“It is a traditional way of barbecuing,” Matt said of the Santa Maria style. “We go down to San Luis and get the red oak for it—it only grows on the central coast so we go down there and get the oak, ...

It should come as no surprise that Santa Maria is the best place to sample Santa Maria-style barbecue. The city is home to several veteran institutions such as Shaw's Steakhouse, a stalwart of the ...

The smell of red oak smoke and sizzling meat will fill the air this weekend as Santa Maria’s signature event, the Santa Maria BBQ Festival, returns for its seventh year. The event takes place ...

The smell of Santa Maria barbecue wafting from a stand off the 101 highway means a quick stop for tri-tip is in your future.

Rooted in a 150-year-old tradition of oak-fired feasts, Santa Maria Valley has long been a hidden gem in the barbecue world. But this May, it's stepping fully into the spotlight. From a high ...

Roland H. Tesene, former owner of a landmark Santa Maria barbecue restaurant and a longtime Realtor who later helped record the valley/s history in books and videos, died Friday at the age of 92.

The yearly event honoring the region's deep barbecue heritage featured about a dozen teams that competed in the traditional Santa Maria style of grilling. While the competitors worked to make ...

As National Barbecue Month heats up, Santa Maria isn’t just joining the party — it’s running the grill. Rooted in a 150-year-old tradition of oak-fired feasts, Santa Maria Valley has long ...