A Young Chef’s Heartfelt Journey: Prince Wise’s Dream Dish Gives Back

From a young age, Prince Wise developed a passion for cooking, often standing beside his mother, Chantell Hardin, in the kitchen, exploring flavors and perfecting his palate. However, in 2021, his love for food was put on hold when he was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and required a life-saving heart transplant. After a long recovery, Prince was granted a wish by Make-A-Wish of Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia, which gave him a dream trip to theme parks in Orlando, FL. But the journey didn’t stop there—when the organization later invited him to collaborate with a top Pittsburgh restaurant on a special menu item to raise funds for future wishes, he eagerly accepted.

With the guidance of Floor 2’s Executive Chef Fernando Canales, Prince helped create a crabcake sandwich with avocado, tartar sauce, and thin fries—a dish that will be available at the restaurant through the end of 2024, with a portion of sales supporting Make-A-Wish. The opportunity allowed Prince to combine his culinary passion with a greater purpose, and his mother was moved to see her son thriving in the kitchen after all he had endured. “He rocked it,” she said, proud of his resilience and determination to make a difference.