Discover Santa Maria Style Barbecue at Home During National Barbecue Month

SANTA MARIA, Calif., May 1, 2020 (Newswire.com) - ​​Dust off those grilling tools because May is National Barbecue Month. Although people may not currently be able to venture far, Visit Santa Maria Valley is bringing the flavors of Santa Maria Style barbecue to homes everywhere.

Santa Maria Style barbecue has roots that date back to the 1800s when local ranchers would prepare Spanish-style feasts after cattle round-ups for the vaqueros (cowboys). The meal consisted of meat, slow-roasted over the flames of a red oak fire, served with a side of pinquito beans and fresh green salad. While the tradition has since grown to include tri-tip, one defining feature has remained the same: to be considered Santa Maria Style barbecue, it must be cooked over red oak, native to the Santa Maria Valley, and preferably rubbed with Santa Maria seasoning — a simple-yet-flavorful blend of salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Get Inspired

Visit Santa Maria Valley encourages travelers to keep dreaming about their next Central Coast getaway. Season the imagination by watching a Santa Maria Style barbecue video to see what this unofficial fifth regional style of barbecue is all about. 

Access the Complimentary Santa Maria Style Barbecue Cookbook

Next, order Instacart ingredients to make a hearty and filling Santa Maria Style barbecue family recipe at home. Set up those tablets and download this free cookbook to access the Santa Maria Style tradition. Cooks can use many types of beef, including tri-tip, steaks or top sirloin. For pescatarians or vegetarians, Santa Maria Style seasoning can top seafood or vegetables.

Pro tip: Susie Q’s Santa Maria Style Seasoning, Salsa, Pinquito Beans and California Red Oak Chips can be ordered online and shipped.​

Cook With a Local

Jaime Flores, founder of the Santa Maria Valley Barbecue Festival, shows how to make a bountiful meal from the grill or in the kitchen. In this video, he demonstrates how to make Santa Maria Style barbecue using ingredients from the local grocery store so cooks can bring the style into their own home.

Pair With Famed Santa Maria Valley Wines

Santa Maria Style barbecue and locally produced wine pair hand in hand. Typically, Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir and Rhone-style varietals like Syrah will hold up to the bold flavors of barbecue. The Santa Maria Valley soil, climate and other native local conditions shape the wine’s character. With the marine climate and dry sandy-loam soils, it’s not hard to find wines that exhibit a strong sense of place. Wines from Riverbench, Foxen and Cottonwood Canyon are perfect pairings for such a meal and can be purchased online. 

Source: Visit Santa Maria Valley