(Newser)
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A Chicago landmark will soon be history. Legendary chef Charlie Trotter is closing his restaurant in August, after a quarter-century of service. It's not a financial matter: "We’ve always been profitable, that’s for sure," he tells the Sun-Times. But Trotter is ready "to put the flag in the sand" and achieve some non-culinary goals, including travel and a graduate degree in philosophy and political theory.
When the restaurant opened in 1987, Trotter was just 27. Charlie Trotter's became known for its wide-ranging menus and impeccable service; the New York Times says it "helped transform American fine dining." Now, Trotter says, it's time for something new. "A quarter century of running a restaurant—that’s a long time to do one thing." Meanwhile, Trotter's devotees needn't despair: You'll still be able to get takeout from Trotter's To Go, and the chef plans a new restaurant after his "sabbatical."
