‘Your unwavering support made me feel like I was part of your dreams’
I first met you through Angelo Comsti, who reached out to me for help with your presentation for Madrid Fusion Manila back in 2015. Angelo described you in such warm terms, saying, “You’ll be happy working with her; she’s the best boss you could ever have.”
From our very first interactions, we connected easily, especially when you discovered that (your son) Amado and I share the same first name.
One of my favorite memories is when you called me at around 5 a.m. and asked me to meet you at Farmers Market by 6 a.m. When I arrived, you had a cart ready for us, and we spent the morning exploring all the different areas together. That day, I rediscovered so many details I had previously overlooked about Farmers. I was truly impressed by your incredible energy and dedication. The way you treated every vendor at the market with such kindness spoke volumes about you.
From that moment on, I committed to dedicating my work to you and supporting you in every way I could, as long as you would have me.
I want to express how truly special you made me feel. Your support was unwavering, and I felt like I was part of the dreams you were pursuing.
Thank you for being more than just a boss—thank you for being like a mom to me and the team. I appreciate how you always took the time to ask about my wife and kids. You shared so much with me and introduced me to incredible places and people, even when it meant walking for hours. Your kindness extended not just to me, but to everyone around you, as you treated us all like family. You had a unique gift for reminding us to find joy in our work and our lives. I truly believe that we wouldn’t be where we are without your guidance and encouragement.
I will miss those moments when you would call me for a meeting, only for us to end up sharing a bottle of wine and discussing life. Those conversations meant a lot to me, and I will cherish the time we spent together—the drives to see you were my way of expressing how grateful I am for you and everything you’ve done.
Ciao GAF! May your love reach the hearts in heaven, just as it has touched ours here on Earth.
Maraming salamat sa lahat-lahat.
Jorge Mendez is the executive chef/owner of Modan, Some Thai, and Ohayo, and the corporate chef of Cibo. This is his tribute to Margarita Forés, posted on Instagram and reprinted with permission.
