Amado Forés Announces Major Updates for AF Hospitality and Cibo

When Esquire Philippines interviewed rising restaurateur Amado Forés in August 2024 for the Man at His Best (MAHB) Awards, he shared a poignant aspiration: that his next venture will be a collaboration with his mother, acclaimed chef Margarita Forés.

"After five years, I'm confident enough that I can do something with her, without feeling like I'm riding on her coattails," said Amado, who obviously looked up to his mother with so much pride, admiration, and respect.

Seeing how proud Chef Margarita was of her son when he received the MAHB Award for Restaurateur of the Year in November 2024, it felt like a collaboration was on the horizon, simply waiting for the right concept to bring them together. We were looking forward to it. That’s why, like everyone else, we were stunned by the chef’s sudden passing last February.

Amado Forés with wife Carmela Fortuna Forés, who is joining AF Hospitality as Managing Director.

Now, just a few months later, Amado is honoring his mother’s legacy in his own way. On Thursday, July 10, the founder of AF Hospitality (AFH) announced the addition of Lusso, Grace Park, Margarita Florals, and Cibo to his portfolio of brands, which originally included a mano, Ramen Ron, and Steak & Frice.

Amado is now the President and CEO of Cibo, the Italian casual dining brand established by his mother in 1997. Its current leadership team will remain in place and will now manage Margarita Signature Caterer.

“This has been a time of deep reflection, and I carry with me not only grief, but also the profound honor of continuing what she built,” Amado began his speech.

“As we bring all these beloved brands together, you can expect new and exciting things, but at the heart of every decision will be one constant: my mom’s legacy. That will never be compromised,” he assured guests during an intimate lunch held at Lusso in The Podium.

“I’ve recently stepped into a new role at Cibo—one that carries both deep meaning and great responsibility. It’s an honor to continue what my mom started and to help lead the brand she built,” he added.

Amado also opened up about a project close to his mother’s heart. “As part of this transition, we’ve thoughtfully decided not to move forward with Margarita, the restaurant originally planned for Ayala Triangle,” he said, his voice breaking. “This opens up exciting opportunities to bring her vision in more meaningful and creative ways.”

He added, “This was not a decision we made lightly. It comes from a place of deep responsibility and even deeper love. These brands are more than just businesses, they are living expressions of who my mother was and what she stood for.”

The Forés family stands together as they carry forward a brand built on passion and purpose.

The Team Behind AF Hospitality

Amado also took the opportunity to introduce the current key members of the AF Hospitality team, including Chef Jorge Mendez, who has served as Cibo’s Executive Chef for the past two years. He will now also take on the role of Director of Research and Development.

He also acknowledged two longtime members of the Cibo team: Edgar Allan Caper, the brand’s trusted Chief Operations Officer for over a decade, has been appointed Managing Director; while Amado’s cousin, Mercedes Forés, formerly Cibo’s Marketing and R&D Director, will now step into Caper’s former role as Chief Operations Officer. Bledes Forés Legarda and Oye Forés are continuing their roles as Managing Director and Executive Vice President, respectively

“Together with the amazing team my mom built, we will carry Cibo forward while staying true to the vision and values she held dear,” he declared. 

Amado was also excited to announce that his wife Carmela Fortuna Forés, is joining AF Hospitality as Managing Director. “With nearly a decade of retail and marketing expertise, I'm confident she's the right person to help us navigate our next chapter,” he said, beaming with pride. 

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Moving Forward

Carmela and Mercedes also shared some exciting announcements at the event. In September 2025, Amado and Carmela will fly to Naples to attend the World’s 50 Top Pizza Awards. In March 2025, a mano ranked 9th in the Asia-Pacific Region, which guarantees them a spot as one of the World’s Top Pizzerias.

Ramen Ron and Steak & Frice are set to open their third and second locations, respectively. The expansion is expected to happen sometime in 2026.

Guests can look forward to exciting developments at Grace Park, which recently drew global attention with its feature on the Netflix show Somebody Feed Phil.

Lusso by Margarita Forés, Chef Margarita's iconic restaurant, celebrates its 16th year across three thriving locations, with its Greenbelt 5 location soon expanding to welcome more guests.

Margarita Florals is set to launch a new website soon to cater to any and all life events.

As for Cibo, which is celebrating its 28th anniversary, it will continue to expand outside of Metro Manila and will open new locations in Iloilo, La Union, and Baguio City.

Cibo’s new Japanese concept, Makanai, created by Chef Mendez is set to open in August 2025.