Homaro Cantu Death Ruled Suicide

Chef Homaro Cantu died by asphyxiation and his death has been ruled a suicide, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner.  

Cantu was found hanged in at a building in the 4400 block of West Montrose Avenue Tuesday afternoon

The Chicago chef left behind myriad admirers. 

His wife, Katie McGowan thanked well-wishers on social media Wednesday and told fans: 

"If you want his legacy to live on, go try his food, experience his visions. That's all he wanted," she said

Celebrity Chef Rick Bayless told NBCChicago on Wednesday that Cantu's death leaves a hole in the Chicago culinary scene. 

"He was one of the most innovative chefs in Chicago and when you think about him not being on the scene you have to think that the firmament of Chicago chefs is going to be a little less bright than it was because he had so much to offer," Bayless said. 

Cantu was the founder of Cantu Designs, a revolutionary food technology design firm, and executive chef of Moto, one of the nation's leading restaurants in the field of molecular gastronomy.

Cantu worked with famed chef Charlie Trotter from 1999 to 2003 before helping to open Moto in 2004 and later becoming its owner. Moto earned one Michelin star in 2014.

An emotional Cantu joined fellow famous chef alumni at Trotter’s memorial in 2013, including Graham Elliot, David LeFevre and Giuseppe Tentori. And after Trotter’s death, Cantu and other Trotter chef alums created the Trotter Project, a three-year capital campaign with dozens of former Trotter employees and family members.

Cantu served as president of the project aimed at mentoring high school and college students and teaching young children how to cook. It also served to keep Trotter’s restaurant in his ownership as a flagship for the project.

"I loved him dearly. It’s really terrible to see him go in this way. I’m going to miss him a lot," said Trevor Rose-Hamblin, Cantu’s friend and business partner. "The whole city — It’s not going to be the same place without him.

SUICIDE PREVENTION: If you know someone who needs help, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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