Max Hardy was a Detroit chef and author who was profiled in The New York Times and was best known for his community advocacy and philanthropic work.
- Died: March 4, 2024 (Who else died on March 4?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 40.
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Max Hardy’s legacy
Born in Detroit, Hardy took a detour to Florida and New York on his way to making a name for himself as a hometown chef and hero. He left Detroit as a teen and, after studying culinary arts at Wharton High School, began to land work as a personal chef for the wealthy and famous, notably NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire. The pair ended up collaborating on a cookbook together.
When Hardy returned to Detroit, he set his sights on opening his own restaurant. He ended up running several, including River Bistro in Rosedale Park, Coop in the Detroit Shipping Company, and a location for the pizza franchise Jed’s. His efforts earned him a profile in The New York Times in 2019. Despite how hard the COVID-19 pandemic had hit the industry, Hardy had planned to open more restaurants starting in spring 2024.
Hardy also devoted himself to community causes. He took part in the Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen for Good effort to feed hungry children, worked with culinary students in the Detroit Public Schools Community District, and more. Hardy was part of the 2024 Black Excellence Culinary Symphony event, co-authored “The Marley Coffee Cookbook,” and The New York Times named him one of the 16 top Black chefs changing food in America.
Notable quote
“My dad was an open book and just loved humanity and loved people. All of my family are that way. It was: Walk in the house. Here’s some food. Here’s a beverage. Here’s a bed. Here’s some dollars if you need them. It’s always been that kind of family.”—from a 2021 interview for the Detroit Free Press
Tributes to Max Hardy
Full obituary: Detroit Free Press
