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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Homaro 
4Cantu of Chicago, who passed away on April 14, 2015; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Homaro Cantu was born on September 23, 1976 and 
6grew up in Portland, Oregon; he graduated from the Western 
7Culinary Institute (now Le Cordon Bleu) and worked in nearly 50 
8kitchens on the West Coast; he married Katie McGowan in 2003; 
9and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Homaro Cantu moved to Chicago, where he spent 4 
11years from 1999 to 2003 working for famed chef Charlie Trotter, 
12eventually rising to the position of sous chef before leaving 
13in 2004 to become the opening chef and eventual owner of Moto; 
14and
  
 
15    WHEREAS, Affectionately known as "Omar" to his family and 
16friends, Homaro Cantu was one of Chicago's most renowned chefs; 
17he turned cooking into alchemy through his playful and 
18surprising brand of molecular gastronomy; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Like his mentor Chef Trotter, Homaro Cantu 
20believed in giving back to the next generation of industry 
21leaders; through his involvement with ProStart, a program run 
 
 
HR0465- 2 -LRB099 12105 GRL 35307 r

1by the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, 
2he mentored high school students studying the culinary arts; he 
3also participated in this year's ProStart invitational 
4competition, where he served as the culinary judge; he was 
5inspired by student talent and dedication and the students were 
6in turn excited by his presence and feedback; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Homaro Cantu artfully blended science and fine 
8dining at his restaurant, describing himself as a scientist at 
9heart; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Homaro Cantu is survived by his wife, Katie, and 
11his 2 daughters; therefore, be it
  
 
  
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
13NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
14mourn the passing of Homaro Cantu, and extend our sincere 
15condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved 
16him; and be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the family of Homaro Cantu as an expression of our 
19deepest sympathy.