Celebrity chef Margarita Forés has died at the age of 65, her family confirmed in a post to Instagram on Tuesday.
The Filipino restauranteur was discovered unresponsive in her Hong Kong hotel room after missing a lunch meeting, the Manila Standard reported.
Her cause of death has not yet been determined.
Fores’s son, Amado Forés, wrote on Instagram: “Dear Friends and Family, It is with a heavy heart that I share the sudden passing of my Mom, Margarita A. Forés.
“Our family is mourning this unexpected loss, and we kindly ask for your prayers during this time. We will be able to share more in due time.”
Who was Margarita Fores?
Fores was a Manila-born chef with an illustrious career that spanned more than three decades and is best known for placing Filipino food on the global culinary map.
But it was also her interest in acquiring knowledge of Italian cuisine, which she studied under three chefs, that allowed her to be known as a dedicated restauranteur. She even learned the Italian language.
Forés’s love for Italian food developed back in 1986 during a trip to the southern European country where, according to Travel and Leisure, she delighted in discovering the flavours and simplicity of Italian food.
This changed the trajectory of her career and she left accounting behind to pursue learning everything she could about the culture and cooking.
Following this experience, she returned to the Philippines, where she established herself as one of its most respected chefs and, in 1997, she was able to launch CIBO, self-described as a modern Italian caffé-paninoteca.
Forés once said the restaurant was “inspired by the mushrooming panino places in the cities of Milan and Rome”.
CIBO enjoyed immense popularity, and scaled into a chain offering affordable and authentic Italian food at about 30 locations across the country, many of which are in the Philippines capital, Manila.
Forés opened other spots, too, including highly acclaimed Lusso and Grace Park, restaurants celebrating Italian and Filipino cuisine alike.
Beyond restaurants, Forés had a whole host of achievements under her belt. She ran a catering business, a floral shop, and a culinary school.
Her culinary achievements earned her widespread recognition and, just last week, she appeared on the cover of Tatler Asia alongside her son, celebrated as “talented culinary artisans”.
Just last month, Forés was seen giving Gordon Ramsay a tour of her local Farmers Market in Araneta City, showcasing her passion for fresh, local ingredients.
Forés, who lived a mostly private life, is survived by her children, one of whom, Amado, has already been recognised as a torchbearer of his mother's culinary passions with an Instagram account dedicated to cooking.
