Here Are Menus From Charlie Trotter's Over the Years

In honor of the late, legendary Chicago chef Charlie Trotter's passing today, here are menus from his eponymous restaurant over the years. Bloomberg critic Ryan Sutton points out that Trotter was a key figure in the evolution of the tasting menu in America, offering both a grand tasting menu and a vegetable-focused tasting menu long before either made regular appearances in American restaurants. After 25 years, the chef closed Charlie Trotter's in 2012 in order to go to graduate school. Have a look at some of the menus from the restaurant's last years of service and check out the opening menu from 1987 over at the Chicago Tribune:

2004

[Photo: @ChefChumba]

2007

2008

[Photo: D.L/ / Flickr]

[Photo: D.L. / Flickr]

2012

[Photo: @normanvanaken]

[Photo: CharlieTrotters.com]

[Photo: CharlieTrotters.com]

· Charlie Trotter, Chef Who Promoted Tasting Menus, Dies at 54 [Bloomberg]
· Chicago Chef Charlie Trotter Dead at 54 [-E-]
· All Charlie Trotter Coverage on Eater [-E-]