Archive for April, 2009
BBQ, Strawberries Star in California Country
Santa Maria Style Barbecue and Santa Maria Valley strawberries are the subjects of two upcoming segments on California Country, a statewide television show produced by the California Farm Bureau.
The California Country crew visited the Santa Maria Valley this week to experience the strawberries of DB Specialty Farms (a.k.a. Daren’s Berries).
The same crew recently came to the area to explore the secrets of Santa Maria Style Barbecue, including a visit to a pinquito bean farm.
Both segments will likely air this summer, although specific dates have not yet been set. Stay tuned!
Add comment April 22, 2009
Vineyard Walks Reveal Secrets of The Vine
UPDATE: Stay tuned for Vineyard Walks calendar for 2010
A typical visit to the wine country involves merely looking at grapevines from a winery terrace or through the windshield. But in the Santa Maria Valley, you can now get up close and personal with local vineyards as the Santa Maria Valley Wine Country hosts monthly complimentary vineyard walks from May through October.
Click here for the schedule, which features esteemed sites such as Bien Nacido, Riverbench, Costa de Oro and Cottonwood Canyon.
The vineyard walks are led by local viticulturists and vintners, who offer a firsthand look at viticultural techniques, stages of grapevine growth, soil profiles and more. In the end, guests gain an insider’s glimpse into how what goes on in the vineyard shapes what goes into the bottle.
Of the Santa Maria Valley wine country, renowned wine writer Steve Heimoff recently wrote, “It may well have the highest overall quality of grapes and wines of any AVA in California…Santa Maria Valley is an insider’s secret, a special place that knowledgeable people go to while the crowds throng the tasting rooms of Santa Ynez Valley.”
So take a vineyard walk and discover what all the fuss is about. Of course, even if you can’t make it for a vineyard walk, you can still sample local wines at a dozen winery tasting rooms in the Santa Maria Valley.
Add comment April 20, 2009
Food, Wine…and Arts Thrive in The Valley
While the Santa Maria Valley is perhaps most renowned for its abundance of great barbecue and fine wine, the region is also home to a vibrant arts scene as well.
Indeed, in a recent press release, the California Travel & Tourism Commission notes that “musical theater meets wine country ambiance at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA) in the Santa Maria Valley.” The California Travel & Tourism Commission also observes that “even the area’s wine caves resonate with music as the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society is offering a special ‘concert in the caves’ performance May 23 at Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard.”
Upcoming PCPA performances include Les Miserables (pictured here) from now through July 12 and the Music Man from July 17 through August 23. Visit the PCPA web site for more information. Click here and here for more information on experiencing the arts in the Santa Maria Valley.
Add comment April 13, 2009
Enjoy Vintners’ Festival on April 18
It’s not too late to get your ticket for the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Festival on Saturday, April 18. Bring your appetite, too, as wines won’t be the day’s only treat.
Here’s how food and wine writer Reka Badger of the Santa Maria Sun eloquently sums up this festive foodie event: “Amid the verdant beauty of Lompoc’s River Park, organizers of the Vintners’ Festival, slated for April 18, intend to showcase this alchemical relationship between solid and liquid. Featuring the bounty of both farm and vineyard, the festival offers an opportunity to sample the wares of more than two dozen local chefs, while sipping wines from 100-plus members of the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association.”
Visit www.sbcountywines.com for tickets and information.
Add comment April 13, 2009
Order Your Santa Maria Style Barbecue Booklet
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is excited to offer you a complimentary barbecue booklet, which includes recipes and tips for preparing your very own Santa Maria Style Barbecue.
Much of the information in the booklet is included here in this blog, but the booklet is definitely a handy item to keep in the kitchen.
You may call the Chamber toll-free at (800) 331-3779 to order a booklet today. You may also click here to view the brochure online in PDF format (click the link at the upper right of the page).
5 comments April 2, 2009
Dine and Save on April 20-26
Get ready to enjoy fine food at delicious prices as five participating Santa Maria Valley restaurants celebrate the first-ever “Dine Out: Santa Maria Style” week from Monday, April 20 through Sunday, April 26.
“This promotion gives everyone an affordable opportunity to savor the renowned flavors of the Santa Maria Valley,” said Gina Keough, manager of the Santa Maria Valley Visitor & Convention Bureau. “Some of our local restaurants have been featured in Gourmet, Sunset, BBQ with Bobby Flay and elsewhere, and this is a great excuse to come out and taste what all the fuss is about.”
Participating restaurants will offer special promotional menus and pricing throughout DineOut: Santa Maria Style week. The participating restaurants are The Hitching Post (Casmalia location only), Far Western Tavern, Garden Room Inn at the Historic Santa Maria Inn (Garden Room Chef Alex Araizaga is pictured here), Vintner’s Bar & Grill at the Radisson Hotel Santa Maria, and Portabella Grill at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites
The DineOut: Santa Maria Style promotion was coordinated by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau. The bureau has designed a double-sided DineOut: Santa Maria Style promotional flyer with menus listed for each of the participating restaurants. The flyer information will also be posted soon on www.SantaMaria.com.
DineOut: Santa Maria Style Details
When: Monday, April 20 through Sunday, April 26
What: Special promotional menus and pricing offered by five participating restaurants.
How: Ask for the “DineOut: Santa Maria Style” menu when making reservations and/or entering participating restaurants during promotional period.
More Information: www.santamaria.com or call (805) 925-2403, extension 814.
Participating Restaurants:
The Hitching Post (Casmalia location only) / 3325 Point Sal Road in Casmalia / (805) 937-6151
Far Western Tavern / 899 Guadalupe Street in Guadalupe / (805) 343-2211
Garden Room Inn at the Historic Santa Maria Inn / 801 South Broadway in Santa Maria / (805) 928-7777
Vintner’s Bar & Grill at the Radisson Hotel Santa Maria / 3354 Skyway Drive in Santa Maria / (805) 928-8000
Portabella Grill at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites / 2100 North Broadway in Santa Maria / (805) 928-6000
Add comment April 2, 2009
