Gale Gand and Rick Tramonto
Chefs & Owners
Brasserie T Restaurant
Northfield, IL
The classic French brasserie is known for having a lively, friendly spirit and memorable, hearty food. Originally taverns attached to breweries, brasserie owners served simple, salty and savory dishes without charge to encourage consumption of the beer. The beer was the main event.
Award-winning chefs, and husband & wife, Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand have re-created the French brasserie but in a unique, American style on the outskirts of Chicago. Although neither the food or the beer is free, there are 12 beers on draught, 20 more in the bottles, and at Brasserie T, the food is definitely the star of the show.
Rick has come a pretty long way from his first job at Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers, with stints at the slightly more prestigious Aurora, Gotham Bar & Grill, and Tavern on the Green in New York, and The Pump Room and Charlie Trotter's in Chicago. In 1994, Rick and Gale were named one of the Top Ten Best Chef's in the Country by Food & Wine Magazine. In 1995, Rick was named a Robert Mondavi Rising Star Chef and also was a James Beard Award Nominee. That same year, Gale received the Robert Mondavi Award for Culinary Excellence. This year, Gale and Rick were nominated for the James Beard Best Chef(s) in the Mid West Award. Long considered one of the best pastry chefs in the country, Gale's desserts have consistently received stellar reviews. A Chicago Tribune food columnist named her a "dessert diva" and Food & Wine Magazine listed her among its "People to Watch" in 1989.
Gale and Rick met at the Strathallen Hotel in New York, where they learned the techniques of French cuisine in the hotel's first class kitchen. Several years later, they were invited to transform the kitchen and cuisine at Stapleford Park, a country house hotel outside of London. After only one year they received the coveted Michelin Guide's Red "M", a feat not accomplished by other Americans for 5 years. During their 4 years in London, Gale and Rick spent much of their free time traveling through France and Italy, and their research into the history and character of brasseries was well underway.
Returning to Chicago, Tramonto and Gand joined with a third partner to open Trio in 1993, earning the Chicago Tribune restaurant critic's first 4-star rating in 6 years. The two sold their partnership in 1995 and Brasserie T opened in July that same year. In December of '96, Gale and Rick opened Vanilla Bean Bakery down the street from Brasserie T, so Gale could concentrate on doing what she loves best. The successful bakery was subsequently sold in preparation for the creation of their world-class fine dining restaurant, which they will open with partner and famed restaurateur Rich Melman (Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises) in Chicago sometime this Spring.
Highly acclaimed since opening in July 1995, Brasserie T has a casual but bustling atmosphere, with a contemporary mix of European music, French and vintage china and linen, and an inviting, open kitchen. The fresh, robust, and rustic a la carte menu features classic French dishes from the couple's extensive travels in France and Alsace; Italian favorites from Rick's childhood memories and his studies in Italy; and American standards to reflect local tastes, products, and traditions. The wait for your table is well rewarded, starting with a crusty baguette and a bowl of assorted olives. A wide range of starter courses, salads, soups, grills, ragouts, pastas, risottos, and wood fired pizzas make up the bulk of the accessible but dazzling menu. A dozen offerings for dessert include comforting bread puddings, continental style cheese & fruit platters, French and Italian pastries, and classic American favorites, all of which Gale has taken to new, scrumptious heights.
Tramonto and Gand's first cookbook, American Brasserie, was introduced in the fall of 1997, and was named a finalist for the Julia Child Cookbook Awards. Of the 800 cookbooks published that year, American Brasserie was noted as one of only 8 standouts by the Chicago Tribune's food & wine columnist. Featuring 180 simple recipes inspired by the rustic foods of France, Italy and America, American Brasserie also pairs beers, ales and wines with many of the dishes. It also very clearly explains the history of the brasserie in a very descriptive and informative way. As down to earth as their restaurant and book, Gale and Rick dedicated American Brasserie to their baby son Giorgio, and their families and friends are also prominently acknowledged in the book. (They are both also active participants in community charity events such as March of Dimes, Meals on Wheels, Save-A-Pet, Share Our Strength, and the Center Against Sexual Abuse.)
Their book and restaurant are helping to fulfill Gale and Rick's promise to baby Giorgio: "stockpots full of love, and the generous spirit of food and wine...". Until you can visit Brasserie T, or get your copy of American Brasserie.
Extremely popular since its opening, Brasserie T is located at 395 South Happ Road in Northfield, Illinois (about 40 minutes from downtown Chicago) and plays to capacity crowds during the following hours:
Monday - Thursday: 11:30am to 10:00pm
Friday & Saturday: 10:30am to 11:00pm
Sundays: 4:30pm to 10:00pm
(Hours are seasonal)
For reservations/information please call (847) 446-0444.
To learn more about Gale & Rick's American Brasserie Cookbook.
