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| Carl Ruiz, Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur, Dies at 44 | Carl Ruiz, Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur, Dies at 44 |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Carl A. Ruiz, a television celebrity chef and global restaurateur whose dishes celebrated his Latin upbringing, has died, his brother said on Monday. He was 44. | Carl A. Ruiz, a television celebrity chef and global restaurateur whose dishes celebrated his Latin upbringing, has died, his brother said on Monday. He was 44. |
| The brother, George Ruiz, said Mr. Ruiz was visiting with friends in Maryland near Baltimore when he died. The cause of death has not been determined, he said. | The brother, George Ruiz, said Mr. Ruiz was visiting with friends in Maryland near Baltimore when he died. The cause of death has not been determined, he said. |
| Mr. Ruiz who made frequent appearances on the Food Network as a competitive chef and celebrity judge, ran or was involved in several restaurants, his most recent being La Cubana, which opened in the Chelsea neighborhood in June. | Mr. Ruiz who made frequent appearances on the Food Network as a competitive chef and celebrity judge, ran or was involved in several restaurants, his most recent being La Cubana, which opened in the Chelsea neighborhood in June. |
| He was the executive chef and owner of the restaurant, which pays tribute to his Cuban roots. An Instagram post from the restaurant on Sunday announced his death. | He was the executive chef and owner of the restaurant, which pays tribute to his Cuban roots. An Instagram post from the restaurant on Sunday announced his death. |
| The inspiration for Mr. Ruiz’s culinary talents decidedly came from their Cuban mother, George Ruiz said. | The inspiration for Mr. Ruiz’s culinary talents decidedly came from their Cuban mother, George Ruiz said. |
| “My mom and my grandmother are culinary artists in their own way, even if they don’t have a degree,” George Ruiz said. “They had a real amazing talent.” | “My mom and my grandmother are culinary artists in their own way, even if they don’t have a degree,” George Ruiz said. “They had a real amazing talent.” |
| He said his brother learned the craft at home, experimented with ingredients and then went into business for himself. | He said his brother learned the craft at home, experimented with ingredients and then went into business for himself. |
| Over the years, Carl Ruiz was involved in restaurants in New Jersey, including as the executive chef at Sabor in North Bergen and at Cuban Pete’s in Montclair. He also ran Marie’s Italian Specialties, a deli-style restaurant, with his wife at the time, Marie. (Their marriage ended in divorce.) | Over the years, Carl Ruiz was involved in restaurants in New Jersey, including as the executive chef at Sabor in North Bergen and at Cuban Pete’s in Montclair. He also ran Marie’s Italian Specialties, a deli-style restaurant, with his wife at the time, Marie. (Their marriage ended in divorce.) |
| He told The New York Times in 2014 that eating there was intended to be an experience. | He told The New York Times in 2014 that eating there was intended to be an experience. |
| “It’s not eating-fava-beans-in-flip-flops-in-Tuscany Italian,” Mr. Ruiz said. “It’s American Italian. It’s lay-down-on-your-couch-for-three-hours-afterward Italian.” | “It’s not eating-fava-beans-in-flip-flops-in-Tuscany Italian,” Mr. Ruiz said. “It’s American Italian. It’s lay-down-on-your-couch-for-three-hours-afterward Italian.” |
| George Ruiz said that attitude was in keeping with his brother’s outlook about the role of food in building and maintaining connections with family and friends. | George Ruiz said that attitude was in keeping with his brother’s outlook about the role of food in building and maintaining connections with family and friends. |
| George Ruiz said that his brother was a lover of all cuisines but that “he understood that food was a conduit to very aspirational things, like connections and life.” | George Ruiz said that his brother was a lover of all cuisines but that “he understood that food was a conduit to very aspirational things, like connections and life.” |
| For decades, their parents, Elisa and Yezzid Ruiz, ran a tire shop in Passaic, N.J., where their boys also worked. | |
| George Ruiz said his brother drew inspiration from their Colombian father, who emphasized the importance of providing a service and strong relationships with customers. | George Ruiz said his brother drew inspiration from their Colombian father, who emphasized the importance of providing a service and strong relationships with customers. |
| “He wasn’t just fixing your tire: He was helping you get to work,” George Ruiz said. “It was an integral part of a solid immigrant community, helping people get what they needed.” | “He wasn’t just fixing your tire: He was helping you get to work,” George Ruiz said. “It was an integral part of a solid immigrant community, helping people get what they needed.” |
| George Ruiz recalled his brother talking about his appearances on the Food Network. “Those were amazing times for him to work with people who thought about food on another level,” he said. | George Ruiz recalled his brother talking about his appearances on the Food Network. “Those were amazing times for him to work with people who thought about food on another level,” he said. |
| Carl Ruiz also appeared on Sirius XM Radio, where he shared “his own culinary knowledge with an equal dose of truth and comedy, whether he was debunking a food trend or sharing a recipe,” his website said. | Carl Ruiz also appeared on Sirius XM Radio, where he shared “his own culinary knowledge with an equal dose of truth and comedy, whether he was debunking a food trend or sharing a recipe,” his website said. |
| Carl Albert Ruiz was born on April 4, 1975, in Passaic, and graduated from Collegiate School in Passaic and then from the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. His brother and parents survive him. | Carl Albert Ruiz was born on April 4, 1975, in Passaic, and graduated from Collegiate School in Passaic and then from the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. His brother and parents survive him. |
| Matt Farah, who hosts a YouTube series about cars called “The Smoking Tire,” said he first met Mr. Ruiz two years ago. Mr. Farah heard the chef say on a radio show that he liked “The Smoking Tire,” and Mr. Farah called in to respond. | Matt Farah, who hosts a YouTube series about cars called “The Smoking Tire,” said he first met Mr. Ruiz two years ago. Mr. Farah heard the chef say on a radio show that he liked “The Smoking Tire,” and Mr. Farah called in to respond. |
| “We literally became friends live on the radio, instantly exchanged phone numbers, started hanging out,” Mr. Farah said. | “We literally became friends live on the radio, instantly exchanged phone numbers, started hanging out,” Mr. Farah said. |
| Mr. Ruiz attended Mr. Farah’s wedding in April. | Mr. Ruiz attended Mr. Farah’s wedding in April. |
| “He was dancing with everybody, 20 people, none of whom really knew him,” he said. | “He was dancing with everybody, 20 people, none of whom really knew him,” he said. |
| At the after-party, Mr. Ruiz ordered $300 worth of Domino’s pizza and explained to people how, compared with fancier pizzas, Domino’s was “just as important for our culture.” | At the after-party, Mr. Ruiz ordered $300 worth of Domino’s pizza and explained to people how, compared with fancier pizzas, Domino’s was “just as important for our culture.” |
| Troy Johnson, a food critic and judge on several Food Network shows, said on Twitter that Mr. Ruiz “made people laugh who’d forgotten how to laugh.” | Troy Johnson, a food critic and judge on several Food Network shows, said on Twitter that Mr. Ruiz “made people laugh who’d forgotten how to laugh.” |
| “He set rooms on fire,” Mr. Johnson wrote. “He was the match and the kerosene.” | “He set rooms on fire,” Mr. Johnson wrote. “He was the match and the kerosene.” |
| Christopher Mele and Mihir Zaveri contributed reporting. Kitty Bennett contributed research. | Christopher Mele and Mihir Zaveri contributed reporting. Kitty Bennett contributed research. |