We are sad to report that Mumbai born restaurateur Floyd Cardoz has passed away today from COVID-19. Floyd Cardoz was born and grew up in Mumbai, he trained as a biochemist before discovering his real passion, restaurants.
Educated in culinary schools in India and Switzerland, he travelled to New York where he worked in Gray Kunz’s legendary kitchen at Lespinasse, rising to become its chef de cuisine. In 1997, Cardoz teamed up with New York restaurateur Danny Meyer to create Tabla, which was highly acclaimed immediately and given three stars by the New York Times almost as soon as it opened.
Chef Cardoz rose to national fame when he won the US reality show, Top Chef Masters Season 3.
Chef Cardoz was the co-owner of two successful restaurants in Mumbai, The Bombay Canteen and O Pedro and had earlier this month launched a third venture, the Bombay Sweet Shop.
Cardoz also ran the popular New York Soho Indian restaurant, Bombay Bread Bar which was formerly known as Paowalla. Food critics referred to it as a “magical love letter to Indian bread.” Time Out’s review said of the pork-rib vindaloo at Bombay Bread Bar: “The meat flees the bones, and the mud-red sauce is deep with cumin and clove, gentle with vinegar and heat, and as profound as mole. This is plate-licking food.”
The news of Chef Cardoz’s passing has stunned many across the culinary world. We pass on our best wishes to his friends and family at this difficult time.