A house RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF CHEF MAXCEL HARDY OF DETROIT, TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE, AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were deeply saddened by the passing of Chef Maxcel Hardy of Detroit on March 4, 2024, at the age of 40; and

Whereas, this Detroit native and culinary leader was known for a strong commitment to his community and to the fight against hunger. Having spent time cooking in Miami and New York City for high-profile customers, he returned to Detroit and opened the Rosedale Park restaurant River Bistro in 2017, followed a year later by Coop Detroit at the Detroit Shipping Company, a food hall in the Cass Corridor. He also owned and operated Jed's Detroit, a pizza and burger carryout at Seven Mile and Interstate 75. At his passing, the chef was looking forward to the opening of his long-awaited seafood restaurant, What's Crackin' in Detroit; and

Whereas, Chef Hardy's cuisine was a blend of Caribbean and Jamaican flavors, and he was not afraid to load up expertly prepared proteins with a variety of seasoned sauces. Moreover, he was a cookbook author and had released a signature line of dry spices; and

Whereas, Maxcel Hardy, who graduated with a culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University in North Miami, received local and national accolades. In 2021, he was named one of the Detroit News Michiganians of the Year and was presented the Angelo Henderson Community Award. Further accolades have come from the Detroit Free Press and Hour Detroit Magazine, and he was recognized by the New York Times as one of "16 Black chefs changing food in America"; and

Whereas, in all his successes, Chef Hardy gave back. More than ten years ago, he founded his nonprofit, One Chef Can 86 Hunger, and also worked with other like-minded groups, including the Horatio Williams Foundation, the I AM Hope Foundation, and Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen for Good; and

Whereas, he expressed his philosophy of giving in this way: "I guess it kind of comes from me being a kid and sometimes going without, so now I just want to make sure if anybody's hungry, we're going to feed them," he said. "But also teaching kids how to do the same thing and understand how food grows, where it comes from, how to spend money, and how to save and do this with their family"; and

Whereas, Maxcel Hardy leaves to cherish his memory his two beloved daughters, as well as a host of other family members and friends and multitudinous admirers of his culinary art. He will be greatly missed. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of Chef Maxcel Hardy of Detroit, celebrate his life, and extend the deepest sympathy to his family and many friends.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family.

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