Chef Margarita Forés Posthumously Honored With Icon Award at Asia's 50 Best

(SPOT.ph) She changed the way we saw Italian and Filipino cuisines, and raised the bar on quality in the local dining scene. She also continues to be deeply cherished and missed by folks in the F&B world and by food lovers the world over. In light of the amazing legacy she left behind, Chef Margarita Forés was posthumously bestowed the Icon Award in the 2025 edition of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants.

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Chef Margarita Forés on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2025

50 Best gives the Woodford Reserve Icon Award to individuals who have made "outstanding contributions to the hospitality industry worthy of global recognition." It is voted for by members of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy. Forés' stellar career and long list of accolades no doubt make her most deserving of the title. 

In opening Cibo (and keeping it alive and thriving since 1997), she raised the bar for Italian food in the Philippines, delivering consistently good plates and prioritizing the use of high-quality ingredients. She brought this same eye for quality over to her other dining spots and ventures: Margarita Signature Caterer, Lusso, Grace Park, Museya Kafé, and The Loggia at Palacio de Memoria.

Margarita strongly championed Filipino ingredients—especially revolutionary given the prevailing misconception (more popular then than now) that what's imported necessarily means better. She's been an advocate of the farm-to-table movement since 2006, and would use locally sourced organic produce where applicable at her restaurants. She gave talks on Filipino ingredients, cooking techniques, and local culinary traditions at Harvard University, Madrid Fusión, and Food on the Edge, to name a few.

And when she was named Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2016—the first time a Filipino received this recognition—she promised to promote Filipino food further. "I will promote Filipino cuisine because it's a cause that needs to be shouted out a bit louder. Our time is now. It's the time of the Filipino chef. A Filipina chef!"

With that, Chef Gaita helped propel the idea of food as a driver for tourism and economic growth. She's worked extensively with the Departments of Agriculture and Tourism in the Philippines and championed the Slow Food Movement. In 2019, she was named an official Tourism Ambassador for Gastronomy by no less than the United Nations, and gave talks at the very first United Nations Gastronomy Tourism forum held in Cebu.

Additionally, Margarita was the first non-Italian recipient of the Marietta Ad Honorem award in 2015. She also received the Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella d’Italia in 2018, and was awarded an honorary doctorate in Entrepreneurial Management from Far Eastern University in 2023. Margarita also hosted food and travel TV shows that include My Italy with Margarita Forés, Harvest with Margarita Forés, The Crawl series, and Culinary Journeys.

These are just some of the many ways she's left an indelible mark. She was also known for her support and encouragement of female chefs, and her kindness to people from all walks of life.

Margarita Forés passed away on February 11. She was 65 years old.

"A much-loved member of the culinary community, Margarita Forés was a driving force until the end," writes Asia's 50 Best. "Her work remains a testament to her philosophy: food should be rooted in tradition, elevated with skill and celebrated for its ability to connect people."

Margarita's son Amado Forés received the award on her behalf at the recent Asia's 50 Best Restaurants awarding ceremony held in Seoul. In a speech, he expressed his gratitude to the awarding body. "Thank you so much for honoring my mom with this award and beautiful tribute. She truly cherished these gatherings—sharing meals, celebrating your successes, and being surrounded by those who shared her passion."

The founder of AF Hospitality recalled fond moments with his mom: “My best memories are from traveling with her, visiting your wonderful restaurants, and delivering those jars of Philippine crab fat talangka that she loved sharing with all of you. Expressing love through small gestures, cooking together, or simply showing up for one another brought her so much joy, and I’ve come to realize that the true power of 50 Best lies in its ability to inspire, bridge cultures, and create lifelong friendships."

In ending, Amado added: "My mom always said her life’s purpose was simple: to make the world more beautiful and delicious for others, and I’m grateful to 50 Best for giving her a larger platform to do that."

For more information, check out the Icon Awards on 50 Best's website.