Celebrity chef, author and restaurateur Floyd Cardoz passed away in New Jersey due to complications from COVID-19.
Cardoz, 59, visited the Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, New Jersey last week as a “precautionary measure” after he was “feeling feverish.” He later tested positive for COVID-19, according to TIME.
Before going to the hospital, the celebrity chef reportedly returned to New York from Mumbai, India via Frankfurt, Germany on March 8.
“Sincere apologies everyone. I am sorry for causing undue panic around my earlier post. I was feeling feverish and hence as a precautionary measure, admitted myself into hospital in New York,” Cardoz wrote in his Instagram post. “I was hugely anxious about my state of health and my post was highly irresponsible causing panic in several quarters. I returned to New York on March 8th via Frankfurt.”
Before moving to New York, Cardoz honed his hospitality skills in Mumbai, where he was born. He then moved to Switzerland where he was trained in French, Italian and Indian cuisine.
Cardoz opened the esteemed Indian restaurant Tabla in Manhattan in 1997 in partnership with Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group. The restaurant was praised by critics, but it eventually closed down in 2010.
Cardoz and Meyer also partnered up on North End Grill in Battery Park City in 2012 before its closure in 2018.
The chef also opened the Bombay Sweet Shop, The Bombay Canteen and O Pedro in Mumbai. The Bombay Canteen and O Pedro were featured in David Chang’s Netflix series “Ugly Delicious,” Fox News reported.
Between 2004 and 2007, Cardoz had been nominated four times for the James Beard Award for Best Chef.
In 2011, Cardoz competed in the third season of “Top Chef Masters” and won the top prize of $110,000. He used his winnings to support the Young Scientist Cancer Research Fund at New York’s Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
After the news of his passing, celebrities, chefs, hosts and restaurants offered their emotional tribute to Cardoz. They praised the chef for revolutionizing Indian cuisine in America.
Floyd Cardoz is an Indian-American institution. His Tabla was nothing short of a revolution — not just our food but our people. It launched the year I graduated college. There are no coincidences. Floyd was among desis redefining the food, media, biz, arts, culture of NYC… ctd pic.twitter.com/bUmcEQLBW6
— S. Mitra Kalita (@mitrakalita) March 25, 2020
RIP @Floyd Cardoz legendary chef who taught Americans to respect Indian food with Tabla & who transformed the Mumbai restaurant scene with @bombaycanteen & @OPedroMumbai.
I interviewed him three weeks ago & still can’t believe he’s gone https://t.co/dErOCxSIPf— vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) March 25, 2020
Devastating news about Chef Floyd Cardoz. I can’t process it. A true gentleman in every sense and a great credit to the chef community. He will be sorely missed. #rip
— alex guarnaschelli (@guarnaschelli) March 25, 2020
Deeply upset to hear this news. It was an honor to know Floyd. He was a kind, ground breaking chef who paved the way for so many South Asians. I remember saving up money to eat at Tabla in college. I will miss his fierce passion and determination. https://t.co/ToBCLceFiW
— Khushbu Shah (@KhushAndOJ) March 25, 2020
Floyd. You were a gem. You were an amazing human and chef. You were a father and husband full of love and grace. I am so sorry. I love you. Rest in Peace my friend. #floydcardoz
— Hugh Acheson (@HughAcheson) March 25, 2020
Love you so much @floydcardoz
— Danny Meyer (@dhmeyer) March 25, 2020
Floyd did so much to advance the cause of Indian food and Indian people in America. He was generous, funny, and warm, and I’ve always wished I could turn back time and eat at Tabla. Sending love to his family. https://t.co/nLMm9ALwmW
— Priya Krishna (@PKgourmet) March 25, 2020
.@floydcardoz made us all so proud. Nobody who lived in NY in the early aughts could forget how delicious and packed Tabla always was. He had an impish smile, an innate need to make those around him happy, and a delicious touch. This is a huge loss… pic.twitter.com/Q6eRVIpZkL
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) March 25, 2020
Chef Floyd Cardoz passed away today from #coronavirus. He was a pioneer, an artist and a uniquely talented person. He helped me prepare for my role in The Hundred-Foot Journey. His technique, style and attention to tradition was inspiring. You will be missed. RIP pic.twitter.com/YP8pfijore
— Manish Dayal (@TheManishDayal) March 25, 2020
i wrote about why i loved floyd cardoz. he made new york a better place. https://t.co/GavGt7HMg3
— ryan sutton (@qualityrye) March 25, 2020
The culinary world lost a wonderful person today. In the words of @dhmeyer, “He never once lost his sense of love for those he’d worked with, mentored and mattered to.” Floyd Cardoz, 59, Dies; Gave American Fine Dining an Indian Flavor https://t.co/PeMJPrZIgh
— Thomas Keller (@Chef_Keller) March 25, 2020
I feel so terrible for his family and his two sons. All the cooks and managers that worked under him. Easily one of the most beloved people in the business. He was criminally under appreciated, introduced so many new flavors and techniques to America. Tabla forever ❤️ #riceflakes
— Dave Chang (@davidchang) March 25, 2020
Feature Image via @davidchang (Left), @floydcardoz (Right)