Charlie Trotter at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

September 8, 1959 – November 5, 2013 – He was one of the finest chefs in the world. And he made Chicago a haven for foodies. Chef Charlie Trotter passed away at the young age of 54 on November 5, 2013.

Upon opening Charlie Trotter’s he was quickly considered a groundbreaker in the food world. Serving American-style food, the restaurant was named the best in the nation by Wine Spectator magazine in 2000. In 1999 he was the named the country’s Outstanding Chef by James Beard Foundation. In 2002 he was given the Beard Award for Outstanding Service, and just last year, he received the James Beard Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year award.

But it wasn’t just his savory dishes he was known for. Trotter was also a man of generosity, creating the Charlie Trotter Education Foundation, which provided scholarships for culinary students.

He was also a man of uncommon generosity, creating the Charlie Trotter Education Foundation to provide scholarships for culinary students.

Here he is photographed at the Charlie Trotter and Piero Antinori Tribute Dinner at the 2012 South Beach Wine and Food Festival.

Charlie Trotter & Martha Stewart at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Norman Van Aken, Anthony Bourdain, Charlie Trotter, & Emeril Lagasse at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Emeril Lagasse, Charlie Trotter, & Norman Van Aken at at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Charlie Trotter & Norman Van Aken at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Norman Van Aken & Charlie Trotter at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Anthony Bourdain, Piero Antinori, & Charlie Trotter at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Piero Antinori & Charlie Trotter at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Charlie Trotter, Anthony Bourdain, Rochelle Smith, & Ottavia Busia Bourdain at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Charlie Trotter & Anthony Bourdain at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Charlie Trotter, Anthony Bourdain, Rochelle Smith, & Patrick O’Connell at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Charlie Trotter, Janet & Norman Van Aken at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Charlie Trotter at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Harvey Chaplin & Charlie Trotter at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Patrick O’Connell, Norman Van Aken, Frederic Delaire, Charlie Trotter, Anthony Bourdain, & Lee Schrager at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Wylie Dufresne, Patrick O’Connell, Norman Van Aken, Anthony Bourdain, Charlie Trotter, Frederic Delaire, Michelle Gayer, & Lee Schrager at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Charlie Trotter at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 25, 2012

Charlie Trotter at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 26, 2011

Alain Ducasse & Charlie Trotter at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 26, 2011

Daniel Boulud & Charlie Trotter at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 26, 2011

Charlie Trotter at SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner on February 26, 2011

Charlie Trotter & Kim Daisy at Moet Hennessy’s The Q on February 23, 2012

Wolfgang Puck, Charlie Trotter, & Emeril Lagasse at Grand Opening of The Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas on January 17, 2008

Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali, Charlie Trotter, & Emeril Lagasse at Grand Opening of The Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas on January 17, 2008