Image Credit: Gado via Getty Images
The culinary world has lost one of its own. Chef Margarita Forés has passed away at the age of 65. Her son, Amado Forés, shared the news on social mediawriting, “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.”
As family, friends, and fans mourn her loss, learn more about her legacy with five facts that Hollywood Life has rounded up.
Chef Margarita Forés Was Born in the Philippines
Margarita Araneta Forés was born on March 23, 1959, in the Philippines.
Chef Margarita Force Was Never Married
According to multiple outletsMargarita was never married. While she kept her personal life private, she did share a photo of Amado’s father, Danding, on his birthday on February 23, 2020.
Chief Margarita Fores Opened Cibo
In 1997, she launched her own Italian restaurant, Cibo. On the restaurant’s websiteshe shared the story behind its creation, “In 1987, I began my journey in Italy, learning how to cook from three Italian signoras. I learned a very home-style approach to cooking. With sessions in their kitchens in the mornings, lessons about the best and freshest ingredients in the markets over lunch, and dinners at different restaurants in the evenings, they shared priceless knowledge and wisdom about the country’s cuisine and culture with me.”
She continued, “I came back home and spent nearly a decade sharing my new-found passion, cooking in people’s homes, slowly learning the ropes of a career in the food industry. In 1997, I finally opened my first CIBO, a modern Italian caffé-paninoteca, inspired by the mushrooming panino places in the cities of Milan and Rome. Since then, we have grown, proudly serving a wide range of authentic Italian dishes—antipasti, zuppe, insalate, paste, pizze, secondi piatti, dolci and bevande. We continue to thrive at many locations in the city, bringing this real, modern taste of Italy to Manila.”
Chef Margarita Forés Was a Two-Time Cancer Survivor
According to Manila Standardthe celebrity chef battled cancer twice, including a fight against thyroid cancer in 2006.
Chef Forés
As of the time of publication, her cause of death has not been confirmed. According to multiple outletsshe was found unresponsive in her hotel room in Hong Kong.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings