Trotter's To Go

11/30/05

The tasty experience that is Trotter's To Go

by autothing at Citysearch

My first visit was well worth it, the food was unique and portions were quite nice -- duck pasta ($6), apricot chicken salad ($6), garlic-infused mashed potatos ($4) and a honey semolina cake thingy ($4). I will go again simply because I cannot get such a unique variety of food at Jewel or Dominick's. With that said, Whole Foods offers identical food quality for slightly less money than Trotter's To Go, but you pay for the gourmet tricks. PS - I heard the sandwiches were overpriced, but a $6 English Tea Smoked Salmon Sandwich doesn't sound expensive to me (and it was very good!)

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New Visit 5/15/2009

I went there again and their selections are going downhill fast. Curried cauliflower for $9.00/lb? Uh huh. They had no sandwiches around 3PM, all vegetable dishes I could make by accident (corn and bell peppers?) and somehow, their desserts are still pretty good. I mean, desserts take a lot of work to prepare, so they're the only thing I found worth $5.00+ per package. Otherwise, it just seems buying some good treats at Whole Foods is the one way to get exactly what you want without a feeling of being ripped off by a 'fancy' to-go type place like Trotter's. Low quality is depressing when you expect the best.

• Pros: Fresh food, Unique tastes, Good portions
• Cons: Price, Location

10/13/04

Renowned Chicago restaurateur expands his culinary craft with haute-to-tote cuisine for busy gourmets.

by Jennifer Olvera at Citysearch

The Scene
Charlie Trotter's innovative approach intermingles exotic, Ravinia-ready cuisine with a comfortable neighborhood feel, setting it apart from other upscale epicurean delis cropping up throughout the city and suburbs. Considering the dazzling ingredients that go into every dish, a snooty staff might be warranted; instead, employees are approachable and knowledgeable, and encourage taste tests.

The Goods
Organically raised meat and game roast in a wood-burning rotisserie, resulting in tasty items like tamarind-glazed muscovy duck and lavender-roasted free-range chicken. Fresh topiaries and flowers and a color-coded wine selection--grouped into categories like "Muscular, Meaty Reds" and "Bubbles"--set the tone for romance on the run. As expected, Trotter's own luxe line of sauces and kitchenware is available, but you'll also find a generous selection of goods and cookbooks from other notable chefs.

05/22/02

good for martha stewart types

by jpanderson_citysearch at Citysearch

this is definitely not for your everyday cooks. it's more like a boutique, with a few fancy-labeled products on the shelves, and a very few premade sandwiches and such in a cooler. better for impressive gourmand gifts than practical cooking types.

• Pros: impressive products
• Cons: overpriced, not very practical