Chefs Pay Tribute to Chef Margarita Fores

Grace Libero

<div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739330461187470201413_18472054042002410_6789781206695866975_n.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Chef Margarita Forés</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">The Philippines is mourning the sudden death of <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/people/2025/2/11/margarita-fores-honoring-the-life-of-a-filipina-culinary-legend-1836" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Margarita Forés</strong></a>. The award-winning chef and restaurateur <strong></strong>passed away at 65, as confirmed by her son, Amado in a social media post on February 11. Named Asia&#x27;s Best Female Chef 2016, Margarita is the woman behind the catering company Cibo Di M and restaurants like Cibo, Grace Park, and Lusso.</p><p>She was well-known and well-loved for her food, but the tributes pouring in to honor her memory give glimpses of how much she&#x27;s also loved for her passion and positivity not just in the culinary circle locally but also internationally. </p><p>Chef <strong>Happy Ongpauco-Tiu </strong>of the Happy Concept Group&#x27;s Pamana, Lé Chon, and Tsokolateria remembered Chef Margarita, writing, &quot;Today, we lost an incredible soul who has inspired so many in the food and beverage industry. Your passion and dedication will live on through all of us. You have always been an inspiration to me and will always be! Your legacy will never be forgotten, dear Gaita. Rest well, my idol! Cook up a feast in heaven, and know that you will be deeply missed.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DF7y7Lyhp82/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=971&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1062766%2C%22ls%22%3A1062368.7999999821%2C%22le%22%3A1062390.2999999821%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="856" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>In his tribute, chef <strong>Chele Gonzalez </strong>of Galley by Chele and Asador Alfonso shared that he can&#x27;t believe his friend is no longer around. &quot;As I went through photos, I was reminded of all the amazing adventures we had— from Bacolod to so many parts of the Philippines, to Italy (your beloved Italy), and many other places around the world. You welcomed me into your life with warmth and friendship. Thank you for everything you gave me. You were deeply loved and will be so missed, but now it’s time for you to rest in peace. I will always remember your smile, your positive energy, and the joy you spread. And in this photo, I’ll cherish one more sunset with you.&quot;<strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><br/></p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DF8HmzJSfBO/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=971&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A1377514.8999999762%2C%22ls%22%3A1062368.7999999821%2C%22le%22%3A1062390.2999999821%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="745" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Chef <strong>Miko Calo </strong>of Taquería FRANCO, lazy oeuf, and mediumwelldone said that Chef Margarita made an impact on her career and was not only a mentor but also a friend to her. She wrote on Instagram, &quot;You have been and always will be an inspiration for Filipina chefs. We will continue what you’ve started. We are here, Chef @margaritafores and we will keep the fire burning. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Rest in power.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DF76sfnTNoD/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=971&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A1791671.3999999762%2C%22ls%22%3A1062368.7999999821%2C%22le%22%3A1062390.2999999821%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Chef <strong>Vicky Cheng</strong>—who owns restaurants in Hong Kong such as VEA, Wing, Medora, Liz &amp; Tori, and K—is &quot;speechless and completely heartbroken.&quot; Chef Margarita died in Hong Kong, and Chef Vicky&#x27;s last memory of her was her inviting him for a nightcap: &quot;Why is life so not fair!!? I was just speaking to you yesterday, you asked me to go out for a night cap…. And I said I had an early morning I couldn’t come out…. I didn’t know it was the last time you were ever going to ask me. &#x27;Oh no worries! Will always be back to see you!…&#x27; this was the last message you sent me. In our next life, I want you to feed me Filipino fruits again, cook tgt, and make you clay pot rice again. The (culinary) world just lost one of the kindest person ever existed.&quot; </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-8" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DF7xdbHSLQ-/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=971&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A8%2C%22os%22%3A2055931.3999999762%2C%22ls%22%3A1062368.7999999821%2C%22le%22%3A1062390.2999999821%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-8" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739329468503vickycheng.png" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Here are more tributes from Margarita&#x27;s fellow chefs:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong></strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Pizza master Chef Stefano Canosci</strong></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739329567463stefanocanosci.png" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><strong></strong><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>&quot;King of Carbonara:&quot; Chef Luciano Monosilio</strong> </div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739329793307luciano_monosilio.png" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Chef Agustin Ferrando Balbi of Ando</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739329909188agux1988.png" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Chef Marco Xodo of TESTINA</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739330005727chefxodo.png" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Chef Jorge Mendez of Mōdan</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739330114428hosehorhe.png" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Chef Palash Mitra of New Punjab Club, Rajasthan Rifles, and Prince and the Peacock</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1739330182586chefpalashmitra.png" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Lead photo from <strong>@margaritafores</strong></p>

<p>These chefs honor the memory of Chef Margarita Forés, who they all agree is one of the most passionate and kindest persons they've ever met.</p>

These chefs honor the memory of Chef Margarita Forés, who they all agree is one of the most passionate and kindest persons they've ever met.

Remembering Margarita Forés: Chefs Pay Tribute to Their Colleague and Friend | ABS-CBN

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Remembering Margarita Forés: Chefs Pay Tribute to Their Colleague and Friend

Remembering Margarita Forés: Chefs Pay Tribute to Their Colleague and Friend

Grace Libero

Published Feb 12, 2025 11:25 AM PHT

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Updated Feb 12, 2025 11:27 AM PHT

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