Famed Verona Chef Dies; Hospitalized For Coronavirus In Montclair

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A famed Indian-American chef and restauranteur who formerly lived in Verona died after testing positive for the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, reports say.

Floyd Cardoz, a four-time James Beard Award nominee who won season 3 of Bravo's “Top Chef Masters,” died Wednesday at age 59. He reportedly tested positive for the virus on March 18, and was being treated at Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, according to BuzzFeed News.

He’s survived by his mother, Beryl, his wife Barkha, and their sons Justin and Peter, BuzzFeed reported.

Cardoz originally admitted himself to a New York City hospital believing he had the flu, a friend told NorthJersey.com. He later died at Mountainside Medical Center, where other people infected with the coronavirus have been hospitalized.

• See related article: 3 People Hospitalized In Montclair With Coronavirus

On March 18, Cardoz posted a message on Instagram about his initial admission to the hospital.

One of Cardoz’s restaurants, the Mumbai-based Bombay Canteen, also posted an Instagram message about his NYC hospital visit.

On Wednesday, the Bombay Canteen posted a message of condolence in the wake of the renowned chef’s death. It read:

“Where do we even begin. It seems like we all met a lifetime ago and yet it all seems so very short right now. You have touched our lives and so many more than we can ever count in the deepest of ways. You showed us what it means to live life to the fullest and be the best versions of ourselves all the time. You believed in the vision and in us more than we ever did and pushed us to be confident and proud in whatever we do, but also to be humble when we take a misstep. But most importantly to wear a smile while doing it all. We know you would’ve taught us so much more in the miles we had remaining together. The outpour[ing] of love and wishes we’ve witnessed in the last few hours from across the world just goes to show what an incredible human being you were, and we’re ever so grateful that we were a part of your glorious life. We will miss you in more ways than you can ever imagine. Love you Chef! Your legacy lives on forever.”

Raised in Mumbai, India, Cardoz was the executive chef at Tabla, the pioneering modern Indian restaurant he opened with Danny Meyer in 1998, as well as several other critically acclaimed eateries in the U.S. and Mumbai. He authored two cookbooks, and had recently returned from India, where he was filming the Netflix series, “Ugly Delicious,” CNN reported.

A positive force in his community, Cardoz has helped to organize celebrity chef events in his former hometown of Verona to promote mental health.

“Watching an amazing community of chefs and vendors come together for this cause has been incredible,” he said after spearheading a charity dinner for The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in 2017. “This is a cause that is very close to my heart.”

• See related article: Top Chefs Partner With Verona Nonprofit For Suicide Awareness

Tributes to the master chef and messages of sympathy for his family have been flooding the internet since news of his passing.

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