Coronavirus: ‘Top Chef Masters’ winner Floyd Cardoz, 59, dies from virus

Earlier this month, Cardoz, who had been in Mumbai, returned to New York on a flight from Frankfurt, Germany, Hunger Inc. said in an Instagram post. He later began experiencing symptoms and checked into a local hospital, Cardoz wrote on the social media site.

"I was feeling feverish and hence as a precautionary measure, admitted myself into hospital in New York," he wrote on March 17.

The next day, he tested positive for the coronavirus, CNN reported.

“Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi took to social media Wednesday to pay tribute to Cardoz, who competed on the Bravo cooking show and won “Top Chef Masters” in 2011.

"I am beyond saddened to wake up today and hear the news of my dear friend @floydcardoz's passing," she wrote. "Floyd 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, not only for the professional food world, but for Indians everywhere."

“Top Chef” tweeted that Bravo and those involved with the show were “deeply saddened” by Cardoz’s death.

"He was an inspiration to chefs around the world, and we offer our deepest sympathy to his family and friends," the tweet read.

Cardoz's survivors include his wife, Barkha, and two sons, Peter and Justin, CNN reported.

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