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14 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | SEPTEMBER 2022 Resident Restaurant Reviews Recently the committee has been asked to resume reviewing local restaurants. We decided it would be great if we tossed this to the community for input. We sent out an alert blast asking residents to submit reviews on local-ish restaurants. Happily, we have had a number of responses so without further ado we present Resident Restaurant Reviews! By Annette Hillis, Resident Cork Fire Kitchen in Temecula, with its rustic-chic surroundings, offers the diner the experience of impressive indoor eating or outdoor deck seating overlooking the adjoining verdant, busy golf course. CFK has a farm-to-table philosophy that brings your meal's freshness to the forefront. Indeed, the chef 's personal garden is located just beyond the open-air tables. The restaurant, part of the popular Temecula Creek Inn, is a small wonder to behold upon entering. The waiting area, the bar, as well as the inside and outside of the restaurant, present the visitor with an environment that may resemble that of a celebrity cabin. The building itself is situated amongst a plethora of greenery and the beauty of nature. We were seated on the outdoor deck with tall trees, glorious waterfalls, and bright flowers (Sweet Alyssum, I think), to gaze upon as we ate our meal. Jade, our server, was sweet and bubbly. I was anxious to try the Huevos Rancheros. My husband opted for the Fallbrook Avocado Club Sandwich with French fries. We both ordered iced tea. The wait time was reasonable, about 15 minutes. Upon arriving, I dug into my meal. There was Spanish chorizo smeared on the corn tortillas lying beneath the fried eggs and the avocado/queso fresco toppings. The dish was not as warm as I like, but the chorizo was fantastic. It's not often one sees chorizo on a breakfast menu, so I appreciated it. The potatoes were small, whole, and tenderly cooked. My husband's sandwich contained a grilled chicken breast that had a nice, smoky flavor to it. It wasn't a difficult sandwich to eat as some club sandwiches can be. The avocado was ripe and smashed onto the chicken meat. My husband loves fries and these, according to him, were slightly crunchy and delicious. The cost of our meal, with tip, was around $50, a little more than we usually spend on lunch or brunch, but the view was well worth it. The downside of Cork Fire Kitchen lies in its parking, shared with the Inn and the golfers. But with its extensive menu – breakfast, lunch, and dinner and its beautiful ambiance, is a dining experience that one can truly appreciate. By Clare Mendez, Resident The first time I saw the flyer in the lobby for the OLDlympics I barely gave it a glance. Who wants to be thought of as OLD? What was it? And, am I even good enough to participate? But still, I was curious enough to read all about it. What I learned is, OLDlympics is a valley wide competition organized by the parks and recreation district between anyone over 50 years of age. There are 20 events to choose from and to salute the winners, there is a banquet where medals are given to the first three finishers in each division and age bracket. When you see this flyer in the lobby I encourage you to read through the categories and consider what you might be interested in trying. And OLDlympics isn't just for athletes. There are other events you can compete in such as bingo, cribbage, poker, blackjack, scrabble, pinochle, and billiards. For the athletes, there is golf, tennis, track and field events, table tennis, swimming, horseshoes, bench press, pickle ball, and lawn bowling. And, the good news is, if you have a very competitive nature, you can sign up for unlimited events. Personally, I've only ever participated in the ladies billiards - twice. The first year I didn't fare so well, but it was a lot of fun competing against some new people I had never met before. OLDlympics isn't just for Solera residents. Anyone within the Hemet – San Jacinto valley can compete. Last year I did much better and I was the proud recipient of a silver medal in ladies billiards. In fact, there were two or three dozen residents of Solera winning medals last year. Some won four or five medals. We salute you! Win or lose, it is a lot of fun. A word of caution… any and all recreation activities involve a risk of injury. Participants must understand and agree that they take part in the activity at their own risk. Please enjoy the event but keep your safety in mind at all times. Don't overdo it. And, perhaps if in doubt, ask your doctor about any restriction you may have. Now, go to the lodge and pick up your application to participate in OLDlympics. If you just want to attend the banquet (which is served cafeteria style) you can do that too. Some of our neighbors who don't participate in any of the events come to the banquet to enjoy the time together with friends. There is a small fee to compete and attend the banquet, so be sure to view the information sheet and pick your events. Some events are space limited and those with the earliest registration will be selected to participate. Then, look for a picture of the SDV winners in the November View. Cork Fire Kitchen OLDlympics

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