CHARLIE TROTTER DIES AFTER DELIVERING TALK AT CWC CONFERENCE

(Nov. 5) Famed chef Charlie Trotter, the keynote speaker at Central Wyoming College’s first Jackson Hole Culinary Conference, died Tuesday morning at his Chicago home.

“We were, like everyone, shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Charlie Trotter,” said CWC’s Jackson Outreach coordinator Susan Thulin. “He was gracious, sincere and engaging while he was here.”

Trotter, who was named the country’s Outstanding Chef by the James Beard Foundation in 1999, flew into Jackson Sunday morning for a talk he delivered Sunday evening. The chef, who joined conference attendees at the Jackson restaurant Ignight following his address, left on an early morning flight on Monday. Chicago officials said an ambulance was called to his home Tuesday morning when he was found unconscious and not breathing.

During his talk, Thulin said “he was vintage Charlie Trotter; always on the edge, unconventional and authentic. Our deepest condolences go out to his family.”