Exclusive
Food Network star and celebrity chef Carl Ruiz died from a hardening of his arteries … TMZ has learned.
A spokesperson for the Maryland Department of Health tells TMZ … Ruiz died after succumbing to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease — typically a buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in arteries which restricts blood flow.
The finding confirms the suspicions of Carl’s family … that he died of a heart attack.
Iām 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
ā Guy Fieri (@GuyFieri) September 22, 2019
@GuyFieri
The Dept. of Health also lists his death as natural, which just means there was no foul play.
As we reported … Ruiz died in his sleep last month at just 44 years old. His death shook the food community … with several chefs reacting publicly to the loss. Guy Fieri said he was heartbroken.
Carl was Cuban-American and known as an expert in Spanish cuisine. In addition to being a popular fixture on the Food Network … he’d just opened his restaurant, La Cubana, in NYC earlier this year.