Santa Maria Barbecue is a local foods treasure from the Santa Maria Valley in California that traces it origins to cattle runs and 19th-century settlers. Santa Maria Barbecue isn't a technique or a dish: It's a meal. Grilled beef top block (or smaller cuts such as tri-tip or sirloin) is paired with beans, salad, garlic bread, and salsa fresca to make a crave-inducing meal.