Rick Tramonto
Encyclopedia
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
.
, 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.
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.
On July 30, 2006, he appeared on [Iron Chef: America]. Losing to [Mario Batali] (53 - 46)
In 2010, appeared on Bravo's Top Chef Masters
Season 2. He was eliminated in his first round.
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.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
and cookbook
Cookbook
A cookbook is a kitchen reference that typically contains a collection of recipes. Modern versions may also include colorful illustrations and advice on purchasing quality ingredients or making substitutions...
author. He is executive chef and partner in Tru
Tru (restaurant)
Tru is a Chicago French restaurant which holds one Michelin Star as of 2010.The Executive Chef is Anthony Martin....
, a contemporary fine-dining restaurant from Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises is a group of approximately 70 restaurants founded by Rich Melman and Jerry A. Orzoff in Chicago, IL in 1971.-History:The first restaurant was R.J...
.
Biography
A native of Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, Tramonto began his culinary career working in a Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers
Wendy's
Wendy's is an international fast food chain restaurant founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The company decided to move its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006. It has been owned by Triarc since 2008...
. He later worked in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and London, England. In 1994, while at Trio in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
, Tramonto was named among Food & Wine Magazine
Food & Wine Magazine
Food & Wine is a monthly magazine published by American Express Publishing. It was founded in 1978 by Ariane and Michael Batterberry. It features recipes, cooking tips, travel information, restaurant reviews, chefs, wine pairings and seasonal/holiday content and has been credited by The New York...
's Top Ten Best New Chefs.
In 1999, he opened Tru with culinary partner and ex-wife Gale Gand
Gale Gand
Gale Gand is a Chicago-based pastry chef, cookbook author, television personality, and was the host of the Food Network show Sweet Dreams. She is currently the executive pastry chef and partner of the four star & AAA five diamond restaurant Tru , a contemporary fine-dining restaurant from Lettuce...
and Rich Melman
Rich Melman
Rich Melman is the founder of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, a privately held restaurant company with more than 70 venues. Melman serves as Chairman of the Board of LEYE. He creates restaurant concepts. As such he is a corporate executive who sees himself as an artist.In 1971, Melman and...
. 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
Foie gras
Foie gras ; French for "fat liver") is a food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened. This fattening is typically achieved through gavage corn, according to French law, though outside of France it is occasionally produced using natural feeding...
, which led to a two-year ban on the delicacy by the Chicago City Council
Chicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 aldermen elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms...
. 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
Charlie Trotter
Charlie Trotter is a chef and restaurateur.-Biography:A graduate of New Trier High School, Trotter started cooking professionally in 1982 after earning a degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. For the next 5 years, he worked and studied in Chicago, San Francisco at...
to suggest eating Tramonto's liver.
Tramonto and Gand co-founded Cenitare Restaurants in 2006, opening several restaurants in a Wheeling, Illinois
Wheeling, Illinois
Wheeling is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, and a suburb of Chicago. The population was 34,496 at the 2000 census, and 38,555 at the 2006 special village census.-Geography:Wheeling is located at ....
hotel, including Tramonto's Steak & Seafood, Osteria di Tramonto (now closed) and RT Lounge. He left the company in 2009.
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.
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)
In 2010, appeared on Bravo's Top Chef Masters
Top Chef Masters
Top Chef Masters is an American reality competition show currently broadcast on the cable television network Bravo. It is a spinoff of Bravo's hit show Top Chef. In the series, 24 world-renowned chefs compete against each other in weekly challenges...
Season 2. He was eliminated in his first round.
Folse Tramonto Restaurant Development
On August 25, 2010, Tramonto announced his partnership with Chef John FolseJohn Folse
John Folse is a noted Louisiana chef and restaurant owner, and a leading authority on Cajun and Creole cuisine and culture. His philosophy of life is summed up in the quote, “Risk is the tariff paid to leave the shores of predictable misery...
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.