RIVER NORTH — A River North chef who's closing his restaurant this month is getting some of his last customers to open their wallets for a statue of one of Chicago's culinary icons: Charlie Trotter.
Didier Durand, who's shuttering Cyrano's Farm Kitchen, 546 N. Wells St., after 19 years, will host a "Million Dollar Dinner Series" Sunday and Monday to raise funds for a bust of Trotter, the late Lincoln Park chef who helped establish Chicago as a top foodie destination. In an interview, Durand said he and Trotter were friends, and that Trotter once brought 90 of his employees to Cyrano's before closing his namesake restaurant in 2012.
"I don't want him to be forgotten," said Durand, who's closing Cyrano's on Aug. 29. "Harry Caray, he's on Michigan Avenue, so why not Charlie Trotter?"
Durand said he's already raised about $2,000 for the bust, but needs about $10,000 more for the endeavor. He'll be joined by fellow chefs Carolina Diaz (Filini), Thomas Rice and Kurt Guzowski (Tete Charcuterie), Bill Dogan (The Fishguy Market) and Erik Williams (MK) for the occasion. Tickets will be $150 including all food, drinks, taxes and gratuity.
Trotter died in 2013, about a year after he closed his iconic restaurant. He opened Charlie Trotter's, 816 W. Armitage Ave., in 1987 before it ascended as one of the world's most-acclaimed restaurants.
Trotter won several awards from the James Beard Foundation, including best chef in the Midwest in 1992, the nation's outstanding chef award in 1999, and the nation's outstanding restaurant in 2000. In 2000, he also was awarded best national television cooking show for "The Kitchen Sessions, with Charlie Trotter."
Durand — told DNAinfo Chicago last month he is closing his restaurant to focus on his Riverwalk wine bar — said he has yet to find a specific location or hire an artist for the statue. He hopes city officials will be open to installing it in public. Visit Durand's fundraising website for more information.
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