Renowned chef Floyd Cardoz dies from coronavirus

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The leading American cuisine magazine, Grubstreet, calls the 59 year old Indian-American chef Floyd Cardoz’s death from COVID-19 a “significant loss for New York, Mumbai, and the world of Indian cuisine.”

Similar tributes poured in when news about his death became public, first through Indian media and then in New York, currently considered the epicenter of the pandemic.

In his Instagram message posted March 18, where he put a selfie wearing

Cardozo reportedly passed away after being diagnosed just days following his return from India to New York March 8, 2020. He was in India running his famous restaurants Bombay Canteen and O’Pedro, the news report said. a hospital gown, Cardoz said,

“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. 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.”

Hunger Inc., the hospitality company Cardoz co-founded with Sameer Seth, Yash Bhanage, and Thomas Zacharias, fellow chefs, confirmed he had tested positive for COVID-19, and said it was following up with those who were in contact with him in the recent past, according to news reports which carried the company’s statement as follows:

“It is with deep sorrow that we inform you of the passing away of Chef Floyd Cardoz (59 years), Co-Founder, Hunger Inc. Hospitality, on 25 March 25, in New Jersey, USA.

He is survived by his mother Beryl, wife Barkha and sons Justin and Peter.

Floyd tested positive for Covid 19, in USA, on 18 March and was being treated for the same at Mountainside Medical Centre, New Jersey, USA.”

Cardoz, did his schooling from St. Andrews High School in Bandra, and his higher education at St. Xavier’s College, also studied at the Ecol Les Roches Bluche in Switzerland. His Facebook account shows some of his life accomplishments in the profile —

• Culinary Director/partner at The Bombay Canteen
• chef de partie at Taj Mahal Hotel
• Former Chef/Owner at Paowalla
• Former Chef de Partie, Sous Chef, Chef de Cuisine at Lespinasse Restaurant
• Former chef de partie at Ravi’s Restaurant
• Former chef de partie at Beech & Bamboo
• Former Sous Chef at Oberoi
• Former chef de partie at Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces
• Former Sous Chef at Raga Restaurant
• Former executive chef/partner at North End Grill
• Former executive chef/partner at Tabla Restaurant
• Studied at Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Mumbai
• Studied at Ecole Les Roches Bluche Switzerland
• Studied at St. Xavier’s College
• Studied at Les Roches Global Hospitality Education – Switzerland
• Studied at IHMCTAN, Mumbai
• Went to St. Andrew’s High School, Bombay
• Went to St. Xavier’s College
• Went to St. Andrews High School, Bandra, Mumbai
• Lives in New York, New York

The famous chef’s cousin, David D’Souza posted the following message on Cardoz’ Facebook page –

“My cousin just passed away from COVID-19 in New York City. He wasn’t old and far from retired, having recently been on ugly delicious, opened two restaurants in India and a few in New York. A wonderfully kind and passionate man who loved his family, sons, and cooking. He will be sorely missed,” D’Souza said, adding, “He visited us here in Seattle and we went to Lark together where he was instantly recognized and was treated like royalty with special tastings and drinks sent to our table throughout the evening.”

“He changed the way New Yorkers, broadly, thought about Indian food” through his restaurant Tabla. He also owned Bombay Bread Bar. His death was first reported by Indian media, including Scroll.in.

“The chef was a force in New York’s restaurant community — making his mark on the dining scene in 1998 with the groundbreaking Tabla, …” another online magazine, ny.eater.com said in its report, adding, “A cult favorite, the restaurant closed in 2010 but to this day is remembered as one of New York’s greatest restaurants, particularly known for its bread.”

Scroll.in reported Cardoz died of the infection in a hospital in New Jersey on Wednesday (March 25, 2020), quoting the family as the source. According to his Instagram post on March 18, he went into hospital in New Jersey when he started feeling favorish, Scroll reported.

His Instagram account also has pictures of his Ugly Delicious segment, posing with Indian-American comedian Aziz Ansari, saying, “floydcardoz On location with @azizansari while shooting @uglydelicious season 2 in India. Glad we get to tell the story of our passion with Indian food. Thanks @davidchang for letting us crash this party!