Chef Floyd Cardoz Reportedly Dies of Coronavirus

Groundbreaking chef Floyd Cardoz, who was behind beloved NYC restaurants Tabla and Bombay Bread Bar, has reportedly died from the COVID-19 virus at the age of 59.

Cardoz checked himself into a hospital in New York City after returning from a trip to India on March 8 and posted to his Instagram account, noting that he was feeling feverish and admitted himself as a precautionary measure.

View this post on Instagram

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

A post shared by Floyd Cardoz (@floydcardoz) on Mar 17, 2020 at 1:34pm PDT

In addition to Tabla and his other New York restaurants, Cardoz had several restaurants in Mumbai, including the Bombay Canteen and O Pedro. After news of his death broke, tributes from other members of the culinary community began pouring in on social media.

David Chang called the late chef “criminally under-appreciated” and wrote, “Floyd was one of my earliest supporters, and he would saddle up at the old noodle bar with his sons and they would each order a bowl of spicy tripe. Feel terrible for Dan Kluger, Will Guidara and the entire Tabla alumni. He was so loved.” Pete Wells noted that 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.”

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

Love you so much @floydcardoz

— Danny Meyer (@dhmeyer) March 25, 2020

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. https://t.co/7NcTes1D01

— Pete Wells (@pete_wells) March 25, 2020

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