Chicago's Charlie Trotter's restaurant to close

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CHICAGO – One of Chicago’s most famous and award-winning restaurants is closing.

The Chicago Sun-Times (http://bit.ly/uZ44oG) reports that Charlie Trotter’s will close in August after 25 years.

In an interview, the 52-year-old Trotter told the paper that he will travel around the world, and that he will return to college to study philosophy and political theory.

Trotter said he’s not closing the 120-seat restaurant for financial reasons, and said that once he completes his master’s degree he will open another restaurant.

Charlie Trotter’s has long been considered one of the finest restaurants in the United States, with Trotter having won the prestigious James Beard award 10 times.

Charlie Trotter’s has also been a training ground for some of the city’s top chefs, including Grant Achatz, Graham Elliot and Mindy Segal.