How Did Floyd Cardoz die? 'Top Chef' winner's sudden death left host Padma Lakshmi mourning: 'it's a huge loss'
'Top Chef Masters' (a 'Top Chef' spin-off) winner Floyd Cardoz died on March 25, 2020, of coronavirus complications. He was 59. The sudden death of the groundbreaking chef was mourned by the who's who of the culinary world. 'Top Chef' host Padma Lakshmi was one of the first to post a heartwarming tribute, in which she noted Floyd's work in the industry and how he paved the way for several aspiring chefs to do and shine in what is outside of their comfort zone.
"@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," she tweeted and continued: "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."
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According to NBC News, Floyd had traveled from Mumbai to New York via Frankfurt on March 8. A week later he complained of fever, following which he was admitted to the Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, New Jersey. On March 18, he tested positive for COVID-19. A few days later, Hunger Inc, a hospitality company that Floyd had co-founded, released a statement confirming his death and urging those who had come in contact with him in the weeks leading up to his passing to take necessary precautions.
“As a precautionary measure we have informed the Health Department in Mumbai about the same,” it said and added: “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.”
.@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
Floyd put Indian cuisine on the global map in a way that not many had the confidence to. He married flavors and textures from across cultures and continents to create contemporary meals that not only appealed to the Indian diaspora but also residents of New York City. Even though Floyd amassed impressive wealth by building businesses from the ground up, he stayed in touch with his charitable side as well. He donated the $100,000 prize from 'Top Chef Masters' to the Young Scientist Cancer Research Fund at Mount Sinai Medical School, New York.
Floyd's death has left a void that will be hard to fill for years to come. His passion for the craft and the intelligence with which he'd combined flavors will be sorely missed by his peers, food connoisseurs, and beyond.