What are your best moments at Cibo?
Noted Filipino chef Margarita Forés celebrated the 24-year legacy of her Philippine-based Italian restaurant Cibo through a series of social media posts released on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021.
"When I opened this first branch in an open space of Glorietta 3 next to the still closed walkway joining the mall to Landmark, I did not really realize what I was starting," she captioned her 1997 photos of Cibo. "I just want to share my passion for my newly discovered love for modern Italian café food with all of you in Manila. I guess the rest is history."
Long before it was established in the late '90s, the idea of building Cibo entered Chef Margarita's mind in 1987 after learning how to cook with Italian signoras. And since the restaurant first opened its doors, Cibo has celebrated the home-style culinary approach of Italian cooking through its antipasti, zuppe, insalate, pizze, and more until today.
In another post, the chef shared some of the restaurant's iconic releases such as its 2007 campaigns for its spinach dip that featured her two nephews Jose and Lorenzo Forés. Another is an image of her wearing Mich Dulce's first creation, a hat made of pasta, shot by Mark Nicdao for Philippine Tatler.
She also engaged with Cibo diners online and asked for their best memories dining in the restaurant, to which netizens happily reminisced and shared their stories. While its inaugural restaurant no longer exists, Chef Margarita is happy that the humble spot gave birth to 16 more stores in the country.
"Grazie mille for supporting us and enjoying Cibo for the last 24 years. We roll with the punches, and look forward to turning silver next year with all of you by our side," 2016 Asia's Best Female Chef ended.