The Trotter Project
Charlie Trotter’s alumni will join Dylan Trotter, Chef Charlie Trotter’s son, other Trotter family members, culinary colleagues and the following special guests: Don Welsh, President and CEO of Choose Chicago; 43rd Ward Alderman Michelle Smith; Bob O’Neill, President of The Grant Park Conservancy; Illinois Restaurant Association President Sam Toia; and Mary Ann Rose, Chairman of the Board of The Magnificent Mile Association to announce the formation of the new not-for-profit called The Trotter Project.
“I wanted to have the announcement around Father’s Day as a special way to pay tribute to my dad and grandfather who started the restaurant [Charlie Trotter’s] together,” said Dylan Trotter.
“Spearheaded by Trotter alumni, the idea for The Trotter Project originated during the days following the loss of one of the culinary world’s greats: Chef Charlie Trotter,” said Homaro Cantu, President of The Trotter Project and Chef and Owner of Michelin-starred Moto Restaurant and Berrista Coffee in Chicago. “Conversations began among alumni and his culinary colleagues who wanted to be a part of something that paid tribute to the principles instilled in them by Chef Trotter. We are humbled and excited to have an ever-widening circle of alumni and culinary colleague supporters who have joined the initiative to celebrate the lasting legacy of Chef Charlie Trotter.”
The Trotter Project is an alumni-driven initiative that will be based in the landmark buildings where Chef Charlie Trotter made culinary history. Alumni and culinary colleagues from across Chicago and worldwide will provide instruction and continuing education through the organization’s Pillars of Excellence Program—a series of lessons that will teach the importance of striving for excellence in all life’s pursuits by using the premise and belief system for which all staff training at Charlie Trotter’s began and rested upon, including: Food, Wine & Beverage, Ambiance, plus Service & Hospitality.
In addition, nutritional education will also be offered to teach children the importance of eating right and enjoying healthy flavorful foods. Students will be invited to participate in dinners at the buildings.
A further series of initiatives is in development that will include training and education programs in collaboration with schools, grocery stores, and other entities. Intertwining with these programs will be an urban indoor farming component which will provide an innovative approach that seeks to further conversations and offer solutions to eliminate food deserts.
The Trotter Project will be the first international culinary organization to offer a revolutionary new rating and reviewing system which will provide a 100 percent transparent system, that will rate and reward chefs and operators, based on data not opinions and establish a new standard in the dining world. The rating system will incorporate scientific and mathematical data in a leading-edge way to provide a focus group quality review for restaurant operators worldwide. A revolutionary new rating and reviewing system which will provide a fresh new perspective on food experiences around the world and will reward and rate chefs and operators.
Additionally, The Trotter Project, in collaboration with The Grant Park Conservancy, will play host to The Windy City Wine Festival Opening Night Fundraiser, Savor, at Buckingham Fountain on Thursday, September 4, 2014. Alumni of the legendary Charlie Trotter’s restaurant and culinary colleagues who collaborated with Chef Trotter in his kitchen will showcase inspired cuisine paired with artisanal wines from around the world.
For more information, please visit The TrotterProject.org.
About The Trotter Project
The Trotter Project is an alumni-driven initiative which will provide instruction and continuing education through the organization’s Pillars of Excellence Program. Additionally education programs in collaboration with schools, grocery stores, and other entities will intertwine with an urban indoor farming component that seeks to further conversations and offer solutions to eliminate food deserts.The Trotter Project will be the first international culinary organization to offer a revolutionary new rating and reviewing system which will provide a 100 percent transparent system that will rate and reward chefs and operators, based on data not opinions and establish a new standard in the dining world.
The mission of The Trotter Project celebrates the lasting legacy of Chef Charlie Trotter through culinary and educational programs, services and events that foster professional and personal excellence and create a sense of community among individuals dedicated to these principles.
For more information, please visit The TrotterProject.org.
