Buellton Steaks

The Hitching Post in Buellton turns out great steaks, seasoned with its own blend of spices and grilled over oak. For most of us, a Hitching Post steak is a rare treat that requires a long drive up the coast. Happily, that is changing. The restaurant has just started shipping cooked steaks to central and southern California. The meat is seasoned and grilled to order (rare is recommended), then chilled, packed and shipped overnight, arriving in the morning. Reheating instructions are included. Five minutes per side in the oven made the New York steak pictured here just about perfect.

Other steaks and pork back ribs are available, too. Whatever you order, be sure to add the restaurant’s artichokes with spicy smoked tomato mayonnaise. The Hitching Post steams the chokes and halves and seasons them with butter, lemon, white wine and the house seasoning blend. Then they too go on the grill. Dipped in the mayonnaise, which is flavored with tomatoes smoke-dried at the restaurant and ancho chiles, they’re as special as the steaks.

Two (10-ounce) New York steaks are $30; two (5-ounce) filet mignon steaks are $20; two (7-ounce) top sirloin steaks are $15. Pork back ribs are $20 for two (1.5-pound) sides; four artichokes with spicy smoked tomato mayonnaise are $20. Add sales tax and $14 shipping charge. Place orders two days in advance by calling the Hitching Post at (888) 429-6300.