Share Categories Barbecue More Articles The original Hitching Post restaurant in Casmalia in the Santa Maria Valley is certainly no stranger to this blog. In fact, it is one of the most iconic restaurants in the pantheon of Santa Maria Style Barbecue. But that’s not where the Hitching Post story ends. There’s a related restaurant, the Hitching Post II, in the nearby Santa Ynez Valley that has been thriving for nearly 30 years (which sounds like a long time, until you learn that the original Hitching Post opened 60 years ago!). Both locations are renowned for their epic barbecue fare, but the Hitching Post II has another claim to fame, as it was featured prominently in the hit movie Sideways. Jeanette Trompeter of KSBY recently featured the Hitching Post II in her No Place Like Home series, which features experiences that are unique to the Central Coast. Click here to watch the segment and learn more about the unlikely Hollywood story of the Hitching Post II.
Barbecue The Story of The Santa Maria BBQ Copyright Santa Maria Style Barbecue is so distinctively delicious that the official menu is actually copyrighted to protect its authenticity and integrity. Santa Maria Style barbecue is a 150-year old Central Coast tradition that started in the 1800s in Santa Maria Valley, when local ranchers would host barbecue feasts for their vaqueros — or cowboys — […]
Barbecue Pat the Plover Keeps a Bird’s Eye View on Wine Country The Western Snowy Plover may be a vulnerable bird on the Central Coast, but not Pat. While the Santa Maria Valley’s usual guests have been safely social distancing at home, Pat has spread his flappers and is keeping an eye on the vineyards, restaurants, beaches, and more while our residents and guests stay sheltered. Peel […]
Barbecue A Brief History of Santa Maria Style Barbecue In an age of fickle appetites and culinary fads, Santa Maria Style barbecue continues to prove that good taste never goes out of style. The roots of Santa Maria Style barbecue date back to the mid-1800s, when large ranches occupied the hills of the Santa Maria Valley. Local ranchers would host Spanish-style feasts each spring […]
Barbecue 4 Steps to Hosting a Safe and Successful Backyard Barbecue One of the best parts of summer is the warm, late nights filled with friends, family and delicious food. Although you may be practicing social distancing and putting your summer plans on hold for now, hosting a family barbecue for the people in your house is the perfect way to safely enjoy the wonders of […]