About Rick Tramonto

Rick Tramonto has garnered countless awards for his work at Trio, Brasserie T, and Tru in Chicago, including being recognized as a Food & Wine Best New Chef and as Best Chef: Midwest Region by the James Beard Foundation. He’s also the author of eight cookbooks and has appeared on Top Chef MastersIron ChefOprah, and Today, among others. Tramonto lives in the suburbs of Chicago with his wife, Eileen, and their children. @cheftramonto

Truffled mac and cheese in four mini-casserole pans, one with a fork and a few mouthfuls missing.

Truffled Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese goes high falutin’ with a drizzle of chichi truffle oil and a few shavings of black truffle. Pricey, perhaps. But well worth it every once in a special while.

Soft polenta with forest mushrooms in two metal pots with lids.

Soft Polenta with Forest Mushrooms

Creamy, cheesy, irresistible polenta, similar to American grits, is cooked slowly until impossibly soft and then is topped with all types of sautéed mushrooms.

A partially sliced grilled porterhouse steak on a wooden cutting board.

Grilled Porterhouse Steak

Impressive yet easy to make and arguably the best way to make a porterhouse steak at home. And no setting off the fire alarm. Here’s how.