Carl Ruiz

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Carl Ruiz
Born(1975-04-04)April 4, 1975
Passaic, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedSeptember 21, 2019(2019-09-21) (aged 44)
Maryland, U.S.
EducationInstitute of Culinary Education
OccupationChef, restauranter, television personality
Years active2002–2019
EmployerFood Network
Spouse(s)Marie Riccio (divorced)

Carl Albert Ruiz (April 4, 1975 – September 21, 2019), also known as Carl "The Cuban" Ruiz, was an American restaurant owner and celebrity chef, best known as a judge on various US cooking competition television shows on Food Network, such as Guy's Grocery Games.

Early life[edit]

Ruiz was born on April 4, 1975, in Passaic, New Jersey, where he attended the Collegiate School. He was a classically-trained chef who graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.[1]

Career[edit]

Ruiz worked as a sous chef at Dish, a restaurant in Clifton, New Jersey, before being hired as executive chef at Sabor in North Bergen, New Jersey circa 2002.[2] In July 2002, he was hired by the new owner of Stephen's Cafe of North Bergen as a consulting chef for a relaunch of the operation.[3] Ruiz relocated to New York City as the first decade of the 21st century came to a close, working as an executive chef at Son Cubano, a short-lived Cuban restaurant on West 27th Street in Manhattan.[4] The 80-seat restaurant featured live Cuban music and a night club atmosphere.[4]

By 2011, Ruiz was executive chef at Brick Oven in Morristown, New Jersey.[5] Together with his then wife, Marie Riccio, on October 10, 2011,[6] Ruiz opened an Italian deli and cafe, Marie's Italian Specialties, in the Hickory Square Mall in Chatham Township, New Jersey.[7] This cafe was memorably referred to by one food reviewer as "the type of deli you might have visited as a child when visiting your grandmother's house — if your grandmother lived in Hoboken or Jersey City in the 1950s."[7]

It was through this restaurant, and its distinctive food, that Ruiz first made the acquaintance of celebrity chef Guy Fieri.[8] Fieri filmed an episode of his popular Food Network television show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives featuring Marie's Italian Specialties in October 2012, with an initial air date of January 21, 2013.[6] Fieri would ultimately feature the restaurant twice on the show,[8] boosting the popularity of the nine table deli as well as Ruiz's professional profile.[6] Ruiz was later hired to be a judge on other shows starring Fieri, including Guy's Grocery Games and Guy's Ranch Kitchen.[8]

Ruiz and Riccio subsequently divorced, with Riccio retaining Marie's Italian Specialties following the split.[9] In June 2019, Ruiz opened a new restaurant specializing in authentic Cuban fare, "La Cubana," in the Meatpacking District of New York City.[10] Ruiz held the position of Executive Chef at the new eatery.[10] Through connection to his high-profile friend Fieri, Ruiz would become a frequent guest on the Sirius XM radio show Opie and Anthony and its successor, The Opie Radio Show, along with Sherrod Small and Vic Henley.[11] Following that show's cancellation, Carl would continue to be a regular on the Opie Radio podcast until the time of his death.

Ruiz was well-known as a judge on Guy's Grocery Games, and he also won the most as a competitor raising money as part of various tournaments on Triple G.

Death and legacy[edit]

Ruiz died on September 21, 2019, aged 44, from a suspected heart attack as he slept.[1] He was visiting friends in Maryland when it occurred.[12] Following his death, La Cubana issued a statement to the press announcing the establishment of the Carl Ruiz Scholarship Foundation, dedicated to the financial support of aspiring chefs attending culinary school.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Mariel Padilla, "Carl Ruiz, Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur, Dies at 44,", The New York Times, September 22, 2019.
  2. ^ Rene A. Mack, "At Sabor in North Bergen," Hackensack Record, June 14, 2002; p. Restaurants-40.
  3. ^ Bev Mortenson, "A La Carte," Hackensack Record, July 26, 2002; p. Restaurants-34.
  4. ^ a b "Son Cubano (Closed)," Time Out New York, February 24, 2010.
  5. ^ Chris Jordan and Amanda Oglesby, "Peanut Butter Confections at Morristown Bakery," Morristown Daily Record, March 9, 2011, p. 12.
  6. ^ a b c Marcia Worth, "Chef Guy Fieri Features Local Favorite Deli," Patch [South Orange, NJ], January 10, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Jamie Duffy, "Husband-and-Wife Team Make Marie's Work," Morristown Daily Record, January 18, 2012; p. 4.
  8. ^ a b c Connie Heller, Food Network's Carl Ruiz Dead at 44: Guy Fieri and More Stars Pay Tribute "Food Network's Carl Ruiz Dead at 44," E! News, September 22, 2019.
  9. ^ Rachelle Bergstein, "Floridians Outraged After Chef Claims New Jersey Has the Best Cuban Sandwich," New York Post, December 28, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Li Cohen, "Food Network Chef Carl Ruiz Remembered After "Sudden" Death," CBS News, September 22, 2019.
  11. ^ "Confirmed: Opie Fired From SiriusXM, "Sherrod Small Gives Clues About Future Plans," The Interrobang, July 6, 2017.
  12. ^ Haring, Bruce (September 22, 2019). "Food Network's Carl Ruiz Dead at 44: Guy Fieri and More Stars Pay Tribute". MSN.com.
  13. ^ Pasquini, Maria (September 22, 2019). "Guy Fieri 'Heartbroken' Over Food Network Star Carl Ruiz's Death". People.com.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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