Margarita Forés, Chef and 2-Time Cancer Survivor, Dies at 65
The chef's son and business partner Amado wrote of the "unexpected loss" and his mother's "sudden passing" on Instagram
Margarita Fores/Instagram
Margarita ForésProlific Filipino chef Margarita Forés has died. She was 65.
Forés was found unresponsive in a Hong Kong hotel room after missing a lunch meeting, according to Manila Standard on Tuesday, Feb. 11. She is survived by her son, Amado. Forés’ cause of death has not been shared.
Amado, who was also his mother’s restaurant partner, posted a message on Instagram on Tuesday, Feb. 11. “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,” he wrote in the caption.
Margarita Fores/Instagram
Margarita Forés outside CiboForés was born in the Philippines and moved to New York City with her family as a teenager. Her education in the U.S. and the Philippines blended with her love and travels to Italy came to fruition in Cibo, an Italian restaurant Forés opened in the Philippines in 1997. Cibo has since grown into a pasta and pizza chain with 30 locations across the Philippines. Lusso and Grace Park are two of Forés’ other restaurants. Forés also launched a catering business, Margarita Signature Caterer, and floristry business, Margarita Floralscapes.
She opened the Asian Campus at Casa Artusi, a culinary school in northeast Italy, per San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy. Later, Forés was recognized as Asia’s Best Female Chef 2016. During her culinary career, Forés had some TV appearances including CNN's Culinary Journeys.
Per Manila Standard, Forés was a two-time cancer survivor and beat thyroid cancer in 2006.
Just last week, Margarita and Amado graced the cover of Tatler. In the Feb. 2 feature, she said of her son, “Amado has very clear ideas about how to make my existing concepts better. For me it’s a real blessing because in the end, succession planning comes naturally to all Filipino families.”
She also spoke about her career and her plans to “wind down a little bit,” cater Amado’s upcoming wedding and open a joint project of an “Italian brand highlighting Filipino ingredients” with her son.
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