Forés, who was named Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2016, was found unresponsive in her Hong Kong hotel room after missing a lunch meeting, according to the Manila Standard.
The cause of her death is yet to be determined.
Forés’s son Amado confirmed her passing in an Instagram post.
He said: “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.”
Forés was recently credited by Tatler Asia for leaving an ‘indelible mark’ on the culinary landscape of the Philippines.
She spent a lot of her career promoting Filipino cuisine and products both at home and abroad but was also known for her success as a restaurateur.
Her Italian restaurant chain Cibo launched in 1997 and now operates more than 20 sites across the Philippines.
Cibo was inspired by Forés’s time spent cooking in Italy, where she studied under chefs Masha Innoscenti, Jo Bettoja and Ada Parasiliti.
Its success led to the launch of other restaurant ventures including Lusso, Grace Park, and Loggia, some of which fused influences of Filipino and Italian cuisine.
Forés was voted Asia’s Best Female Chef by The World’s 50 Best in 2016, which she compared to winning Miss Universe.
Upon receiving the award, she said: “This is so incredibly huge and there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with it – to make sure everything I do is my best.
“It’s also a real blessing to be able to continue the advocacy for my country and to push our cuisine forward. This is a key validation that Philippine cuisine is finally in the limelight.”
News of Forés’s death led to an outpouring of tributes across social media.
A post on the Cibo Instagram page read: “We honour the life and legacy of our founder and guiding light, chef Margarita Forés.
“Her warmth, creativity, and unwavering spirit will continue to inspire us all. Thank you for sharing your heart with us, chef Margarita. You will always be Cibo.”