California’s Secret BBQ Tradition | San Jose News

San Jose News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 20, 2026 · 1m

California’s barbecue scene is stealing the spotlight—no longer just a southern thing, but a coastal powerhouse with deep roots in Santa Maria-style tri-tip cooked over red oak. This vaquero tradition, tied to ranchers and cowboy heritage, is being kept alive at iconic spots like The Hitching Post and Cold Spring Tavern. Travel + Leisure’s national recognition highlights how this authentic, slow-smoked flavor rivals Texas and KC, proving barbecue’s rich regional diversity—and why you’ve got to try it if you’re ever near the Central Coast. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow…