Rick Tramonto of Tru - Biography

Not one for traditional academics, Rick Tramonto knew from an early age that the kitchen was his playground. He first learned to cook in a vocational tech program, but quickly moved on to top restaurants.
Tramonto grew up in Rochester, New York, and was exposed to what he calls classic “melting pot” all-American diversity. His Italian-American heritage influenced his cooking and food education early on, but he was always curious about other cuisines.

Young and ambitious, Tramonto moved to New York in 1984 where he worked at legendary restaurants Tavern on the Green, Gotham Bar & Grill, and Aurora. Tramonto was lured to Chicago by Richard Melman in 1987 to work at his popular Lettuce Entertain You restaurants Avanzare and Scoozi!. He then went on to open and work at several other Lettuce Entertain You restaurants.

The chef worked at Charlie Trotter's for a year and then was asked by Bob Payton (of My Kinda Town, Ltd.) to transform the kitchen and cuisine at his award-winning country house hotel, Stapleford Park, in Leicestershire, England. Tramonto’s proudest moment was when he received the coveted Michelin Guide's Red "M" after only a year at Stapleford, a feat seldom accomplished by an American chef. During his time abroad, Tramonto worked and staged with some of the great Michelin-starred chefs of Europe including Michel Guérard, Pierre Gagnaire, Alain Chapel, Raymond Blanc, and Anton Mosimann.

Tramonto’s passion for food, distinctive culinary style, and his proven track record at home and abroad primed him for running his own restaurant. When he and his culinary partner, Gale Gand, opened Trio in 1993, the restaurant was an immediate success and earned the Chicago Tribune’s first four-star rating in six years. The two went on to open Brasserie T and eventually their flagship restaurant, Tru, in 1999. In 2005, Tramonto opened Osteria di Tramonto, Tramonto’s Steak & Seafood and RT Sushi Bar & Lounge in Wheeling, IL in the Westin Hotel. In April 2012, Tramonto partnered with Chef John Folse to open Restaurant R’evolution at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.