MANILA, Philippines – The late chef Margarita Fores‘ impact on the Philippine culinary scene is undeniable.
As one of the country’s most celebrated Filipino chefs, she built an empire of restaurants that introduced modern yet casual Italian cuisine for Filipino diners. From the iconic Cibo to the elegant Lusso, her restaurants have become favorite destinations for memorable Filipino-Italian dining experiences.
Here’s a look at the restaurants Asia’s Best Female Chef of 2016 has opened through the years — their specialties, branches, milestones, and even the collaborations she’s done with other notable names.
Cibo
Cibo, a modern Italian caffé-paninoteca, was founded in 1997, inspired by the bustling panino spots in Milan and Rome, Margarita said. Its first branch opened in an open space at Glorietta 3 and relocated to Glorietta 4 in 1998, and in 2005 it opened at Gateway Mall. It eventually expanded across Metro Manila; by 2010, it reached its 10th store at Greenbelt 5.
Cibo’s philosophy is “celebrating the richness of local bounty while preserving the integrity of Italian cuisine.” It sources pasta, olive oil, cheeses, flour, and coffee come from the most esteemed purveyors in Italy, blending premium imports with the freshest local harvests — organic greens, herbs, squash flowers, the sweetest mangoes, strawberries, organic chicken, and freshly caught crabs and shrimp.
Cibo can now be found in Alabang Town Center, Ayala Center Cebu, Ayala Malls Capitol Central in Bacolod, Eastwood Mall, Evia Lifestyle Center, Greenhills Mall, Manila Bay, Power Plant Mall, Robinsons Magnolia, Shangri-La Plaza, SM Aura Premier, SM City Bacolod, SM Megamall Fashion Hall, SM Mall of Asia Square, SM Seaside City Cebu, Solenad 3 in Nuvali, Southwoods Mall, The 30th in Pasig, UP Town Center, Uptown BGC, Venice Grand Canal Mall, and Vertis North.
Cibo is known for its signature Spinaci Zola Dip and creamy Penne al Telefono, and its refreshing Grape Shake. The brand expanded to Cibo Rapido — a cafeteria-style concept at OPUS Mall in 2024 — and was even internationally recognized as one of the world’s top artisan pizza chains, placing 44th.
Lusso
Established in 2009 in Greenbelt 5, Makati City, Lusso — meaning “luxury” in Italian — embodies Margarita’s penchant for elegance and subtle fusion. The restaurant is renowned for its luxe comfort food, with signature dishes such as the Foie Gras Burger, Luxe Fries with Truffle Salt, Prosciutto Chive Mousse Barquillos, Taglierni De Russo (foie gras and cream) Pasta, White Chocolate Tiramisu, and Lobster and River Prawn Roll.
In 2023, Lusso opened its second branch in Balmori Suites, Rockwell. In September last year, Margarita launched Lusso’s Afternoon Tea Set to celebrate the birthday of her late mother Baby Araneta-Fores, through an intimate and elegant dining and social experience that merges Margarita’s nostalgia with British tradition.
In January, Lusso expanded to The Podium in Mandaluyong City, offering a sophisticated two-story dining experience.
Grace Park
Grace Park opened in 2013 in One Rockwell, Makati as a champion for the farm-to-table movement, emphasizing organic and locally sourced ingredients. The menu features dishes like the Duck Confit with Adlai Risotto and the signature Carbonara with organic eggs and pancetta.
It opened its second branch a year later in Araneta City, Cubao, gaining more popularity for Filipino dishes like Filipino food like kansi, baked capiz scallops, roast bone marrow, lechon sisig, and diwal (angel wing clams) pasta, golden cassava cake, and spaghettini with baby crab fat.
Alta
In 2016, Margarita launched Alta at Ascott Bonifacio Global City. The restaurant’s menu also melds Italian and Filipino flavors, with dishes such as the Truffle Mushroom Risotto, Lamb Shank Ossobuco served with Saffron Risotto, Spinach Tagliatelle, Deviled Egg Trio, and the Adobo Flakes Pasta.
Margarita was also a key supporter in the success of A Mano, her son Amado’s Italian restaurant that opened its first branch in Power Plant Mall, Rockwell in 2019. In 2022, it opened in Bonifacio Global City and Araneta City in 2023.
Meaning “by hand” in Italian, A Mano rose to fame for its handmade and fresh Italian pasta, brick-oven, Neapolitan-style pizzas, and burrata soft-serve gelato.
She also supported Amado’s new steakhouse concept Steak and Frice in Bonifacio Global City, where she met singer Ed Sheeran, who dined in the restaurant (and tried lechon!) during his visit to the Philippines.
In May 2024, Margarita collaborated with Amado’s ramen concept Ramen Ron to create a limited-edition Batchoy-inspired ramen with Japanese chef Hiroyuki Tamura, inspired by her Ilonggo roots. Merging Japanese ramen techniques with the deep and distinct flavors of the Filipino batchoy, the dish received rave reviews that it became a permanent fixture on Ramen Ron’s menu.
Pepato in the early 2000s is also not to be forgotten — it was located in Greenbelt 2 before it closed in 2010. – Rappler.com