Floyd Cardoz
Chef who brought Indian flavours to New York fine dining
- Lived
- 59 yrs
- 1960 – 2020
- Works listed
- 1
- Book
- Honours
- 0
- Awards & distinctions
- Profile views
- 3
- 0 followers
Floyd Cardoz was a chef who brought Indian spices to New York fine dining at the restaurant Tabla and won Top Chef Masters in 2011. He later helped open The Bombay Canteen in Mumbai. He died of Covid-19 in 2020.
Biography
From biochemistry to kitchens
Floyd Cardoz grew up in a Goan Catholic family in Bombay and studied biochemistry before turning to cooking. He trained in hotel management in Mumbai and in Switzerland, then moved to New York, where he worked under chef Gray Kunz at Lespinasse.
Tabla
In 1998 he opened Tabla with restaurateur Danny Meyer, combining American ingredients with Indian spices in a fine-dining setting. Tabla was influential in introducing New York diners to sophisticated Indian flavours.
Top Chef Masters
In 2011 he won the third season of Top Chef Masters with an upma-based dish, donating the prize money to charity. He wrote the cookbook One Spice, Two Spice.
Mumbai and legacy
He was culinary director of The Bombay Canteen in Mumbai, opened in 2015, and O Pedro, celebrating Goan food. He died in New Jersey on 25 March 2020, one of the first prominent victims of the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States.
Timeline
-
1960
Born in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra
-
1998
Opens Tabla
-
2011
Wins Top Chef Masters
-
2015
The Bombay Canteen opens
-
2020
Dies of Covid-19
-
2020
Died, aged 59
Notable works
-
2006
One Spice, Two Spice Book
Did you know?
-
1
He studied biochemistry before becoming a chef.
-
2
He won Top Chef Masters with an upma dish.
-
3
He championed Goan food in Mumbai.
Connections
Related people
Also born on 2 October
Frequently asked
Who is Floyd Cardoz?
Floyd Cardoz was a chef who brought Indian spices to New York fine dining at the restaurant Tabla and won Top Chef Masters in 2011. He later helped open The Bombay Canteen in Mumbai. He died of Covid-19 in 2020.
When did Floyd Cardoz die?
Floyd Cardoz died on 25 March 2020 at the age of 59.
Where is Floyd Cardoz from?
Floyd Cardoz was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra.
What is Floyd Cardoz known for?
Floyd Cardoz is best known for Tabla in New York; winning Top Chef Masters; The Bombay Canteen.
References
- Floyd Cardoz — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Floyd Cardoz — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Floyd Cardoz (Q88553411) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Floyd Cardoz”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
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About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Floyd Cardoz.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/floyd-cardoz
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