Taste of Santa Maria Valley

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Every agriculture and wine region has its own taste. This is especially true when the region is well established in a historically farm area. We have never visited Santa Maria Valley before and so we were excited to try the local cuisine. We found it to be very much influenced by the history of the area. Santa Maria is known as the “Barbecue Capital of the World”. The traditions of this style of barbeque all started in 1800 when ranchers would get together to brand their cattle and then they would enjoy a Spanish style barbeque feast. Most, if not all, of their meats are grilled over red oak coals. Also we found that all the barbeque places we ate at offered a relish tray as well. With 34 different tasting rooms there is a variety of wines to try.

 

Santa Maria Inn

 

This is a very well preserved historic 1917 building but it is not your average Inn because there is usually no point in most Inns, hotels, or resorts to spend time in the lobby. We usually want to relax and spend time in our room but this Inn has so many well kept and beautiful common areas and it was hard not to want too spend time in them. It sure feels as if we had stepped back in time and made me want to go to some antique shops and buy vintage clothing so that I could take beautiful pictures in the lobby.

Another thing we loved here was their breakfast. We could see ourselves coming back to stay here again just for the breakfast because it was that good. You could order breakfast off the menu or you could enjoy the buffet which offers so many amazing choices. Even my husband liked the breakfast offered at Santa Maria Inn, he is not even into breakfast.

 

Located at 801 S. Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454.

 

 

Shaw’s Steakhouse

 

This family steakhouse has been around since 1953. We wanted to experience a Santa Maria style BBQ and now we have .
You can actually watch the meats being grilled. As you enter the restaurant you will see to the left meat being grilled. There are three booths that you can choose from and watch this from.
My husband had the Tri-Tip 12 oz with french fries and homemade cream of mushroom soup. I had the broiled halibut, rice, and cream of mushroom soup.
The meals here are big. They also give you a plate of fresh relish, homemade salsa, grilled garlic bread, pinquito beans, two big spoons of butter, and lots of crackers.
The food was really good. We really enjoyed the mushroom soup. It sure tasted like it was homemade and not something preheated from a can. The meat was salted just right and the halibut was so soft and delicious.
Customer service was amazing. Everyone was kind and friendly. The service was quick as well.

 

Located at 714 S Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454.

 

 

Far Western Tavern

 

As you enter to the right you will find a room where you’ll notice plenty of people laughing, drinking, and having a good time. That is where the mahogany bar room is and it is very lively. However, we wanted a more romantic experience and were seated in the main sitting area. We loved the look and design of this restaurant. We had the artichoke which was oak grilled and had a lemony taste. It was so good. We also had cocktail shrimp, caesar salad, oak grilled tri-trip with yummy soft corn bread, a house salad, and clam chowder soup. This is one place you will not want to miss.

 

Located at 300 E. Clark Avenue, Orcutt

 

 

Moxie’s Café

 

This Café offers some great sandwiches. We love unique places and this is one of them. Instead of fries or chips you are given fruit. I had the Bodacious BLTA sandwich which had bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, and balsamic vinaigrette dressing. My husband had the Rotisserie Tri-tip sandwich which was packed with sliced angus tri-tip.

 

Located at 1317 W. McCoy Lane, Santa Maria

 

 

Wine Tasting

 

Cottonwood Canyon

I love the name of this winery. You can find cottonwood trees throughout the vineyard. This beautiful 78 acres offers Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay hand crafted wines. They have cave tours here as well but those are done by appointment only on Saturdays and Sundays. They also have a grass amphitheater here. We have never seen one before. During the summer months they hold events here. I love relaxed wine tasting and Samantha (the tasting room manager) was such a joy to talk with. I learned so much from her about wine and wine making. We bought a case of 2003 Elizabeth’s Vista Pinot Noir. It wasn’t part of the wine tasting list but it was on a huge sale so we asked Samantha if I could try it and I loved it so much. I also really love dessert wine. Their 2008 Dessert Syrah wine tasted so good. It was just the right hint of sweetness which I prefer because I do not like wine that is extremely sweet.

 

Located at 3940 Dominion Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93454.

 

 

Ca’ Del Grevino

We came to do some wine tasting here. They do offer food as well. You can order starters, salads, oven & grill, flat bread pizzas, and more. We only did the wine tasting.
There are two different wine tasting  options to choose from. We picked to try the Grevino Estate Wine which included a taste of six wines and costs $20.
I really enjoy white wines more than red wines even though we do buy and drink both red and white wine. My favorite one was their 2013 Riesling because it is semi sweet.
What I liked most about this winery is that we were able to take a seat at any of their tables. Sometimes I really like a more private experience trying wine while talking with my husband and not standing around others.

 

Located at 400 E. Clark Avenue, Orcutt

 

 

Nagy Wines

 As soon as I read the name of this winery I was brought back to the sweet memory of my dear friend Veronica who had the same last name as the owner of this tasting room.
Annie greeted us and we had such an amazing time chatting and trying their wonderful wines. We hit it off and I loved the relaxed atmosphere at this winery.
I loved the 2016 Pinot Blanc Bien Nacido Vineyard and the 2013 Syrah White Hewok Vineyard. Now the 2013 Syrah was pure magic. When this wine was put in a tall glass it tasted and smelled completely differently than when it  was put in a wider and shorter glass. We have tried so many different wines but never like one as this.
We loved learning about the winemaker. Annie was so friendly and knew so much about the different wines they offered here. I loved how beautiful it was inside the winery.

 

Located at 300 E. Clark Avenue, Orcutt

 

Thank you Visit Santa Maria Valley for hosting our stay.

Thank you for reading our post. We share a new post every Tuesday and Thursday at 8pm.

21 Responses

  1. Akim R.
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    That place looks so awesome. I love the relaxing ambiance and I could stay there for a very long time!

  2. Elizabeth O
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    Santa Maria Valley looks delightful. It looks like it provided you with so many great places to visit and the Cottonwood Canyon looks amazing!

  3. Misty Eilar
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    That food looks delicious! I love cafe’s and small restaurants. Makes them feel more homey and usually have amazing food.

  4. Nailil
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    You travel to some of the most beautiful places. The food in your post also looks delicious too.
    Nailil

  5. Lyosha
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    The place and the food look super tempting! I would totally give it a try! You are making me wanna go n vacation Now!

  6. Monique Elise
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    All of my favorite things. A steakhouse, and wine tastings! I love California I think there’s so much you can do and discover. I definitely want to check out Santa Maria on my next visit.

  7. GiGi Eats
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    Ohhh baby! I travel FOR FOOD so thank YOU for those close ups of the sexiness!!! It sure did look TASTY AF!

  8. Preeti
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    Oh wow this is all so enjoyable! I love wine and food! haha I guess everybody does
    I love how you have complied this blog experience.
    Also, I need to go on a vacay soon !! 😀

  9. Nati
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    The place sounds amazing! as an Argentinian I love bbq, so I think I would enjoy a meal there very much! (btw, you look so beautiful!)

  10. Stephanie
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    Looks like you had a wonderful time! I’d love to visit a few wineries some day. Even though I’m really picky about the wine I drink, the views look so amazing!

  11. Tonya
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    This place looks amazing and the food looks fantastic

  15. Nikki Arnold
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    I want to go on a wine tasting so bad, I don’t live close to wine country but we do have a local place that does free tastings!

  17. Chastity
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    Wow, all of these places look like good spots to explore with my partner. We loved visiting California last year and would love to go back. I would enjoy Naga Wines totally up my alley.

  18. Candice
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    I love historic inns like that. Older buildings have so much history and charm! Newer hotels are just so boring in comparison.

  19. David Allen Elliott
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    I have stayed at the very inn. I stayed for my ex’s cousins wedding. And it really was very beautiful there. It’s has this rustic kind of charm to it. And the food really was great too.

  20. Letty
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    One that makes me want to go to this place is.. its great food! Love to see those pictures – everything looks delicious!

  21. Michelle
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    We love a great BBQ. The stained glass at the Inn was beautiful and the history there is very intriguing! I also enjoy a sweet wine…beautiful winery!!