Renowned chef Floyd Cardoz has died from the novel coronavirus on Wednesday in New York. He was 59. Floyd was the co-owner of the two popular Mumbai-based restaurants, the Bombay Canteen and O Pedro. A statement released by The Hunger Inc, the company that runs the restaurants, had confirmed a few days back that the chef had tested positive for COVID-19 in New York.
"As a precautionary measure we have informed the Health Department in Mumbai about the same. We are also reaching out personally to people who have interacted with him during his visit to India, so they can take necessary medical advice should they indicate any symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath)and or (put themselves in) self-quarantine," the statement said, according to a Mid-Day report
Several celebrities took to social media to express grief. Actor Rahul Bhose tweeted, "Shocked to hear the passing away of @floydcardoz. Apart from enjoying sterling meals at his various restaurants in New York & Bombay, he was a wonderful man - always warm, gracious and funny. Any pandemic always gets more ominous when you know those who have succumbed. RIP Floyd."
Shocked to hear the passing away of @floydcardoz Apart from enjoying sterling meals at his various restaurants in New York & Bombay, he was a wonderful man - always warm, gracious and funny. Any pandemic always gets more ominous when you know those who have succumbed. RIP Floyd.
— Rahul Bose (@RahulBose1) March 25, 2020
Sonam Kapoor also paid her tribute as she retweeted Vir Sanghvi's tweet.
RIP chef https://t.co/rdcWZYm26P
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) 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
Actress Tisca Chopra wrote: "So sad. RIP Floyd." Actress Sophie Choudry finds Floyd's Demise as a "huge loss to the culinary world".
So so sad. RIP #FloydCardoz https://t.co/mZbb0qLa4b
— Tisca Chopra (@tiscatime) March 25, 2020
Chef Kunal Kapur, who is also known for judging Masterchef India, too mourned the demise of Floyd. "It is sad to share that chef floyd Cardozo. @floydcardoz is no more. He has been an inspiration to many and I was hoping to cook with him some day.Falling to #covid19 just goes to show that this threat is very real so everyone please take care of yourselves. RIP cheffie. #corona," Kapur wrote.
It is sad to share that chef floyd Cardozo @floydcardoz is no more. He has been an inspiration to many and I was hoping to cook with him some day.Falling to #covid19 just goes to show that this threat is very real so everyone please take care of yourselves. RIP cheffie. #corona pic.twitter.com/f4eQeMw4E4
— Kunal Kapur (@ChefKunalKapur) March 25, 2020
Paying condolences to Floyd's family, television anchor duo Rocky and Mayur, popularly known for their show Highway On My Plate, wrote, "Rest in Peace Chef @floydcardoz. We are very saddened to hear of the passing away of the super Chef. Our condolences to his family and to @ChefTZac along with the team. @bombaycanteen..@OPedroMumbai.This culinary genius will be missed!"
Rest in Peace Chef @floydcardoz. We are very saddened to hear of the passing away of the super Chef. Our condolences to his family and to @ChefTZac laong with the team @bombaycanteen @OPedroMumbai
This culinary genius will be missed!— KHAUBOYS & INDIANS (@rockyandmayur) March 25, 2020
Model and Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi also offered condolences to Cardoz's loved ones.
.@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
not only for the professional food world, but for Indians everywhere. My heart goes out to his wife Barkha and their whole family. RIP Floyd.
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) March 25, 2020
Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Chelsea Peretti also paid tribute to Cardoz.
Rest in peace Floyd Cardoz. I used to love his restaurant Tabla. People arent just numbers or percentages or age brackets and when they go they take some of the light they emanate and whole universes of love with them
— Chelsea Peretti (@chelseaperetti) March 25, 2020
Culinary expert and TV personality Andrew Zimmern remembered Cardoz in a heartfelt post.
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.
I know what I’m eating tonight for dinner https://t.co/ndPhMECp2E— Andrew Zimmern (@andrewzimmern) March 25, 2020
We stank that day. But laughed so much. I miss this man already, woke to the news that the great @floydcardoz passed away from C19. Never met a more positive and warm hearted soul. His wife Barkha and their kids are in our thoughts. Please send some good… https://t.co/72NLAe8POW pic.twitter.com/lYikcOSBFp
— Andrew Zimmern (@andrewzimmern) March 25, 2020
(Source: IANS/Twitter)
