The Vista Sol, a former campground in nearby Aguanga, CA, started a Campfire Dinner series this year. Guests gather at a communal table on a plateau, with 180° views of Aguanga’s seemingly endless mountain ranges, while the grill master prepares locally sourced family-style plates over an open flame.
The evening starts at sunset, with a welcome glass of local wine, while music plays in the background. Nearby, cooks busily prep dinner in over wood-burning outdoor grills, with open flames licking the underside of the cooktop. The night that I attended, there was also a customizable cowboy hat stand to browse until dinner was ready. Gina, who owns the campground, greeted each guest and explained that the whole evening is put on by her family. She plans the menu and designs the table, and her family prepares the meal and assists in serving it.
Dinner begins at sundown and is served family-style around long picnic tables, so new friends are made as the meal progresses. The uniqueness of the night makes it easy to start conversations with strangers. There’s a shared love of food-oriented experiences that lead to natural conversations around wineries, travel destinations, and the like. At my table, we spent the evening comparing and sharing favorite local haunts. There’s always some place I’ve never heard of, even in this tiny town.
The table is beautifully set with lovely linen napkins, attractive outdoor plates, gold flatware, with strings of lights draped overhead and the scent of barbecue drifting through the air. Currently, there is a single menu per event, but Gina is working on designing an option for vegans and vegetarians.
This is the menu from the evening that I attended, the exact menu changes from event to event:
TO START
Maple BBQ Hasselback Kielbasa Bites
TO SHARE
Savory Sourdough with Herb Seasoned Butter
SALAD
Old Fashioned Loaded Potato Salad
ON THE GRILL
Burgundy Peppercorn Tri Tip with Sautéed Mushrooms
FIRE ROASTED
Green Beans with a Garlicy Sauce, Topped with Crispy Shallots
Smoked Saucy, Smoky Slow Cooked Baked Beans
SWEET
Waffle Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich Dipped in Chocolate and Nuts Served with Cowboy Coffee
The food was fresh and locally sourced, and the outdoor flames add an extra element to all of the flavors, as it always does. Outlaw Wines were poured throughout dinner. Guests were invited to bring their own bottles as well, which several people did. Outdoor wine glasses are provided. There was also iced tea and water available throughout dinner.
The evening is on the expensive side for the simplicity of the affair and the dirt plateau surrounds. But plans are in the works to enhance the setting and it’s an intimate and inviting experience unlike any other in wine country. Plus, the food was wonderful and it’s a fraction of the price of similar Outstanding In The Field events. (There’s also a clean, if rustic, restroom with proper facilities and running water. No portable situation to deal with.)
Gina is also starting a series of gardening workshops and other types of events like Sunsets and Stogies, where guests enjoy small bites and light up a cigar while taking in the sunset mountain views.
Find the calendar of events on The Vista Sol website.
45935 Cahuilla Road Aguanga, CA, 92536 United States (map)
