Acclaimed Chicago chef and University of Wisconsin-Madison alumnus Charlie Trotter died Tuesday, according to a UW-Madison tweet.
Trotter, who was a self-trained chef, opened the restaurant Charlie Trotter’s with his father in Chicago in 1987.
Wine Spectator Magazine named Charlie Trotter’s ‘Best Restaurant in the United States’ in 2000, according to the restaurant’s website. Trotter and his restaurant have received many other awards and high ratings.
A friend of Trotter sparked his interest in cooking, and he would cook meals for roommates and friends during his time at UW-Madison, where he studied political science, according to the website.
Trotter spoke at winter commencement in 2001, where he said to the audience, “You get what you give. And if you want a lot—and you’d better want a lot—you’ve got to be prepared to give, because taking care of others and doing things for people comes back to you in ways that are immeasurable.”
