Chef Floyd Cardoz dies at age 59

We received the sad news today that celebrated Chef Floyd Cardoz, owner of three acclaimed NYC restaurants and the author of two well-regarded cookbooks, has died due to complications of Covid-19. As news of his death spread, people reflected on Cardoz’s trailblazing career. The Splendid Table’s Francis Lam tweeted: “Utterly stunned and heartbroken by the loss of Floyd Cardoz. A brilliant chef, generous mentor, and loving man. Rest in peace, chef.”

Chef Meherwan Irani of Chai Pani Restaurant Group said: “Rarely is there such a clear inflection point, a distinct before and after moment, as there is in the impact of chef Cardoz on Indian cuisine in the U.S. He literally laid the groundwork for legitimizing the space that chefs of Indian origin now occupy on industry “best of” and awards lists around the world.”

Cardoz’s NYC restaurants included Tabla, North End Grill, and Paowalla. He attended culinary school and began his career in his native Bombay, India, where he opened the Bombay Canteen, his first restaurant in his home country. He was also co-owner of another Mumbai restaurant, O Pedro, and had recently launched his third venture, the Bombay Sweet Shop. The four-time James Beard Award nominee won Season 3 of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters and created the food for the feature film The Hundred-Foot Journey. He is survived by his wife and two sons.