Santa Maria is about an hour away from me. The town is based on agriculture and oil. THey went in there and overbuilt the heck out of it back when the plan was to launch space shuttles from Vandenberg Air Force Base. It's real windy there all the time, so the beach is usually all blown out.
Santa Maria Style Barbecue = barbecued sirloin, salsa, Pinquito beans, toasted French bread, and green salad has been called by Sunset Magazine, the "best barbecue in the world" and the California?s Visitor?s Guide raves this the "number one food not to miss while visiting California."
Santa Maria Barbecue has its roots in the mid-19th century, when the rancheros gathered to help each other brand their calves each spring. The host would prepare a Spanish style barbecue as a thank you for his vaqueros (America?s first cowboys), family and friends. Under the oaks of this serene little coastal valley they would enjoy a traditional feast that included beef barbecued over a red oak fire, served with Pinquito beans, bread, salsa and homemade desserts.
The traditional Santa Maria Barbecue menu features, of course, the barbecued sirloin, trimmed, sliced, and laid out in metal pans so that the diner may select the desired doneness. The only condiment for this tender and flavorful meat is a fresh salsa. With it is served grilled French bread dipped in sweet melted butter, perfect for soaking up every last bit of the flavorful meat juices. Also served on the side is a tossed green salad, and slow-cooked pinquito beans. For the most authentic Santa Maria Barbecue experience, select a robust Santa Maria Valley wine to accompany your meal. This tasty feast is finished with coffee and a simple dessert.
The present Santa Maria Style Barbecue grew out of this tradition, and achieved its "style" some 60 years ago when local residents began to string their beef on skewers and cook it over the hot coals of a red oak fire. The meat, either top block sirloin or the triangular-shaped bottom sirloin known as "tri tip," is rolled in a mixture of salt, pepper and garlic salt just prior to cooking. It is then barbecued over red oak coals, giving the meat a hearty, smoky flavor.
linky
Fascinating facts that most locals don?t even know about!
The Legend of Zorro was based on the life of Solomon Pico, a murderous bandit who camped in the Santa Maria hills. To this day, people climb the Solomon Hills looking for treasure that Pico allegedly buried.
The Minerva Clubhouse in Santa Maria was designed by Julia Morgan, famed architect of Hearst Castle.
From 1962 - 1963, John Madden was head coach for Santa Maria?s Allan Hancock College football team. He was also Assistant Coach in 1961. He is currently the commentator for Monday Night Football.
The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Complex (at Santa Maria) boasts the highest beach dunes in the Western United States, with some towering as high as 500 feet.
Santa Maria?s Hancock College of Aeronautics was the primary training center for fighter pilots during World War II.
In 1874, Santa Maria was originally named ?Grangerville.? Later, the name was changed to ?Central City.?
The Santa Maria Valley town of Guadalupe is home to the oldest Buddhist temple in California.
Santa Maria produces 20 million trays of strawberries annually. These are transported to supermarkets across the United States.
In the early 1900s, the clams at Pismo Beach were so plentiful that farmers in the Santa Maria Valley brought truck loads home to use as crop fertilizer and feed for their hogs.
In 1904, Old Maud, Santa Maria?s first oil well, produced one million barrels in its first 100 days of operation.
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