Archive for April, 2010
Santa Maria BBQ Blog in SF Weekly
Let’s face it, everyone loves a shout-out, which is why we were thrilled to have this blog linked to a story in San Francisco’s SF Weekly newspaper.
In the story, food critic Jonathan Kauffman answers the following question from a recent Houston transplant: Where can I find Tex-Mex food?
Later in the piece, he encourages his readers to seek out “Cal-Mex” food, and kindly suggests that people “take a weekend road trip to the Santa Maria Valley to gorge on tri-tip steaks grilled over red oak and long-braised pinquito beans.”
Great idea! They don’t call the Santa Maria Valley “California’s Sweet Spot” for nothing, as the valley is located nearly dead center between San Francisco and Los Angeles, making it an relatively easy jaunt from the big metro areas to the north and the south.
So come on down, or up, and bring your appetite for Santa Maria BBQ.
The Sweetest Festival of All
In the Santa Maria Valley, sweet strawberries are the perfect complement to sizzling barbecue. Indeed, no Santa Maria BBQ meal is complete without being punctuated by a dessert made with fresh local strawberries.
Now it’s time once again to celebrate and savor the valley’s signature berry as the annual Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival arrives at the Santa Maria Fairpark on April 23-25. As always, this berry bash will feature strawberry varietal sampling, strawberry desserts, educational exhibits and old-fashioned carnival entertainment.
The Santa Maria Valley is renowned for the rare quality of its strawberries, which, like wine grapes, thrive in the region’s uniquely moderate coastal climate. The recently released Santa Barbara County Crop Report reveals that more than 7,500 acres of strawberries were harvested in 2009 (with the vast majority of that acreage being in the Santa Maria Valley), and that the total value of the county’s harvested strawberries for 2009 was more than $344 million.
Now is one of the best times of year to enjoy local strawberries at their best, and the Strawberry Festival is your ultimate ticket to indulge in this sweet local sensation.
Go Fly A Kite in BBQ Country
While this blog is dedicated to Santa Maria Style Barbecue and the surrounding flavors of the Santa Maria Valley, sometimes something comes along that causes us to put down the forks, knives and wine glasses…
On that note, we just can’t resist talking about the first annual Famly Kite Festival brought to you by the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum. This free festival takes place on Sunday, April 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rotary Centennial Park.
The festivities will include a kite chase for children, a “most beautiful” kite contest, and expert “sport flyers.” You can bring your own kite to join the fun, or purchase one on site. Check out this Kitelife Magazine article for more information and a schedule of events, or visit the Discovery Museum web site.
And after you work up an appetite after an afternoon of kite flying, you know what to do: Enjoy a reduced-price menu during the DineOut: Santa Maria Style promotion that is taking place through April 25.
It’s Time to Dine Out…Santa Maria Style!
The time has come to treat yourself to the many flavors of the Santa Maria Valley as DineOut: Santa Maria Style begins today, with eight local restaurants offering reduced-price menus for the next two weeks.
The fixed menu prices start at $10.10, and continue with the “2010” theme at $20.10, $30.10 and $40.10, depending on the restaurant and meal (see below for link to full menus listing).
The participating restaurants include Santa Maria BBQ specialists The Hitching Post (Casmalia location) and Far Western Tavern, as well as Trattoria Uliveto, Garden Room Restaurant at the Historic Santa Maria Inn, Vintner’s Grill at the Radisson, Portabella at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Adelina’s Bistro at the Monarch Club, and Quizno’s at South Bradley Road.
Just ask for “DineOut: Santa Maria Style” when making your reservation. Click here for a full list of DineOut: Santa Maria Style menus. Bon appetit!
P.S. Thanks to KKFX Fox 11 and KCOY 12 for featuring DineOut: Santa Maria Style on this morning’s news show!
Spotlight on Santa Maria Strawberries
The Santa Maria Valley is sweet as well as sizzling, as fresh strawberries join Santa Maria BBQ as one of the region’s signature flavors.
Now, KSBY Television has turned the spotlight on the valley’s sensational strawberries in advance of the annual Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival on April 23-25.
Anchor Jeanette Trompeter visited the local strawberry fields with grower Daren Gee and produced a segment on Santa Maria Valley strawberries for her “No Place Like Home” news series, which aired last night. As Daren noted in the segment, the Santa Maria Valley’s uniquely moderate and steady coastal climate is ideal for growing some of the world’s finest strawberries.
According to the most recent Santa Barbara County Crop Report, 7,193 acres of strawberries were harvested in 2008. More than 90 percent of these acres are located in the Santa Maria Valley. Total field value for local strawberries in 2008 exceeded $309 million. More than 10 strawberry varieties are grown in the Santa Maria Valley.
Thanks to Jeanette and KSBY for this sweet segment on Santa Maria Valley Strawberries.
