Decode the California BBQ phrases that confuse newcomers but make perfect sense to locals who live the West Coast grill life.

This modern twist on a California grilling classic brings bold flavor and vibrant color to your summer table. Tender Santa Maria-style tri-tip is seasoned simply and grilled over high heat to ...

Even though it was almost 20 years ago, my mouth still waters when I remember my first taste of great Santa Maria barbecue. I was meandering up the 5 Freeway on my way north. It was lunchtime, and for ...

Southern barbecue has its aficionados, as does Kansas City barbecue. Hot links, pork ribs and beef ribs all have their fans. Just as devoted are the Californians from the central Coast who are hooked ...

In California, whole seasoned roasts are strung up on steel rods and then gradually lowered over hot red oak coals. Cooking a whole roast, generally 2 1/2 to 3 pounds, takes about 45-50 minutes for ...

Recently I was reminded of a cut of meat not every grocery store or meat cutter carries: tri-tip. A local grocery store was featuring tri-tip roasts on special for $4.99 a pound. It’s the first time I ...

If you’re a proud Californian, you’ll listen politely to a Texan bragging about brisket or a Carolinian rhapsodizing about pulled pork. Then you’ll set them straight about barbecue: Tri-tip is the ...

Long before Jeremy “Boomer” Acuña was executive chef at Krause’s Cafe in New Braunfels, he was a 6-year-old kid helping his mom, Annie Acuña, in their San Diego kitchen. “She was from Santa Maria, ...

A new barbecue joint opened in July in Buena Park that has been idling under the radar ever since. It’s called Santa Maria BBQ, and it is a quirky cafe that shares a little food court with a coffee ...

Santa Maria is one of those cities I always drive past on my way up north. It doesn’t have the Danish kitsch and buttery-rich pastries of nearby Solvang or the summery vibe of Pismo Beach just up the ...

Labor Day has come and gone, signaling the "end of summer". But seriously, we're in Los Angeles, so what the fuck does this arbitrary marker have anything to do with altering our almost flawless ...