The Santa Maria Grill represents a culture, a tradition, and most importantly, a unique culinary affair with barbecue. It originates from the Central Coast of California, particularly the Santa Maria Valley, hence its name. The entire concept revolves around a design that empowers control, flavor, and grilling simplicity to the cook.
The Santa Maria Grill‘s design has an innovative and functional approach to grilling. It comes with a characteristic height-adjustable grilling grate, which applies a simple yet effective mechanism. This adjustable grate gives you the impressive ability to control the heat by leveraging the distance between the coals and the food. However, its features don’t stop at adaptability but extend towards adding a distinctive flavor to the barbecue.
Typically, a Santa Maria Grill uses red oak logs as its fuel, which is a nod to its regional origins where red oak is abundantly found. The red oak imparts an earthy, smoky flavor to the grilled meat, making it a barbecue like no other. This selection of fuel makes it an epitome of traditional barbecue methods that truly capture the essence of flavor.
Within the Santa Maria Grill, the unobstructed ventilation, a result of its open pit style, allows the free flow of oxygen. This encourages an even burning process and facilitates perfect embers. The construction also includes a built-in firebox, which helps contain the wood or coals. You start the fire, let the wood burn down to embers, and then adjust your grilling grate to the desired distance, allowing for optimal cooking control. Due to its inherent design, the Santa Maria Grill ensures an even heat distribution, which is vital for perfect grilling results.
One of the signature dishes prepared on the Santa Maria Grill is tri-tip, a succulent cut from the bottom of the sirloin. Seasoned with simple yet flavorful Santa Maria-style rub — garlic salt, pepper, and parsley – the tri-tip roasts slowly over the red oak fire. The inherent smoky, roasted flavor that the Santa Maria Grill imparts to this dish makes it a favorite among BBQ enthusiasts.
The Santa Maria Grill has evolved over the years, with manufacturers adding their unique touch. Some designs incorporate a rotisserie for roasting larger pieces of meat. Others include extras like enhanced airflow systems, side tables, hooks for tools, and even additional systems for different cooking styles.
One place where you can learn more about these grills and get one for your own is the BBQs PLUS Website. They offer a wide variety of grills, including the traditional and advance Santa Maria Grills, with features that cater to both novice cooks and professional chefs. In addition to detailed product descriptions, the site is a great resource for users, with a community of enthusiasts sharing recipe ideas, technical tips, and more.
In conclusion, the Santa Maria Grill offers an unmatched barbecuing experience. Its design marries practicality with tradition, and the resulting flavor is unique and authentically Californian. Whether you’re new to grilling, an experienced BBQ master, or a restaurant chef, the Santa Maria Grill is a worthy addition to your culinary arsenal.