I Hate Camping, but Love Camp 4
By Kate Serpa Photos By Philip Johnson I hate being outside; it’s probably my least favorite place to be. Outdoor weddings/camping/concerts/parties — don’t bother sending me an invite unless you’re doing a no host tequila bar and Bill Murray is there to rub spf 80 on me hourly. See, I’ve got that Irish skin that gets sunburned under a shaded light bulb; I get sunburned if someone just whispers the word ‘sunburned’ while I’m nearby. I’m a delicate flower, damn it. As March is the month most known for its boozy Irish-themed festivities, I thought there’d be no better way to celebrate my heritage with a little indoor drinking at the one place I wouldn’t mind camping out at: The beautiful Camp 4 Wine Cafe. Phil and I have covered substantial local bar terrain in our adventures together. Every article we do is unique in its own regard, but sometimes we do an interview that is particularly memorable. Camp 4 Wine Cafe went above, beyond, and accomplished just that. Now, the scope of information we are going to cover is daunting — there are just too many lovely things to include. So let’s both have a big (huge & full of gin) drink, start with the basics, and get climbing: Who: Camp 4’s owner, operator, constant fixture, and sometimes chef is Damon Robbins, son of pioneering American rock climber Royal Robbins. With an artistic eye for detail and an exploratory palate, Damon delivers the dining+drinking experience with a personalized and unexpected flair. His motive: “To make people happy. That’s it.” What: Named for one of his father’s favorite Yosemite stomping grounds, Camp 4 is housed within the former Royal Robin’s clothing shop and delivers specialty beer, wine, panini, and other fantastic sharing foods. When: Wine and beer are being poured at Camp 4 seven days a week, darling. Be sure to check their respective sites for upcoming “Flight Nights”, which feature a sampling of wines from select locations. Where: Slightly off the downtown Modesto beaten path — look for the mural of the Yosemite skyline. And the big WHY: Camp 4 provides a beautiful atmosphere with wall-scaling photos of climbers, full shelves of exceptional wines and bottled beer, enclosed patio seating (for you outdoorsy types), beautiful food, and a steady buzz of engaging conversation. These beers, teas, wines, cheeses, charcuterie, house-crafted treats, and atmosphere all serve as a vehicle for introducing people to new things, states Damon. He strives to deliver new palate experiences through unexpected options. I don’t want to lose you here — unexpected does not mean stuffy or annoying. Camp 4 aims to provide something you’ll like even though you don’t know you like it yet. Conclusion: I guess this all turned into more of a restaurant review than a bar review — but I think at Camp 4 the two match and operate so well together it seems unfair to focus on just one or the other. Plus I’ve been drinking and have been thinking about their chocolate panini pretty much this whole time. Camp 4 is a destination well worth the climb. 1508 10th St., Modesto CA 209.5295898 www.camp4wine.com<http://www.camp4wine.com/>
