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.
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.
Read more about this topic: Rick Tramonto
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