— As one might guess, the duo's name is based on the detectives The Hardy Boys. 'As a kid, I read all those books,' Smith said. 'When I started the catering business, I thought it'd be fun to change the spelling and make a parody of the book.' 'The name also reflects that we want to have a light-hearted approach,' McDonagh added.
— Smith and McDonagh have adopted a one-year-old son, Nate, who has even appeared on the show. ' [ Having Nate ] puts things in perspective because he really is the most important thing in our lives,' Smith said. They are considering adopting another child in a few years.
— They celebrated their 10th anniversary in 2006, but really did nothing to mark it. 'That's not a complaint because we're so blessed,' McDonagh said. 'We're just so busy with our business and the son, but every day is a celebration in its own way.'
— Among their own favorite area eateries are North Pond Café, Nacional 27 and Stained Glass ( in Evanston ) . ' [ North Pond's ] food and location are great,' Smith said. 'What we look for are atmosphere and comfort level,' said McDonagh. 'It doesn't have to be trendy and ground-breaking.'