Charlie Trotter, Chicago Restaurateur, TV Chef, Dies at 54

Charlie Trotter, the Chicago chef and philanthropist who helped usher American diners into an era of tasting menus and mandatory service charges, has died. He was 54.

He died yesterday in Chicago, Frank Shuftan, a spokesman for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, said in a telephone interview. An autopsy found no signs of trauma or foul play, he said today in an e-mail. A final report is pending.