Hitching Post Award Winning Beef

Recognized as the best in the business, the Hitching Post has done it again.
At this years NCBA's (National Cattleman's Beef Association), the Hitching Post Restaurants were awarded with the NATIONAL Beef Backer award. Having won the California Beef Backer award a couple of years prior, which was a huge honor in and of itself, this year the Ostini family took home the National award. Beating out fine dining steakhouses all across the United States.

Not too shabby for tiny steakhouse, in a tiny town, with a humble, hard working family, and loyal patrons.

Have You Found The World’s Best Steak?

Terri Stricklin - CFO of BBQ2YOU shot us this one:

I often half jokingly tell people it is a good thing I don’t work in a donut shop, or I would be as wide as the door frame. Their response is usually, “you would tire of eating donuts everyday” or some such nonsense. Having worked in our family’s steakhouse, The Hitching Post, for 40 years, I have never tired of steak! Of course, this isn't your run-of-the-mill steak either. And now, no matter where you are, you can get these steaks shipped directly to your door via BBQ2YOU.

The original Hitching Post Restaurant, locate in the tiny hamlet of Casmalia, California, has for over 57 years been owned and operated by the Ostini Family and is known around the globe as having the “World’s Best Steak”. Quite a bold statement you would say, especially with all the great steakhouses in America. But this well kept secret (Santa Barbara County Historical Landmark #37), nestled near Vandenberg Air Force Base and half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, blows the socks off the competition. At least that’s what customers have been telling us for six decades. And these are folks that have eaten steak all over the world.

The new business venture, BBQ2YOU, is also a family enterprise. With business plan in hand, HP owner Bill Ostini’s daughter Stacey Ostini Mosti, presented her vision of taking the steak business to a new level. Her concept was much different than Omaha Steaks, Allen Brothers and others in the food shipping industry. Instead of shipping raw steaks for the end consumer to cook, The Hitching Post barbecues and seasons these steaks over a live oakwood fire (known as Santa Maria Style BBQ), flash freezes them and ships the items 2^nd day air.

From freezer to table in under 20 minutes, your family and friends will think you just grilled these delicious steaks yourselves-and we did all the work for you! And the next tme you want to send an exceptional gift to a client, colleague or friend-send them BBQ2YOU-they will be amazed at the ease of preparation and the quality of our product. After trying our steaks you will understand why after 40 years of steak eating, I’m still hooked on Hitching Post Products.

----- Terri Stricklin

Wine In The Pines

Escape for the day….
With Wine in the Pines

I couldn't think of a better way to spend June 13, 2009 than with forty wineries, fabulous food, live music, a wine art show, a wine auction, and beautiful weather! Wine in the Pines is a breath of fresh air. Your tastes buds will sore as you sample wines in a higher elevation. Experience incredible wine and great food as you never have before.

The Village of Pine Mountain Club has hosted wine festivals in June of each year beginning in 2003. Wine in the Pines 2009 will be hosted by the Pine Mountain Club Commercial Property Owners' Association, Inc. The Bakersfield Symphony will perform in Lampkin Park immediately following Wine in the Pines. The free concert is open to the public. The Village is located between the coastal communities, Bakersfield, Santa Clarita and the San Fernando Valley. Choose to stay for the night in one of the cozy cabins. Escape for the day….
With Wine in the Pines

Including These Top Chefs

Chef Rick
The up-tempo american cooking prepared by one of the central coast premierchef's, Rick Manson is a blend of southern louisiana, southwest, and southernCalifornia influences, seasoned with a hint of rhythm and blues, a splash ofcolor, and a touch of irreverence.

The Hitching Post
Casmalia, California, former cow-town of the Old West, is where California-style barbequeing was brought to perfection by the pioneers. The Hitching Post has brought this live-oak California-style barbequeing to perfection bringing choice, aged beef to the ultimate of gourmet flavor and tenderness. Known for the best oak grilled steaks in the Santa Maria Valley since 1952, Grill Chef Bill Ostini and GM Terri Stricklin will bring their barbequeing team to Wine in the Pines this year. Bring a few extra bucks because you might be hungry for an oak grilled New York steak while sampling some excellent “reds.”

Trattoria Uliveto
The restaurant features classic Italian music, a warm and comfortable color scheme, and artistic pieces to add the final touches. Come and escape for the evening to enjoy a sumptuous repast. Alfonso Curti, former executive chef of "Grappolo" in Santa Ynez, is a native Calabrian who moved to California from Italy a little over ten years ago and made a name for himself working at his family's restaurant in Santa Ynez.

Featured Wineries

Lane Tanner Winery
Lane started her own wine making company in 1984 with one client. She began making wines for the Hitching Post restaurant (A locally famous Santa Barbara Co. steak house). In 1989 she started the Lane Tanner label and her methods for Pinot production have not changed much in the last 20 years. Lane uses the best Pinot grapes available in Santa Barbara Co. working with Julia's Vineyard and Bien Nacido Vineyard fruit as well as the new, Melville Vineyard. She harvests the grapes when they taste right, not when the sugar hits a certain number. She looks for maturity and complexion but still with the sparkle of youth.

Rancho Sisquoc Winery
To the Chumash Indians the word "Sisquoc" meant "gathering place". Today this winery is once again a gathering place for wine lovers. Originally an 1852 Mexican land grant, the 37,000 acre ranch has been owned by the Flood Family since 1952. The winery opened in 1972 and is now under the direction of wine maker Alec Franks producing 10,000 cases annually. Current releases include Chardonnay, Sylvaner, Riesling, Tre Vini, Reserve Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec and Cellar Select Meritage.

For more information on this exclusive wine event visit http://www.wineinthepines.com/