foodie's Reviews

Tucked away in Chicago’s leafy Lincoln Park, Charlie Trotter’s has long been the city’s premiere restaurant – and for good reason. Trotter shares the culinary philosophy of such famed California chefs as Alice Waters (and myself, though I’m certainly not in her league!), namely to create a menu based on seasonal produce. Here at Trotter’s, a dish is only as good as the ingredients, with the menu built around what’s fresh at the market. Rooted in the simple concept that ingredients should be healthful and homegrown, Trotter’s dishes bring together organic game, fresh-caught fish and naturally raised meat with fresh produce from local and domestic purveyors. With his three ample wine cellars, Trotter is a chef after my own heart, and the unforgettable vintages match the nonpareil cuisine.

Reviewed on: May 19, 2005