Hardy was a Detroit native who had spent time cooking in Miami and New York City for high-profile customers. He returned to Detroit and opened Rosedale Park restaurant River Bistro in 2017, followed by Coop Detroit at the Detroit Shipping Company, a food hall in the Cass Corridor a year later. He also owned and operated Jed’s Detroit, a pizza and burger carryout at Seven Mile and Interstate 75.
In 2021, he was named one of The Detroit News’ Michiganians of the Year and was presented with the Angelo Henderson community award. He also has accolades from the Detroit Free Press and Hour Detroit, and was recognized by the New York Times as one of “16 Black chefs changing food in America.”
During all of his successes, Hardy gave back. More than 10 years ago, he founded his nonprofit One Chef Can 86 Hunger, and also worked with other groups, including the Horatio Williams Foundation, the I AM Hope Foundation and Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen For Good.
Alt. links (via archive.is):