Rick Tramonto
| Born | Richard Michael Tramonto May 30, 1963 Rochester, New York |
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| Cooking style | Contemporary American cuisine |
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Previous restaurant(s)
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| http://www.ricktramonto.com | |
Richard Michael "Rick" Tramonto (born May 30, 1963) is a Chicago chef and cookbook author. He is executive chef and partner in Tru, a contemporary fine-dining restaurant from Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises.
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[edit] Biography
A native of Rochester, New York, Tramonto began his culinary career working in a Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers. He later worked in New York City and London, England. In 1994, while at Trio in Evanston, Illinois, Tramonto was named among Food & Wine Magazine's Top Ten Best New Chefs.
In 1999, he opened Tru with culinary partner and ex-wife Gale Gand and Rich Melman. Tramonto was named the "Best Chef: Midwest Region" by The James Beard Foundation in 2002. At this time, Rick was also a featured chef on Great Chef television, appearing in episodes of Great Chefs of America and Great Chefs - Great Cities.
In 2005, he became embroiled in a public controversy over foie gras, which led to a two-year ban on the delicacy by the Chicago City Council. Tramonto was quoted as saying it was somewhat hypocritical for meat-eaters to take an anti-foie gras stance, prompting anti-foie chef Charlie Trotter to suggest eating Tramonto's liver.
Tramonto and Gand co-founded Cenitare Restaurants in 2006, opening several restaurants in a Wheeling, Illinois hotel, including Tramonto's Steak & Seafood, Osteria di Tramonto (now closed) and RT Lounge. He left the company in 2009.[2]
In 2007, he became the national spokesperson for The US Duck Council.
Tramonto has left Tru as of 2010, but was reported in October of that year to be developing a new restaurant in New Orleans.[3]
[edit] Works
- Butter, Sugar, Flour, Eggs ISBN 0-609-60420-1
- American Brasserie ISBN 0-02-861630-8
- Amuse-Bouche ISBN 0-375-507-60-4
- Tru ISBN 1-4000-6061-3
- Fantastico! - release date November 6, 2007
- Steak with Friends: At Home, with Rick Tramonto ISBN 978-0-7407-9257-1
On July 30, 2006, he appeared on Iron Chef: America. Losing to Mario Batali (53 - 46) [4] In 2010, appeared on Bravo's Top Chef Masters Season 2. He was eliminated in the fourth episode of the season.
[edit] Folse Tramonto Restaurant Development
On August 25, 2010, Tramonto announced his partnership with Chef John Folse and the formation of Home on the Range: Folse Tramonto Restaurant Development, LLC. Their first joint venture will be Restaurant R’evolution, set to open in 2011 at 777 Bienville St. at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans. Restaurant R’evolution will offer contemporary Creole cuisine.
[edit] References
- ^ "Official biography". Ricktramonto.com. http://www.ricktramonto.com. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
- ^ "Osteria di Tramonto, Charlie's on Webster close". Leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com. 2009-02-23. http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/thestew/2009/02/osteria-di-tramonto-charlies-on-webster-close.html. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
- ^ Phil Vettel Food critic 10:11 a.m. CDT, October 6, 2010 (2010-10-06). "Dining that dances with perfection; Chicago Tribune review of Tru under new chef Anthony Martin, October 6, 2010". Chicagotribune.com. http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/dining/chi-101006-tru-restaurant-review,0,1986035.column. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
- ^ [1]
