Through family, strength, and unwavering purpose, AF Hospitality announces what’s next for Lusso, Grace Park, Margarita Florals, Margarita Catering and CIBO.
At an intimate gathering in Lusso at the Podium, Amado Forés formally announced that AF Hospitality—the group behind a mano, Ramen Ron and Steak & Frice—will be including Lusso, Grace Park, Margarita Florals, and CIBO into its portfolio. Amado, founder of AF Hospitality, and son of visionary chef, Margarita Forés, will now lead CIBO and Margarita Signature Catering, alongside a tenured and trusted team.
“It’s been a time of deep reflection, and I carry with me not only grief, but also the profound honor of continuing what my mother built,” Amado shared. “Her mission was simple: to make the world more beautiful and delicious for others, and she did it best through food.”
With the full support of the Araneta-Forés family and the dedicated teams his mother nurtured over decades, Amado now stands at the helm of these beloved dining experiences. Each brand remains rooted in her vision, her values, and her unmatched sense of soul.
Team Transitions And Thoughtful Decisions
Carmela Fortuna-Forés has stepped in as Managing Director of AF Hospitality, bringing with her nearly a decade of retail and marketing experience. She shared that Grace Park, recently featured on Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil, will continue to champion Filipino cuisine. Lusso, now in its 16th year, will be expanding its Greenbelt 5 location. Margarita Florals is also set to relaunch with a refreshed website and continues to focus on sculptural, elegant arrangements.
After ten years of service to the CIBO group, Edgar Allan Caper has been appointed Managing Director. Meanwhile, Mercedes Forés—who was born the same year CIBO opened in 1997—now steps into the role of Chief Operating Officer. Having grown up alongside CIBO, she shares that “it’s truly a full-circle moment.”
Chef Jorge Mendez, a longtime collaborator of Chef Margarita, will remain Executive Chef while also taking on the role of Director of R&D. Their relationship, forged over more than a decade, was one built on trust, respect, and a deep shared love for food.
In a decision made with care and intention, the group also announced that Margarita at Ayala Triangle will not push through. “This was not a decision we made lightly. It comes from a place of deep responsibility and even deeper love,” Amado said. “These brands are more than just businesses, they are living expressions of who my mother was and what she stood for.”
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Looking Forward
Amado and Carmela will travel to Naples this September as a mano secures a spot on the World’s 100 Top Pizza list. Ramen Ron and Steak & Frice are also poised to grow, with new branches opening next year.
In August, the group will launch its first Japanese concept, Makanai, at West Gallery in BGC. Led by Chef Jorge Mendez, it’s the CIBO group’s first venture beyond Italian cuisine—but much like CIBO, Makanai will be “inventive, comforting, and meant to be enjoyed together,” Mercedes shares.
While honoring what she built, the next generation of AF Hospitality leaders is committed to carrying these brands forward— celebrating past milestones while embracing a new, innovative, and exciting chapter.
There’s much to look forward to, but Amado is clear: “At the heart of every decision will be one constant—my mom’s legacy. That will never be compromised.” Just as these brands have come together under one roof, so has the family, united in standing behind Amado. “My mom believed that food could bring people together, and it’s in that spirit that we carry her work forward, and it will always begin and end with love.”
Through the fine-dining elegance of Lusso, the soulful home cooking at Grace Park, the beloved Italian comfort of Cibo, and the artistry and meticulousness found in Margarita Florals and Catering, Chef Margartia Forés’ legacy lives on. Surrounded by those who knew and loved her best, each decision ahead is a tribute to the immeasurable mark she left on Filipino hearts.
