An old high school boyfriend from out of town came to visit me after many years! So the subject came up, as to where would be a good place to eat lunch. After a lengthy amount of time aimlessly driving around catching up, we finally found ourselves near the Zinfandel Grille, in which I immediately suggested that this would be a good place to go. I hadn't been here in a long while, but knew they consistently had high marks in my book!

I was not only excited to see my friend again, but knew we would enjoy the atmosphere at the Grille. He also remembered dining here way back when, and couldn't agree more. The wait staff was very friendly and seated us right away. I love so many things on the menu, but since he was paying, I tried to keep my appetite on the light side. I ordered the Baby Greens: Waldorf Farms Green Apples, golden raisins, Laura Chenel Goat Cheese, toasted sunflower seeds, and a balsamic vinaigrette. The salad was extremely delicious and had all the ingredients that I enjoy in a salad. My companion ordered the Prime Rib French Dip: Swiss cheese, caramelized onion, horseradish crema, Au Jus on a French Roll. He too enjoyed his meal.

We both had a very nice time reminiscing about high school and our lives after. The Zinfandel Grille turned out to be a nice and relaxing back drop as we spent a few hours eating and socializing. We are both now senior citizens, and the Grille was an important addition to those memories...

The Pool Doctor is the company that takes care of both pools in our retirement community. He does a good job maintaining the pools and jacuzzies even though they aren't in the greatest of shape due to their age. He is often observed on site clearing debris, vacuuming, testing the water, temperature and adding chemicals as needed. We enjoy how pristine he keeps the water despite the challenges of the ever present trees and flowers that keep creating a mess in and around the areas.

The residents enjoy the jacuzzies year round and the pools whenever the warm weather begins. But to me, I could enjoy the pools more if the water temperature was warmer than 83 degrees! It takes me a while to get used to it! Anyway, the pools still have that visual allure to residents and visitors alike, thanks to the Pool Doctor!

My family found ourselves in a confusing situation concerning some property after my mom passed. Basically, it was time to sell our childhood home for our disabled elderly dad who could no longer live there. The main issue was how to muddle through the tax laws and see if he qualified for the "Step-up in Basis" help for surviving spouses. Fortunately, our family tax advisor referred us to Jeff Hamric of Sacramento Appraisal Group. We had kind of put things off and waited until the last minute. But Mr. Hamric was available right when we needed him. Especially since this is a time sensitive situation!

It was necessary for us to find a State Certified Real Estate Appraiser (SCREA) to come to our rescue. We gave him the information needed, and he went right to work researching on how much my parent's properties were worth on the day my mom passed. Then, they gave us complete itemized reports that included photos of the homes, residential appraisals, certification pages, market analysis charts, location maps, value analysis, and an appraisal compliance addendum.

Never did I realize how much effort and detail was needed for the circumstances we were in! The real estate agent we were dealing with had never even heard of the "Step-up in basis" tax clause! I'm so glad that my knowledgeable tax advisor, Anthony Wright, was on the ball and helped get us through this difficult time in our lives! And another big thank you to Jeff Hamric for his professionalism and expertise as an appraiser extraordinaire!

It has been a long time since I had been to the Tower Cafe, which my previous old review pretty much sums this up. I can't believe, and still having a hard time accepting how much time has passed! So many life changes have occurred since then. But this time, I was able to go with my sister, brother-in-law and my dad. My sister often eats at the Tower Cafe, because there are a few dishes she can eat that are gluten free and sometimes they offer a chocolate flourless cake.

We came for dinner and found it pretty busy, but fortunately we got a nice table out on the patio nestled under a canopy of trees and near a trickling garden fountain. I had forgotten how pleasant dining outside is at this restaurant. The menu offers so many choices that should satisfy just about any appetite. My sister ordered two sides that included potato salad and a scoop of tuna salad, along with a glass of sparkling Campo Viego Cava. Her husband got Fish & Chips and a Land Park Hazy pint. My dad also ordered the Tower Fish & Chips: Fresh cod in panko batter, deep fried and served with house cut fries, Thai basil coleslaw, tartar and cool spice sauce, and a Root Beer. I chose the Chile Rellenos dinner: a large Pasilla chilie filled with Monterey jack cheese, pine nuts, currants, and cilantro, rolled in panko and deep fried until crispy and golden. Served with red rice, pinto beans, molcajete salsa, sour cream, and Polynesian guacamole.

We all enjoyed our food! I am a chille rellenos fan, and I found that this dish in particular became one of my favorites! I loved the flavor combinations and spices. It was cooked to perfection! They also have a scrumptious looking dessert counter inside the restaurant. My dad and I splurged by ordering a Yin and Yang cake to take home. This rich chocolate cheesecake is layered with vanilla mousse and glazed with a bittersweet chocolate band. Very delicious! Unfortunately, they didn't have any desserts that my sister could eat. But besides that, our waiter Maximiano C. did a great job taking care of us!

My hope is, that we can return here again and on a more frequent basis!