RickTramonto,theexecutivechef/partnerofTruinChicago,wasnamedoneofFood&Wine’sTopTenBestChefsinthecountryin1994andselectedasoneofAmerica’sRisingStarChefsbyRobertMondaviin1995.HehasalsobeennominatedfourtimesfortheJamesBeardAwardforBestChefintheMidwest,winningtheawardin2002.Tru,whichopeneditsdoorsinMay1999,wasnominatedforthe2000JamesBeardAwardforBestNewRestaurantandnamedoneoftheTop50BestRestaurantsintheWorldbyCondéNastTraveler.Tramontoisthecoauthor,withhispartnerGaleGand,ofAmericanBrasserieandButterSugarFlourEggs.
MaryGoodbodyisanationallyknownfoodwriterandeditorwhohasworkedonmorethanforty-fivebooks.HermostrecentcreditsincludeWilliams-SonomaKitchenCompanion,TheGardenEntertainingCookbook,andBacktotheTable.SheistheeditoroftheIACPFoodForumQuarterly,wasthefirsteditorinchiefofCooksmagazine,andisaseniorcontributingeditorforChoc-olatiermagazineandPastryArt&Designmagazine.
TimTurnerisanationallyacclaimedfoodandtabletopphotographer.Heisatwo-timeJamesBeardAwardwinnerforBestFoodPhotography,winningmostrecentlyin2002.HispreviousprojectsincludeCharlieTrotter’sRecipes,CharlieTrotter’sMeatandGame,TheInnatLittleWashington,Norman’sNewWorldCuisine(byNormanVanAken),JacquesPepin’sKitchen,andAmericanBrasserie.