Ruiz was famous for his love of meat

The cause of death has been confirmed for celebrity chef Carl Ruiz, who died aged 44 last month.

Ruiz, aka 'The Cuban', was well-known for his career as a restauranteur, as well as many TV and radio appearances. He was also a famous advocate of meat.

According to reports, he suffered a heart attack in his sleep, 'succumbing to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease - typically a buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in arteries which restricts blood flow'.

Meat lover

The chef regularly consumed large amounts of meat, and was famously pictured holding a large tray with various cuts and steaks, wearing a T-shirt that said: "0% vegetarian."

Just weeks before his death, Ruiz made a joke about an article claiming vegans have a higher risk of stroke than meat-eaters, saying he would 'eat a cheeseburger at their funeral'.

He also Tweeted about the growth of the meat analogue sector, writing: "The fact the fake meat movement is a multi-million dollar industry proves the fact that vegans are not satisfied with just eating vegetables."

Tributes

Tributes poured in for Ruiz, notably from celebrity chef Guy Fieri, who took to social media to write: "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."