Renowned celebrity chef and restaurateur Margarita Forés has passed away at the age of 65, her son, Amado, confirmed in an Instagram post on Tuesday, February 11.

“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,” Amado wrote.

A native of the Philippines, Forés was reportedly found unresponsive in her Hong Kong hotel room after missing a scheduled lunch meeting, according to the Manila Standard. As of Wednesday, February 12, the cause of death remained unknown.

Forés’ culinary journey spanned over three decades. She first developed a passion for Italian cuisine while living in New York before immersing herself in the craft in Italy. In 1997, she founded Cibo, an affordable Italian comfort food chain in the Philippines, which grew to more than 20 locations.

Following Cibo’s success, Forés opened several other dining establishments, including Lusso, Grace Park, and Loggia—each blending Filipino and Italian flavors or embracing farm-to-table concepts. She also launched a catering business, a floral shop, and a culinary school while surviving cancer twice. In 2016, she was honored as Asia’s Best Female Chef and was recently featured on the cover of Tatler Asia alongside her son, recognized as “talented culinary artisans.”

“At 65, I have realized I have worked so hard already,” Forés told Tatler Asia. “So, what I really want to do is wind down a bit.”