Tributes pour in for top chef Floyd Cardoz, who died of COVID-19

TRIBUTES have been paid to Indian chef Floyd Cardoz who died after testing positive for the novel coronavirus, family sources said on Wednesday (25).

Cardoz, 59, died of Covid-19 infection in a hospital in New York, the sources said.

He was the co-owner of two popular restaurants in Mumbai, Bombay Canteen and O Pedro, and had recently launched his third venture, the Bombay Sweet Shop.

Cardoz was in Mumbai, where he was born, till March 8. Ten days later he said on social media that he had admitted himself to hospital in New York, where he lived, as he felt feverish.

He had trained as a biochemist before he discovered his real passion - in a restaurant kitchen and had moved to New York after attending culinary school in Switzerland.

“Floyd Cardoz was an exceptional talent, a chef equally at home with undiluted Indian flavors as he was with the delicious union of French, Indian and American food, a personal idiom that he invented,” said The New York Times restaurant critic Pete Wells.

Top chef Padma Lakshmi said on Twitter: “Floyd Cardoz presenter 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...”

TV host Andrew Zimmern said: “Floyd Cardoz passed away from C19. I adored him. A great chef, groundbreaking in so many ways, a generous human, resilient of spirit and loved his family, his garden and our restaurant world so much. I’m stunned.”

American restaurateur Dave Chang tweeted the news, with a note: “I don’t want to believe this...”

Popular food critic Richard Vines tweeted: “I realize @floydcarloz wasn't so well known in the U.K. but his contribution to restaurants in New York and Mumbai was huge. It is one of the saddest single things I have heard since this nightmare began.”

Canadian celebrity chef Hugh Acheson wrote: “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.”