In an Instagram post, Amado Fores, the son of celebrated chef Margarita ‘Gaita Fores,’ announced that his mother had passed away. She was 65 years old.
“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, and we kindly ask for your prayers during this time. We will be able to share more in due time. With gratitude, Amado,” he wrote, alongside a blank image.
A celebrated restaurateur who established such restaurants as Cibo, Lusso and Grace Park, to name a few, Gaita was one of PeopleAsia’s “People of the Year” awardees in 2013. She was also named as “Asia’s Best Female Chef” in 2016 and was a UN Ambassador for Gastronomic Tourism in 2019.
“Gaita was a gentle giant,” said her friend Angeli Pangilinan-Valenciano, who is a close friend of Gaita’s sister Veana Fores. “She towered in the kitchen but never raised her voice.”
“Her work, aside from her son, was the love of her life. She was so passionate about it, it wasn’t a career to her,” added Angeli. “Working in the kitchen may be considered a ‘dirty’ job but she made it look so classy.”
In an interview with PeopleAsia, Gaita shared her belief that the Philippines was very close to the pinnacle of culinary glory. “We Filipino chefs just need to continue this kind of effort and be focused to get our cuisine out there,” she said.
