Margarita Fores, a Filipina chef, has been declared as Asia's Best Female Chef for 2016 by Asia's 50 Best Restaurants awards. She won the award by gaining the votes of over 300 culinary and food experts in Asia.
According to Inquirer, the formal awarding ceremony of the annual event will take place on Feb. 29 at the W Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
In a press conference that was held on. Jan 12, Fores was emotional and shared it was only that morning when she learned about winning the award. The chef narrated that since 8 a.m., after hearing the news, she has been hyperventilating and her knees were wobbly.
She also thanked the people who inspired and supported her. "Thank you, not only to my son and my family who've been behind me all the way," Rappler quoted Fores as saying.
"I think that the biggest thank you must go to my incredible team that through the years have been with me through thick and thin, and without whom, I would not have been able to be distinguished in such - I mean, such an awesome way," she added.
The chef is best known for her Italian-Filipino fusion cuisines. And explaining her philosophy when cooking original food fares she said that every time she prepares to cook anything, she makes sure to highlight the best of the Philippines with the finest in the world.
The exceptional chef is the same person behind some of the famous local fine restaurants such as Cibo, Cafe Bola, Lusso and Grace Park. And her most recent big catering job was at the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit that was held in Manila. Together with Via Mare's owner Glenda Barretto, Fores led the food preparations of welcome dinner for the world leaders.
Fores originally graduated with a bachelor's degree in accountancy but her love for food led her to put up her own line of restaurants. Her passion for cooking also made her the first Filipino chef to win the said award.
The Asia's Best Female Chef award honors outstanding female chefs who have won the respect and highly praised by their peers in the world of culinary art. In the previous year, it was chef Vicky Lau of Hong Kong who was given the prestigious award.
Meanwhile, the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants has been organized by the William Reed Business Media. It is the same group that publishes the World's 50 Best Restaurants.
Watch the moment when Margarita Fores found out she had been voted Asia's Best Female chef 2016!
