TIMES have changed. What used to be the perfect gimmick for a generation may be different from the next. Back then, our parents would have a blast in Siete Pecados in Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel and our older brothers and sisters partied till midnight in Mars and Equinox. For my generation, the term disco has now been jargoned into “club” where kids as young as 18 and adults as old as 35 hang out. The typical hangout on a Wednesday and Friday night would be Embassy or Prince of Jaipur. Nonetheless, since a lot of teenagers seem to have invaded them, the drive for clubbing has weakened. For me, at least.

My older colleagues – some of them conservative, some married, others more of the home-office-home-I-have-no-life variety – would ask me, “Anong meron sa Embassy?” Or they’d brand me “sosyal” or “gimikera” because I go, well, out. “Sosyal?” Am not! “Gimikera?” Let’s just say I work hard and party harder. However, going home at 6 a.m. every weekend can get a little tiring and being stereotyped as a socialite isn’t as flattering as some seem to think. It just happens that at a (young) point in a person’s life, partying becomes a priority.

With the sudden shift in my career and the surprisingly unhappy news about my health, I decided to quit the club scene to focus on my well-being. It’s been months since I’ve been to an upscale club. The idea of partying and spending more than a thousand pesos on entrance fee and drinks is impractical, not to mention tiring at the mere idea of dancing all night and then crawling home just when the sun is about to come out. I’ve slowed down and it hit me – I’m getting old. Ha-ha!

Dining is the new clubbing

Recently, I realized that quiet dinners and coffee breaks can be one of the most relaxing activities. You can never go wrong with them. They save you from pretentious and superficial instances that often happen in clubs because the people you surround yourself with are the people you know and want to impress.

In a restaurant or a coffee shop, I didn’t have to worry about looking good. I didn’t have to dress up lavishly. My shirt, jeans, and Havaianas or sneakers are fine, thank you. I can always be myself and take a break from the noisy and pompous club scene. I found my humble party abode in Serendra.

Serendra’s set-up at Fort Bonifacio Global City is similar to Greenbelt’s. While residential units occupy the upper floors, the ground area has been developed to house a variety of intriguing and spanking new restaurants.

Even before it was completed, it generated buzz for people who looking for new places to unwind. Its rather easy vibe has attracted families and yuppies such as me. It may look upscale but many middle-class citizens spend family time at Serendra.

A selected directory

My first dinner with friends was at Abe Restaurant, tag lined “Where Good Friends Dine.” Serving Kapampangan and world-class dishes, Abe is a definite recommendation for it really captures the goodness of Filipino food. Talk about tamarind shake, crispy pata and morcon, it surely feels like home in Abe, only a but more swank. I had a hard time getting in the first time because they were booked so one thing I learned is to call in for a reservation! (Tel. +632.856.0526)

On my second visit, my friends and I decided that we wanted to lounge and have dinner in a place where young working types or a crowd that was a little older hung out. So we went to Fez (Tel. +632.901.1840, +63.916.250.4532). The 40-square meter community resto-bar serves Mediterranean food. We had the Crisped Open Wanton, Seafood Saffron Pasta, Pasta Eloise, and Lamb chops with Homemade Curry. It was a hearty and satisfying. However, it wasn’t just the food that made the impression. We had sharing stories and jokes over a couple of drinks. Fun without strobes!

Tipsy after all those drinks, I needed to have my coffee. There was no Starbucks nearby, not to mention, I did not want to walk all the way to the adjacent Market! Market! for a cup of chain store java. Next door to Fez was Larry’s Café & Bar (Tel. +632.856.0527). They, too, offered food but I opted for a White Chocolate Mocha. It was comforting, creamy, sweet –surely the perfect after-liquor drink. Glad I was lazy to go to Starbucks!

Some of my friends chose to get dessert and drinks in Xocolat. The enterprise has reconstructed a new way of indulgence. Serving elixirs and chocolate martinis, every drink is both a dessert and relaxant at the same time. Two of my our favorite things in the world in one libation – chocolate and liquor!

Back to the boogie

Dining out did not only allow me to catch up and spend time with my friends and family, it also warmed my heart and lifted my spirit – both battered from the noise of clubs and the fast-paced demands of work. It felt so good to finally slow down and let time crawl at a snail’s pace. Indeed, for me, good food and good company were better than going to the spa.

But dinners out can also get a little boring when you do it for weeks straight. I began to miss the adrenaline rush that Embassy gives me, and the sting of the early morning sun in my eyes as I head home. So as a not-quite-reformed party girl, I knew it wouldn’t kill me to hit a club every now and then. Indulge in social beso, update myself with the latest fashion and trends. I’m just glad there are places like Serendra when I want to slow down and reconnect – really – with the people I care for.

Vannie Escano works with the San Miguel Corporation.