Margarita Araneta Forés

chef

Margarita Araneta Forés was a renowned Filipino chef and restaurateur, celebrated for her profound love of Italian cuisine. Born in the Philippines, she dedicated over forty years to the culinary arts, establishing a successful restaurant empire that included around fifty establishments across the country. Her journey into Italian cooking began in 1986 during numerous visits to Italy, where she studied under esteemed chefs and immersed herself in the culture. She launched her first Italian-inspired restaurant, 'Cibo,' in Manila in 1997, which became a tremendous success. Throughout her career, Forés received numerous accolades, including being named Asia’s Best Female Chef by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2016 and being honored as a Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy in 2018. Tragically, she passed away at the age of 65 in Hong Kong, leaving behind a legacy of culinary excellence and passion.