Photo: MargaritaFores/Instagram
Renowned celebrity chef and restaurateur Margarita Forés has died at the age of 65, her son, Amado, confirmed in an Instagram post shared on Tuesday (February 11).
"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," Amado wrote.
Forés, a native of the Philippines, was reportedly found unresponsive in her Hong Kong hotel room after missing a scheduled lunch meeting, the Manila Standard reports. The celebrity chef's cause of death remained unknown as of Wednesday (February 12) morning.
Forés' career in the food industry spanned more than three decades, initially developing a passion for Italian cuisine while living in New York before immersing herself in the craft and culture in Italy. The chef launched Cibo, an affordable Italian comfort food chain in the Philippines, in 1997, which expanded to more than 20 locations.
Cibo's success led to Forés opening several other dining spots including Lusso, Grace Park and Loggia, all of which blended Filipino and Italian cuisine or focused on farm-to-table dining, while also launching a catering business, floral shop and culinary school and surviving cancer twice. Forés was named Asia's Best Female Chef in 2016 and was featured on the cover of Tatler Asia alongside her son last week with both being credited as "talented culinary artisans."
“At 65, I have realized I have worked so hard already,” Fores told the magazine. “So, what I really want to do is wind down a bit.”