Dave and Irma enjoying lunch
Hours for Charles Ave Café: Mon. – Thurs. 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Fri. 11:30 – 12:30 PM | Closed Weekends
AUGUST 2018 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM 33
the community and that families can even bring children
in for lunch. Several others said that they come because
of the value--they can usually make the very large meal
portions last for two meals. Also, having a hot meal at lunch
sometimes eliminates the burden of cooking a full meal in
the evenings. Some guests shared that they have diabetes
or other health conditions that require consumption of
nutritious and well-balanced meals. For others, it is simply
the convenience and affordability, and the opportunity to eat
a variety of delicious freshly prepared meals in the company
of others.
Periodically, Chef Tara invites guest chefs to come
and prepare a specialty meal at the Charles Avenue Café.
On that Friday, guest chef, Jennifer Teoh, had been invited
to prepare a special Chicken Chow Mein lunch. As 11:30
approached, the lunch line began to form, extending from
the lunch window nearly to the back of the very large room.
I grabbed my tray and my lunch ticket (courtesy of Sal) and
joined Irma in line. The window opened and a mostly new
group of smiling volunteers welcomed the diners and began
serving up heaping plates of steaming hot chicken chow
mein. Each plate included two crisply fried egg rolls and
several fried wontons which were hand-made by guest Chef
Jennifer and the volunteers over the previous couple of days
in preparation for Friday’s luncheon. Each plate also received
a fortune cookie, as well as a cup of home made egg flower
soup. Diners had their choice of several delicious desserts
that were neatly arranged on trays, and I chose a slice of
chocolate cream pie.
The food was absolutely delicious! Plentiful pieces of
chicken were mixed among the tender and flavorful chow
mein noodles. I didn’t notice whether condiments were
available, so enjoyed my chow mein sans soy sauce. A sweet
and sour sauce was served for dipping the egg rolls and
won-tons, which was very good. But both items tasted great
even without the sauce—crisp and crunchy and filled with
a perfect blend of vegetable and meat fillings. The portion
of chow mein served was so large that I couldn’t eat it all.
My table mates informed me that the center provides to-go
boxes for only twenty-five cents extra, so I purchased one
for my leftovers. I even purchased a second lunch “to go”
for my daughter’s dinner. She agreed that the food was
excellent and especially raved about the fried wontons!
For those who are interested in lighter fare, soup,
sandwiches, and fruit are also served daily. Soup can be
ordered individually by the cup or bowl. Sandwich options
may vary, but include a variety of lunch meats and cheeses,
as well as tuna salad, egg salad, or chicken salad made by the
kitchen volunteers. A sandwich order includes a small fresh
fruit cup and a pickle. These items may also be purchased
“to go” if desired. All “to go” meals (hot meals, sandwiches,
or soup) may be pre-ordered for pick-up by calling 510-724-
9805. This is a convenient option for those don’t have time
to stand in the lunch line and/or sit and enjoy their meal
at the center. The monthly menu is available on the Pinole
Senior Center website at ci.pinole.ca.us/senior.
On Mondays and Thursdays, the Pinole Senior Center offers
a special outreach service to home bound individuals so that they,
too, can come out to enjoy the wonderful Charles Avenue Café
lunches and socialize with others. A free bus service, courtesy of
the Pinole Area Senior Foundation (PASF) is available to pick
up those who have pre-arranged for pick-up. Bus driver, Karen,
travels to their homes and brings these individuals to the center;
after lunch, she returns them to their homes, providing loving care
and assistance. Again—this is a no-cost service that is available to
home bound residents of both Pinole and residents of other local
surrounding cities.The individuals only pay for the cost of their
lunches.
I am quite impressed with the food and the services offered by
Charles Avenue Café. If my schedule permitted, I’d visit the café
nearly every day for lunch. What a great way to meet new people
and enjoy scrumptious food at affordable prices. The monthly
menu offers a wide variety of meals from good old American
comfort food to delicious meals with an ethnic flair. Each day of
the month the lunch entrée is different--plenty of variety for the
regulars and something to suit everyone’s taste buds. I’m told that
the special event celebration meals for holidays such as Valentine’s
Day, Halloween, and Christmas to name a few are culinary
masterpieces which also include entertainment. When you visit for
lunch, you may want also visit the “bread room” where you can
select from among donated breads and other items available for a
small donation to both center members and non-members.
Remember, you don’t have to be a senior, a Pinole resident,
or a member of the Pinole Senior Center to dine at the Charles
Avenue Café. Stop by any weekday and meet Chef Tara and her
wonderful team of dedicated volunteers who work so hard to
prepare and serve up delicious hot meals—always with a SMILE!
You will not be disappointed!