Living in the new normal makes it extra hard to think of what to do during special occasions. As much as takeout sounds good enough, it’d be nice to celebrate in a picturesque place with mouth-watering good food while still following health protocols.
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That said, while an enchanting house along the serene ambience of Silang, Cavite won’t exactly be the first thing that comes to mind, you might just reconsider with Sa May Silang. Owned by two food-loving childhood friends, they’ve given fine dining a whole new experience by letting guests reserve the one and only table available in the Silang House just for you and your special someone.
“It is a technique-driven, seasonal kitchen that’s immersive and interactive,” owner RD Valdez tells Preview in an interview. The story behind Sa May Silang came to fruition when RD unintentionally set up a hostel-like restaurant in their condominium unit whenever he would go to Mil Crespo’s place, his executive chef, for homemade meals.
“The movie and wi-fi room was at my place and Mil’s was the kitchen. With the time spent together, we threw multiple business ideas to each other, most of the time, over some tea,” RD shares. The Silang House team arrived at a decision that they wanted a collaborative space where they could birth multiple hospitality-driven endeavors. For him, Sa May Silang became the so-called panganay of their business.
Thus, it was essential for a bed and breakfast-inspired restaurant to curate a menu that reflects the nostalgic quality of home cooking. “We only offer what is available in the locality through dishes that boast Southeast Asian flavors through traditional and modern interpretations. The kitchen aims to highlight the bounty of Silang and the homegrown vegetables and herbs of our garden. We grow different types of antioxidant rich Amaranth species in our property that are edible but hasn't reached mainstream dining staples.”
It’s definitely not fine dining without fully experiencing a full course meal. If you go for the 3 course option (P2,800), RD introduces what guests usually order for an appetizer, a Pomme Pavé. It’s a layered crispy stack of thinly sliced potatoes, mushroom jus, and fermented bell pepper sauce.
As far as the main course goes, you can choose between seafood or meat. For seafood dishes, he recommends their Cured Salmon Sesame Miso Crudo served in a buttery choux pastry cup (that’s honestly too pretty to even eat!), and Barramundi, a seared fresh local sea bass on top of a sitaw bean purée crusted with puffed adlai and quinoa. To keep the taste buds balanced, it’s finished with a side of pickled fuji apple and daikon.
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For meat lovers, Chef Mil boasts his famous speciality, the Reverse Braised Local Peking Duck. This heavenly dish is served with tamarind jus, brown butter purple yam purée, and herb oil.
Their crowd favorite Tapol, a black mountain rice suman enclosed in dark malagos chocolate over white latik and toasted niyog, is the perfect dessert to finish off this scrumptious course.
To beat the summer heat with an icy sweet treat, you can opt for their homemade ice cream that represents the flavors of their garden—Camia Flower and Kaffir Lime Ice Cream served with a yeast cake called Baba Au Rhum.
Sa May Silang also highly suggests adding P1,000 for unlimited servings of a wine of your choice! And in case you want to indulge more, their 5 course meal (P3,800), or tasting menu option (P7,200) is the way to go for a fully immersive fine dining experience.
This seasonally-crafted menu paired with the captivating gazebo next to the Silang House Green Garden will undeniably make anyone feel like they're in the middle of an enchanting forest. Understanding the origins of food we eat gives not only our meal a story, but also a deeper emotional connection to the people we experience it with.
RD further shares that this outdoor farm-to-table setting has made “vegan, vegetarian and pescetarian guests become our regulars-turned-friends.” So if you’re looking to book a date with your significant other or your group of friends, this is the perfect intimate place to go to as it is an al fresco private dining that encourages social distancing, consisting of only three people for the staff.
February bookings will open by January 30, 2021 and can be made through their Instagram. On top of that, RD also hints that they will also be announcing Valentine's day specials so be sure to keep an eye for that!
Sa May Silang is located in a residential area along Tagaytay Road, Silang, Cavite City. They are open on Thursdays to Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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