Award-winning chef and restaurateur Margarita Forés.

(UPDATED) Amado Forés announced in a social media post on Tuesday the sudden passing of his mother, award-winning chef and restaurateur Margarita Forés.

She was 65 years old. 

No other details  have been shared by the family as of this writing.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the sudden passing of my Mom, Margarita A. Forés. Our family is mourning this unexpected loss. We kindly ask for your prayers during this time. We will be able to share more in due time,” he said in the post.

Former senator Mar Roxas, a relative, confirmed Forés' death.  

Named Asia’s Best Female Chef 2016 (an award voted on by her peers in the international restaurant industry), Forés ran several restaurants and was caterer of choice for visiting dignitaries. 

Born into a prominent clan -- the founders of Araneta Center in Quezon City, Philippines -- Forés moved to the US with her parents as a teenager, going on to college and a corporate career. In her late 20s, she pursued her passion for cooking, moving to Italy to immerse herself in the cuisine.

When it opened in 1997, Forés’ flagship restaurant Cibo changed Manila’s dining culture -- it is now joined by restaurants Lusso, Grace Park, The Loggia at Palacio de Memoria, and the catering company Cibo di Marghi. 

She received international commendations; knighted by the Italian government for her work in promoting the country’s cuisine and culture; and in September 2019, she was named a United Nations Ambassador for Gastronomic Tourism. 

She was a two-time cancer survivor.

More details to follow.