Bill Text: VA SJR295 | 2023 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending George Stone.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-02-06 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ295ER) [SJR295 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2023-SJR295-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, George Stone is a native Virginian and esteemed pitmaster whose accomplishments in major barbecue competitions, appearances on national television, and success as a restaurateur and mentor have earned him acclaim the world over; and
WHEREAS, George "Tuffy" Stone began his culinary career in the 1980s with training in French culinary technique at the former La Maisonette in Richmond, where he became sous chef and eventually partner, developing exacting methods and techniques that would lead him to be dubbed "the Professor"; and
WHEREAS, in the early 1990s, Tuffy Stone and his wife, Leslie, started a catering company, A Sharper Palate, which for the past three decades has successfully provided exceptional service at events throughout the Greater Richmond area; and
WHEREAS, Tuffy Stone's passion for barbecue was kindled in 2004 after he attended his first barbecue competition and, with great patience and persistence, he and his team, Cool Smoke, which included his father, George Stone, Sr., honed an approach to barbecue that would make them one of the winningest teams on the circuit; and
WHEREAS, demonstrating exceptional prowess at the pit, Tuffy Stone and Cool Smoke earned grand champion titles in nearly every major barbecue competition, including the American Royal World Series of Barbecue in 2014, the Kingsford Invitational in 2015, the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue, where he earned the title a record-breaking three times in 2013, 2015, and 2016, and the Memphis in May International Festival in 2019; and
WHEREAS, as a reflection of the value of his opinion among connoisseurs of great barbecue, Tuffy Stone was selected to appear on Destination America's BBQ Pitmasters as both a judge and co-host over several seasons of the show; and
WHEREAS, Tuffy Stone established and formerly owned a chain of restaurants named Q Barbeque in Glen Allen and Midlothian to share his award-winning barbecue with the public and his adoring fans; and
WHEREAS, Tuffy Stone has generously served as a mentor to many aspiring pitmasters and chefs through classes, online tutorials, programs throughout the world, and his cookbook, Cool Smoke: The Art of Great Barbecue; and
WHEREAS, a former member of the United States Marine Corps, Tuffy Stone was honored to have the opportunity to travel to Kuwait to cook for troops stationed there; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, Tuffy Stone was inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame at the American Royal in recognition of his longstanding success and influence in the world of barbecue; also in 2018, in addition to dates in 2016 and 2017, he was a guest chef at the James Beard House in New York City; and
WHEREAS, Tuffy Stone's reputation as a sage of smoke has garnered him prestige throughout the Commonwealth and serves as an inspiration to all Virginians; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend George Stone, honored pitmaster and chef of Richmond, for his accomplishments in the art of barbecue; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to George Stone as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his achievements and for his contributions to the Commonwealth.
