In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of chef Charlie Trotter’s self-titled restaurant, Edible Chicago hosted a 30-day “Pairing and Sharing” program. For a month over the summer, Woodford Reserve committed to sharing $1 for every Woodford Reserve cocktail sold at participating restaurants to benefit the Trotter Project, an organization that connects budding talent interested in the culinary arts and hospitality industry through the Pillars of Excellence Mentor Program.
This organization is something of an extension of the James Beard Foundation Humanitarian Award-winning chef’s restaurant, which has launched hundreds of culinary careers. In addition to the positive impact that Charlie Trotter’s has had on the city of Chicago, Trotter’s innovative approach to cuisine has inspired chefs across the globe.
Bartenders and chefs at participating Chicago restaurants saw the program’s cocktails with a cause as a way to discover new pairings. A handful of them shared with Edible Manhattan the inside scoop on how they collaborate on developing these pairings, from hitting the farmers market together to working with lower-proof cocktails.
