Charlie Trotter to Close Celebrated Chicago Restaurant

Charlie Trotter has announced he will be closing his eponymous two Michelin starred Chicago restaurant this August. Trotter's has been open for 25 years and has seen such great Chicago chefs pass through its kitchens as Grant Achatz of Alinea, Homaro Cantu of Moto, Giuseppe Tentori of Boka, and Graham Elliot of Graham Elliot. Over on Epicurious, Regina Schrambling writes that Trotter "elevated vegetarian to literally haute cuisine," and the Atlantic credits him for all kinds of food trends from tasting menus to offal to a chef's table to seasonal dining.

The announcement came during Trotter's annual New Year's Eve party, during which he told guests he intends to travel and pursue a masters degree in philosophy and political theory either in Chicago or California. He does intend to open a new restaurant after he gets his degree and will continue some culinary projects while in school (consulting for Holland America Cruise Line, a new cookbook coming next fall) but for the most part he's hitting the books. As he tells the Chicago Sun-Times, "When's the last time I sat on a beach and read The Brothers Karamazov?"

· Charlie Trotter to Close Chicago Eatery [Sun-Times via Eater Chicago]
· Charlie Trotter: Vegetables' Best Friend [Epicurious]
· The Food Trends Chef Charlie Trotter Started [Atlantic]
· All Charlie Trotter Coverage on Eater [-E-]