Chef Floyd Cardoz, ‘Top Chef Masters’ Winner, Dies Of Coronavirus At 59

Noted chef Floyd Cardoz died due to complications from the coronavirus (COVID-19)at the age of 59 On Tuesday.

A spokesperson from Cardoz’s Hunger Inc confirmed that the chef passed away at Mountain Medical Center in New Jersey as a result of the coronavirus. Top Chef Masters winner was first admitted to the hospital with a fever last Wednesday and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. Cardoz posted to his Instagram page saying he sought medical help as a “precaution.”

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“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, adding he “was hugely anxious about my state of health.”

Many have shared their love and sorrow for the passing of Cardoz on social media, one of them was Danny Meyers, whom he partnered with in 1997. Meyers posted on Twitter Wednesday morning “Love you so much @floydcardoz,” he wrote.

Cardoz was born in Bombay, India, and moved to New York City to work in restaurant kitchens. In 1997, he partnered with Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group to open the contemporary Indian restaurant Tabla, which quickly became an iconic Manhattan establishment, earning three stars from the New York Times. He subsequently opened North End Grill, Paowalla and Bombay Bread Bar in the city. Most recently, he opened The Bombay Canteen and Bombay Sweet Shop in Mumbai, India. Cardoz also competed on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters season three in 2011, taking home the top prize.