Vlad Bunoan

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Cibo

Karen Flores

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752222348646compo-chef.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Margarita Forés&#x27; son Amado now leads Cibo as its president and chief executive officer. <em>Photos from Cibo, AF Hospitality</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA - When award-winning chef Margarita Forés <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/11/renowned-chef-margarita-for-s-passes-away-1825">passed away last February</a>, she left a food empire that includes the restaurant chain Cibo, considered a pioneer of modern Italian cuisine in the Philippines. </p><p>Five months since, her son Amado has stepped up to continue her legacy. In an intimate gathering at one of his mother&#x27;s restaurants, Lusso, on Thursday, the young entrepreneur announced that he now leads Cibo as its president and chief executive officer.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s been a time of deep reflection, and I carry with me not only grief, but also the profound honor of continuing what my mother built,&quot; Amado said in a speech before lunch, holding back his tears.</p><p>&quot;Many of you knew my mom, Margarita Forés, as a force — in the kitchen, in business, in life,&quot; he continued. &quot;Her mission was simple: to make the world more beautiful and delicious for others, and she did it best through food.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/8/14/when-stars-align-ph-s-margarita-fores-teams-up-with-hk-s-vicky-cheng-in-rare-four-hands-dinner-1448">When stars align: PH&#x27;s Margarita Fores teams up with HK&#x27;s Vicky Cheng in rare four hands dinner</a></div><p>Cibo retains its leadership team, which is composed of people who have long stood beside Chef Margarita. Chef Jorge Mendez, her close collaborator for more than a decade, is still the restaurant chain&#x27;s executive chef, and will also be serving as director of research and development.</p><p>Long-time Cibo executive and former chief operating officer Edgar Allan Caper, on the other hand, has been appointed as managing director. Amado&#x27;s cousin Mercedes, Cibo&#x27;s former marketing and R&amp;D director, will take on the COO position vacated by Caper. </p><p>Meanwhile, Bledes Forés Legarda and Oye Forés continue their respective roles as managing director and executive vice president.</p><p>&quot;Together with the amazing team my mom built, we will carry Cibo forward while staying true to the vision and values she held close,&quot; Amado declared.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2024/11/28/homegrown-brand-cibo-among-top-artisan-pizza-chains-in-the-world-1659">Homegrown brand Cibo among top artisan pizza chains in the world</a></div><p>Cibo, which is celebrating its 28th anniversary this year, is set to continue its regional expansion with new locations in Iloilo, La Union, and Baguio. It will launch a new Japanese concept called Makanai, created by Chef Jorge, next month in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.</p><p>Chef Margarita&#x27;s catering brand, Margarita Signature Caterer, is also now under Cibo. &quot;We remain committed to upholding the thoughtfulness and attention to detail that defined my mom&#x27;s approach to every event,&quot; Amado promised. </p><div><strong>Lusso, Grace Park, Margarita Florals</strong></div><p>Even before his mother&#x27;s passing, Amado has been leading his own restaurant group. AF Hospitality (AFH) includes three young but well-loved dining concepts: Steak &amp; Frice, A mano, and Ramen Ron. </p><p>And now, his mother&#x27;s original brands Lusso, Grace Park, and Margarita Florals are also part of AFH&#x27;s portfolio. </p><p>&quot;As we bring these beloved brands together, you can expect new and exciting things,&quot; said Amado, who also stressed: &quot;But at the heart of every decision will be one constant: my mom&#x27;s legacy. That will never be compromised.&quot;</p><p>Amado&#x27;s wife Carmela, who has nearly a decade of experience in retail and marketing, has joined AFH as managing director. The two of them are off to Naples this September for the World&#x27;s 100 Top Pizza Awards to represent A mano.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:750px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752219742437Amado Forés &amp; Carmela Fortuna Forés (1).jpg" style="width:750px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Amado Forés and his wife Carmela. <em>Photo from AF Hospitality</em></span></span></span></div><p>&quot;Winning 9th place in Asia-Pacific last March assured A mano a spot among the world&#x27;s best pizzerias, marking a truly exciting moment for the brand as it continues to uphold the highest standard for Neapolitan pizza in the Philippines,&quot; Carmela happily shared.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/3/5/3-manila-restaurants-back-on-top-50-pizza-s-asia-pacific-list-1612">3 Manila restaurants are back on Top 50 Pizza&#x27;s Asia-Pacific list for 2024</a></div><p>Lusso will expand its original Greenbelt 5 location, Margarita Florals will soon have a new website, while Ramen Ron and Steak and Frice will open their second and third locations, respectively. </p><p>As for Grace Park, which was featured in the Manila episode of the Netflix show &quot;Somebody Feed Phil,&quot; Carmela hinted: &quot;We have even more exciting developments brewing for the brand soon as it continues to champion Filipino cuisine.&quot; </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2025/6/24/revisit-filipino-cuisine-by-going-on-a-somebody-feed-phil-food-trip-1827">Revisit Filipino cuisine by going on a &#x27;Somebody Feed Phil&#x27; food trip</a></div><div><strong>Margarita restaurant </strong></div><p>Chef Margarita originally planned to launch her signature restaurant — simply called Margarita —  at The Shops at Ayala Triangle Garden in Makati. </p><p>But Amado and his team have thoughtfully decided to not move forward with the concept. And as he was about to deliver the sad news, his microphone got cut out. &quot;That&#x27;s my mom, she turned it off,&quot; he said in jest.</p><p>Turning serious, he went on: &quot;This was not a decision we made lightly. It comes from a place of deep responsibility and even deeper love. These brands are more than just businesses, they are living expressions of who my mother was and what she stood for.&quot;</p><p>Nevertheless, Amado remains optimistic: &quot;This opens up exciting opportunities to bring her vision in more meaningful and creative ways.&quot; </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/11/chef-margarita-for-s-speaks-on-filipino-food-1951">Chef Margarita Forés speaks on Filipino food</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/12/pagpupugay-sa-pinoy-culinary-icon-na-si-margarita-fores-bumuhos-2014">Pagpupugay sa Pinoy culinary icon na si Margarita Fores, bumuhos</a></div>

<p>When award-winning chef Margarita Forés passed away last February, she left a food empire that includes the restaurant chain Cibo, considered a pioneer of modern Italian cuisine in the Philippines.</p>

When award-winning chef Margarita Forés passed away last February, she left a food empire that includes the restaurant chain Cibo, considered a pioneer of modern Italian cuisine in the Philippines.

What happens to Cibo? Chef Margarita Forés' legacy continues with son Amado

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What happens to Cibo? Chef Margarita Forés' legacy continues with son Amado

Karen Flores Layno,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 11, 2025 04:29 PM PHT

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Updated July 11, 2025 04:36 PM PHT

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