Celebrity chef Carl Ruiz, the proprietor of La Cubana restaurant who made frequent appearances on The Food Network, has died, the New York restaurant stated. He was 44.
“On behalf of the La Cubana family, with heavy hearts, we are deeply saddened to share the passing of our beloved Executive Chef Carl Ruiz,” La Cubana posted on its social media websites.
“No words can fully express our sadness at the sudden loss of our dear friend and brother,” the put up stated.
La Cubana didn’t put up the reason for dying.
Ruiz was a presence on each tv and radio, and he opened eating places the world over, in accordance with a biography on La Cubana’s web site.
“He was a mighty force of down home Cuban cuisine, and lived life to the fullest, just as he cooked—with “dancing always” as crucial ingredient,” the La Cubana put up stated.
Fellow celebrity cooks who had been pals with Ruiz posted tributes on-line. Guy Fieri posted on Instagram that he’s “heartbroken” on the information.
“Over the years, I’ve met a lot of great people, but a friend like Carl is one in a hundred million,” Fieri posted. “Carl ‘The Cuban’ Ruiz will forever live on in my heart and in those of all who loved him.”
“You taught us how to enjoy every moment to the fullest and not live wondering what if,” chef Jet Tila, who’s appeared on a number of cooking exhibits, tweeted.
“Can’t explain the profound specialness of some people,” Alex Guarnaschelli stated on Instagram. “This man was somehow fatherly, comforting, wise, reckless, brilliant, wickedly funny and unique all rolled into one.”
Ruiz’s zest for meals and life was such part of him that he had a verb for it: ruizing. It’s a “way of living,” that began with Ruiz, in accordance with the Urban Dictionary, which defines it as “enjoying great drinks, food, smoking cigars, and doing what you want. You must drink with pinkies up!”
The restaurant stated it is going to proceed Ruiz’s work in establishing the Carl Ruiz Scholarship Foundation for “aspiring chefs.”