Which is not to suggest that he's a warm and fuzzy boss. In the old days, of course, chefs treated their apprentices like slaves. While Trotter's charges bear no signs of physical abuse, the chef appeared on Chicago magazine's list of the meanest people in the city. I have a number of customers who are CEOs, and after that article appeared, they were furious that they hadn't been included. Besides, Michael Jordan was on the top of the list.
Waiters tend to stick around for four or five years.
Trotter's employees stay not only because their learning curve is so steep but also because he rewards them well. They want to have their own place. And I think that's great.