Celebrate Charlie Trotter Day Around Town This Weekend

To celebrate the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago proclaiming August 17 Charlie Trotter Day, local, national and international restaurants have added Trotter-inspired dishes to their menus this coming weekend (August 16 and 17).

The dishes are a way to pay tribute to the late chef as well as to benefit The Trotter Project, the nonprofit started in part by Trotter alum Homaro Cantu of Michelin-starred Moto. Proceeds from the dishes will help support the nonprofit organization's goals of educating and giving back to the community, funding an indoor farming initiative and more.

Cantu, who is Chairman of the Board of The Trotter Project, has been tirelessly soliciting chefs and restaurants via social media to join in the upcoming celebration. Anniversaries at Charlie Trotter's were notably lavish, and this collection of some of the world's most notable chefs would no doubt put those celebrations to shame if it were all being held under one roof.

Locally, restaurants celebrating Trotter's legacy this weekend include: Billy Sunday, MK, Green Zebra, BellyQ, Boka, GT Fish and Oyster, Girl and the Goat, Ruxbin, Vera, mfk., La Sirena Clandestina, Perennial Virant, Table 52, Yusho, Mercadito Fish, Salpicon and A10.

Cantu's Moto, led by executive chef Richie Farina, is planning a Charlie Trotter-inspired bonus course as an extra to both the restaurant's regular tasting menu as well as a special 8-course menu that will only be available this weekend. Call 312-491-0058 or visit Moto's website to make reservations.

Looking ahead to September 4, The Trotter Project will be a big part of this year's The Grant Park Conservancy's Savour, the opening night fundraiser of the Windy City Wine Festival. Trotter alums such as Cantu, Matthias Merges, Mindy Segal, Giuseppe Tentori and Bill Kim will be joined by other local chefs such as Paul Kahan, Kevin Hickey, Ryan McCaskey, as well as Dominique Crenn of San Francisco's Atelier Crenn. You can get tickets for the event here.
· The Trotter Project [Official Site]
· All Charlie Trotter Coverage [-ECHI-]
· All Homaro Cantu Coverage [-ECHI-]