California Cooking

Santa Maria Barbecue (a.k.a. Santa Maria BBQ) 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 tri-tip or sirloin is paired with beans, salad, garlic bread, and salsa fresca to make a crave-inducing meal.

This simple puree of artichoke hearts in broth with a bit of garlic and cream makes one of the tastiest soups imaginable.

Try this warm and cozy San Francisco classic -- tomato-based seafood stew made with the day's catch.

The All-American Cobb salad was first created at The Brown Derby in Los Angeles.

Roasted garlic is easy to make and has many uses - as a spread, appetizer, addition to roasts, savory base of salad dressings, and garnish for soups.