Floyd Cardoz of 'Top Chef Masters' Fame Dies from Coronavirus at the Age of 59

A “Top Chef Masters” winner recently passed away after being diagnosed with the coronavirus. Chef Floyd Cardoz died at Mountainside Medical Center in New Jersey at the age of 59.

According to a spokesperson for Cardoz’s Hunger Inc. Hospitality Group, the star passed away after suffering complications from COVID-19. His company’s statement read: "It is with deep sorrow that we inform you of the passing away of Chef Floyd Cardoz.”

The company said the chef started having a fever on March 18, 2020. The late chef was the culinary director for Hunger Inc. Hospitality Group.

Being admitted in hospital

The star was then admitted to a hospital and tested positive for the coronavirus. At the time, Cardoz took to his Instagram account to reveal that he was seeking medical help as a “precautionary measure.”

He also explained that he was feeling “feverish” before admitting himself to a hospital in New York. The chef revealed that he “was hugely anxious about my state of health.”

His last trip out of the US

On March 8, 2020, Cardoz traveled from Mumbai, India, to New York through Frankfurt, Germany. He was actually raised in Mumbai and attended Les Roches culinary school in Switzerland before going to New York City.

Owning restaurants

He was the executive chef at the Tabla Indian restaurant which he opened with Danny Meyer in 1998. Cardoz later led Meyer's North End Grill.

Winning Top Chef Masters

He competed and won the third season of "Top Chef Masters” and later opened Pao Walla in New York City's Soho neighborhood. The star was also the owner of the Bombay Bread Bar, which closed last year.

Cardoz was an author

Cardoz also owned restaurants in Mumbai. Besides being a chef, he was also an author of two cookbooks: "One Spice, Two Spice: American Food, Indian Flavors" (2006) and "Floyd Cardoz: Flavorwalla: Big Flavor. Bold Spices. A New Way to Cook the Foods You Love" (2016).

Talking about his culinary journey

The chef was known worldwide for being quite inventive with Indian cuisine. In 2017, he appeared on "CBS This Morning: Saturday" where he discussed his culinary journey.