NAYAM by Chef Rhea Rizzo returns to Balmori Rockwell for an extended Christmas pop-up, running through January 5, 2027. Its name draws from Sanskrit, evoking grace, happiness, and peace—something we could all use in Manila right now. With a menu that’s 90% new, alongside a few beloved bestsellers from Silang, NAYAM brings together comforting Asian and New American flavors elevated by French culinary techniques, all served with the signature Mrs. Saldo’s touch.
It’s a wonderful spot to gather with friends and family for a special holiday celebration. Here are our recommendations on what to order to make the most of your NAYAM experience!
NAYAM by Mrs. Saldo’s
📍 G/F, The Balmori Suites, Hidalgo Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City
📞 Reservations: +63 954-235-3702 / +63 917-100-2983
📱 Instagram: DM @mrssaldos
📅 October 16, 2026 – January 5, 2027
🕒 Tuesday–Sunday (Closed Mondays)
appetizers
Chef Rhea’s cooking is refined and layered, balancing sour, savory, and citrusy notes with a bright kick of lime and flavorful sauces. Her dishes are never overly creamy or cloyingly sweet, letting the savory flavors shine while saving the sweetness for dessert.
Portabello & Porcini Mushroom Veloute ₱420
Truffle Oil
We all loved this signature Mrs Saldo truffle mushroom soup — it’s silky smooth and creamy but kakaiba and lasa.
Oyster Blade BBQ ₱1,595
Smoked Whipped Cheese, Mango
Yuzu Kosho. Pickled Labanos (1pc.)
These tender oyster blade beef slices are skewered and barbecued, finished with mango-yuzu and smoked whipped cheese for a savory, smoky, and citrusy bite.
Grilled Prawn Whipped Aligue. ₱650
Beef Tallow. Sourdough (1pc.)
This looks simple, but the grilled shrimp dipped in beef tallow delivers just the right amount of rich aligue umami. The shrimp heads are the best—especially when paired with grilled sourdough.
Cheesy Crab Dip ₱850
with Homemade Sourdough
This Mrs. Saldo’s Silang favorite makes its way to Balmori, with a cheesy crab brightened by a tangy kick of lime.
Dilis & Peanut Chips ₱250
Kaffir Lime Aioli
This crumbly okoy with crisp dilis and whole peanuts got mixed reviews but best paired with the cheesy crab dip.
Peanut & Bagoong Korean Fried Chicken ₱450
Dilis. Yuzu
These unique chicken balls have bagoong BBQ flavors, a touch of peanuts, and a hint of yuzu to tease the palate.
SPECIAL UBE MOCKTAIL
THE PINK LADY “THE TRISH”
A vintage cocktail from the 1930s that was labelled a “‘girly drink” in high society
TANQUERAY LONDON DRY GIN, HIBISCUS SYRUP AND LEMON
BALI HIGH
After three months living in Ubud, I wanted a drink that brings me back
to my morning banana shakes and cacao ceremonies.
NIKKA DAYS, BANANA, KAFFIR, ANGOSTURA, CACAO BITTERS.
These are Mrs. Saldo’s cocktail bestsellers. The Bali High was good, evoking Chef Rhea in Ubud with banana and cacao flavors mixed with whisky while overlooking the rice fields. The cocktails are balanced, not sweet or girly. “The Trish,” featuring a lady painted on the glass, is quite good, while the ube cocktail is a bit sweet and best reserved for dessert.
toast, salad & noodz
I love the brunch mood, while dinner has a dark, romantic vibe. Best to arrive as early as 5 PM for good service.
Nam Tok Thai Beef Salad ₱995
Whipped Chicken Liver. Flank Steak. Mango Vinaigrette
At first, it looks boring, but the liver and beef flavors with a touch of mango vinaigrette are hiding underneath. Toss it well to coat the vegetables with the sauce and enjoy the healthy textures paired with beef.
Bun Cha Lumpia ₱550
Nuoc Cham. Rice Noodles
This lumpia with rice noodles and Vietnamese nuoc cham—a Southeast Asian twist on a noodle plate. ok naman.
Banh Mi Toast. Pork Jowl ₱595
Chicken Liver Inasal. Atchara. Annatto Jus
This was becoming the night’s bestseller but we found the pork jowl slices a bit too fatty, though the fat adds plenty of flavor to this inasal-inspired bánh mì ensemble.
mains
We love hanging out with our sons and having our own 2-on-1 sessions over good food and great conversations. They also give us insights into the Gen Z palate and enrich our blog posts with their point of view on food.
Duck Confit ₱2,495
Gulai Ayam. Yogurt Cucumber & Mint. Sambal Embe
Must order! Everyone was raving about this duck confit in gulai ayam curry sauce with a touch of sambal. The duck meat has a lot of flavor and you can share this is. Sarap nito!
Makhang Pepper Demi. Steak Frites ₱1,595
This is their version of steak frites, served with a kakaibang demi-glace sauce mixed with citrusy makhang peppers. This is good value for a steak dish but we had a debate kung masarap ba yung sauce or hindi.
2018 Bogle Vineyards Phantom
Mrs. Saldo’s is known for its exquisite wine selection, and the Phantom does not disappoint. This bold, full-bodied red blend offers rich dark fruit, hints of vanilla and spice, and a smooth, lingering finish—enjoyable on its own or paired with the meat dishes.
Pan-fried Salmon ₱1,195
Goan Curry. Crispy Coconut Saba. Sambal Mata
A lot is going on with this salmon dish, which looks well-done, served with saba fritter, Balinese sambal matah, and a bold Indian Goan curry sauce. We got lost in the translation but enjoyed the kakaibang combination.
2019 Sebastiani Pinot Grigio Sonoma Valley
The 2019 Sebastiani Pinot Grigio Sonoma Valley is a crisp, refreshing white wine with bright citrus, green apple, and pear notes, finishing clean and lively. Good for pairing with the seafood and creamy dishes.
desserts
We love the desserts, presented well with balanced satisfying sweetness!
Mango. Coconut. Sticky Rice ₱495
Salted Coconut. White Chocolate & Coconut Ganache
An elegant mix of mango, coconut cream, chocolate, and a bouncy rice cake. Sarap!
Sticky Date Pudding ₱395
Toffee Sauce. Vanilla Anglaise
My wife Rache loved this and practically kept it all to herself! Ganda ng blend of date, toffee, and vanilla flavors.
Auro Dark Chocolate Tart ₱595
Rum Chocolate Mousse. Praline. Honeycomb, Toffee, Maldon
You’ll know why this is a bestseller at Mrs. Saldo’s—the flavors and textures are beautifully balanced. I love the mix of chocolate mousse, honeycomb, praline, and tart shell. Sarap to nibble on and savor every bite!
final thoughts
Congratulations to Chef Rhea on the Balmori Rockwell pop-up! She has come a long way, from being the first chef featured at Balmori to enjoying one of its longest-running holiday-season residencies. The best part? Mrs. Saldo’s in Silang remains open beyond the holidays, inviting you to discover Chef Rhea’s Filipino flavors in their home setting.
Our must-orders are the Duck Confit, plus the Truffle Mushroom Soup, Oyster Blade BBQ, Grilled Prawn with Whipped Aligue, and Thai Beef Salad for appetizers. For dessert, go for the Chocolate Tart, Sticky Date Pudding, and Mango Sticky Rice. We also wanted to try the Chai Ice Cream but naubusan, so make sure to order yours kaagad!
NAYAM by Mrs. Saldo’s
📍 Location
G/F, The Balmori Suites, Hidalgo Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati City
📞 Reservations
Call or text: +63 954-235-3702 or +63 917-100-2983
Instagram: Send a DM to the official @mrssaldos account.
📅 Residency Dates
October 16, 2026 – January 5, 2027
🕒 Operating Days
Tuesday to Sunday
Closed on Mondays
🍽️ The Concept
Curated by Chef Rhea Rizzo, NAYAM takes its name from a Sanskrit word associated with grace and happiness. The concept brings together refined French culinary techniques, Southeast Asian influences, and the comforting flavors of New American cuisine for a distinctive Asian-French dining experience.
Live an Awesome Life with Christ,
Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: This article was written entirely by a human—reflecting my own biases, opinions, and insights—with grammar and clarity checked using AI assistance. Thank you to Chef Rhea for inviting us to the friends and family night.
p.s. nice catching up with you Jen and meeting Abraham 🙂
