2550 Charles Avenue (at the Pinole Senior Center,) Pinole | (510) 724-9800 | seniors@ci.pinole.ca.us Quesadilla freshly made chicken vegetable soup, and
two salads. For dessert, my guest chose
home-made chocolate cake and I chose
banana pudding topped with miniature
cookies. Everything was neatly bagged and
ready for us to take home to enjoy.
As our lunch was being prepared,
I observed the diners eagerly enjoying
their lunches and visiting with each other.
One of the volunteers, Joann, assisted
a few diners who needed help carrying
their trays to their seats. I watched the
team of volunteers welcoming each guest
with a row of smiles as they placed the
meals on their trays and made sure they
had everything they needed. I was very
impressed at how smoothly the entire
operation worked—just like a well-oiled
machine. We left soon after the last
customer was served, promising to return
another day when we could sit and dine
with the guests.
Arriving home, I eagerly opened my
Country Fried Steak meal and enjoyed
my lunch. The generously sized steak
was lightly breaded and fried and was
very tender. The gravy over the steak
and potatoes was rich, smooth, and
delicious. The mashed potatoes (made
from real potatoes—not from a box)
were excellent! The cup of soup and the
steamed broccolini were also enjoyable
accompaniments to the meal. My guest
and I were both very full after eating our
meals and saved our desserts to enjoy
later. The very moist and not-too-sweet
chocolate cake was a hit with my guest,
and I happily savored the banana pudding,
one of my all-time favorites! We found
the value and the quality of the meals for
a mere $12 to be extraordinary.
32 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM AUGUST 2018
My subsequent visit to the Charles
Avenue Café was on a Friday when lunch
service begins one half hour earlier, at
11:30 AM to accommodate a 1:00 Bingo
game. I arrived early enough to get a
parking spot in the lot (although there
were only a few spaces remaining!) As
before, the round tables were set up for
lunch on the left side of the room, and
the right side of the room was set up with
long rectangular tables in preparation
for the bingo event. I peeked through a
window near the kitchen and observed
that the chefs and volunteers were still
busily preparing the meal. I chose a seat at
a table with Sal, Dave and Irma, who are
regular diners for the weekday lunches.
Everyone who was seated had already
gotten a blue tray and utensils, and some
had already gotten their drinks as well.
There is definitely an unwritten protocol
for dining at the center, but the regulars
are happy to help newbies (like myself!)
I found everyone to be very friendly and
welcoming. While we waited for lunch
to be served I visited with a few of the
“regulars” who were more than happy to
share with me why they enjoy coming to
Charles Avenue Café for lunch.
One gentleman I spoke with,
Armando, explained that the Pinole
Senior Center is the only center in Contra
Costa County (except for Rossmoor) that
has an on-site chef who prepares fresh
lunches every day. He explained that
the meals served at most other centers
are prepared offsite and shipped to the
locations. He also shared that he likes that
there is no need to call ahead to reserve a
place for lunch like at most other senior
centers—here, one can just show up
and be served any day of the week. In
addition, all of the meals are prepared
with fresh ingredients, are well-balanced
and nutritious. The accommodations are
clean, spacious and air-conditioned and
there is good parking available. Another
gentleman said that he appreciates
that the cafe is open to everyone in
lunch
