We’re so proud of this hardworking chef.
On Tue, Jan 12, Margarita Forés was named Asia’s Best Female Chef of 2016 by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Despite being to the manor born — she is from the Cubao Araneta clan — Forés decided to strike out on her own after spending some years living in Italy.
In 1997 she opened Cibo, the country’s first casual authentic Italian restaurant. But she also succesfully experimented with Filipino flavors at Café Bola, where she served original delicacies such as chico shake, penne chorizo and adobo flakes.
She now runs a catering company (where she is very hands on), floral shop, culinary school and some high-end restaurants like Lusso, farm-to-table Grace Park and Alta at the Ascott in BGC where she handles the hotel’s F&B operations.
Forés was also instrumental in bringing the internationally-famous Madrid Fusion food event to the Philippines (its first international edition).
“Over the last decade and beyond, Forés has taken her learnings from the Italian markets and homes where she cut her culinary teeth and applied them to an array of restaurants in the Philippines,” according to Asia’s 50 Best.
Despite her clout, Forés has always remained down to earth. When asked on video how she felt about the award, she said it made her feel like Miss Universe. “Don’t take it away later, ha,” she joked, referencing the mix-up between at the beauty pageant.
It’s all too cute, really. Congratulations!
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