trotter’s wife, who ran outside and was “yelling hysterically.’’
Trotter was wheeled out on a stretcher and taken away, he said. Trotter’s wife and son then left.
Trotter was pronounced dead at 11:48 a.m. at Northwestern. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, but a source said there was no preliminary indications of foul play.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
I post this because this man was an entrepreneur and a big success. He ran his restaurant for 25 years ....Then said he would close it to go get a degree and travel
To decompress I would say. So after one year off from this very demanding business he is dead. Looks like heart or stroke related.
Dead at 54 after one year of “retirement”
RIP, Chef.
it was Charlie’s PBS show “Kitchen Sessions” that gave me inspiration for creating better food in my home for family and friends.
That and his really cool jazz music to start and end the show.
The Darker Side Of Charlie Trotter's
R.I.P.
My (ex) wife got us the special table in the kitchen at his restaurant in 1991 or 1992. Beyond memorable.
/johnny
RIP.
Good link...thanks
Wow— only in his mid 50’s.... take care out there folks. Get your BP checked and it can run high and not have any symptoms. Not saying this was Trotters problem but its very possible. High BP levels can lead to heart attack or stroke.
ping
How sad. I’m so sorry for his family and friends.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I’m always glad to learn that successful people were good people, too.
When the rock singer Ronnie James Dio died, several FReepers posted about personal meetings with him, and I remember those when I hear him on the radio. One of my sons is a big Dio fan.
Another son wanted to be a chef, until he worked a few shifts in a very busy restaurant with one of his Boy Scout leaders. He decided something less intense would be better for his personality! I’ve seen enough cooking TV shows to know it’s a very tough line of work.
My family misses you.
C
I only ever saw Ronnie live once, and that was in 2002. But I was a fan for years and was saddened that cancer took him from us. It seems a lot of good people like this chef are leaving us lately.
Delightful account with some prophetic words from Charlie Trotter. I am sorry about your husband.
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