I did not know it at the time of our long phone interview, but the last few years had been especially difficult for the man who made Michelin stars shine in the Midwestern evening.
Trotter was one of the first true celebrity chefs, with his eponymous restaurant opening in 1987. It was before the Food Network, before chefs were so well known that they had their own brands.
Charlie Trotter documentary review: Love, Charlie chronicles complex life of Chicago chef suntimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from suntimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.