Carl Ruiz, the owner of La Cubana in New York City and a celebrity chef known for his colorful personality, died over the weekend. He was 44.
Ruiz had started several restaurants all over the world and made numerous appearances on Food Network as both a competitive chef and a judge.
He made a name for himself hosting a Sirius XM Radio show that mixed interviews with talented chefs along with culinary knowledge and his own brand of comedy.
Ruiz celebrated restaurants, whether they were small independents or large chains. He boasted about the food he ate at local places in New York, New Jersey and other places he visited. But he also applauded products from places such as Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Boston Market and Fuddruckers. He labeled his dining or partying adventures with the hashtag #ruizing.
This summer, he opened La Cubana in New York’s Meatpacking District, a restaurant that played tribute to his Cuban roots, with Cuban cuisine, live Latin music and vintage cocktails. “No words can fully express our sadness at the sudden loss of our dear friend and brother,” the restaurant said in an Instagram post on Sunday.
“He was a mighty force of down-home Cuban cuisine, and lived life to the fullest, just as he cooked—with ‘dancing always’ as the most important ingredient.”
La Cubana said it would work to establish The Carl Ruiz Scholarship Foundation for aspiring chefs.
Ruiz was a frequent guest on shows hosted by Guy Fieri, including "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" and "Guy’s Grocery Games."
I’m heartbroken that my friend chef Carl Ruiz is gone. I have no words to describe what a great friend he was to me and my family. His ability to make me laugh and smile under any circumstances was only outshined by his talent as a chef. pic.twitter.com/einY8qp7wf
— Guy Fieri (@GuyFieri) September 22, 2019
There was no word on the cause of death, though friends posted on Sunday that they suspected a heart attack.
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