If there’s any one thing considered synonymous with Santa Maria, it’s got to be barbecue—and few people have helped expose the rest of the world to the local culinary tradition the way Susan Righetti has.
For the past 30 years, through her Susie Q’s Brand line of retail products, Righetti has supplied folks far and wide with all the ingredients they need to enjoy the authentic Santa Maria-style barbecue experience at home.
“We have shipped orders all over the world, from the Middle East to Japan,” Righetti said in a press release. “We were once asked to ship a case of our seasoning overnight to Holland.”
Daughter of local luminaries Clarence and Rosalie Minetti, Righetti grew up on the family ranch in the Santa Maria Valley. Inspired by and wanting to preserve the tradition, Righetti launched Susie Q’s in 1981, with the backing of her husband Paul, a local rancher.
Her first products were locally grown pinquito beans, which she at first supplied solely to her parents’ Far Western Tavern restaurant in Guadalupe. A year later, Righetti brought Susie Q’s to the masses through mail order catalogs, and in 1983, her beans made the pages of USA Today. The mention served as the launching pad to the company’s success, and today Righetti ships orders all over the world.
In addition to the original pinquito beans, Susie Q’s has expanded to include signature seasonings, salsas, sauces, grilling chips, Santa Maria-style beef jerky, pie mix, and more, sold online and in retail stores throughout the state. Susie Q’s Brand products have been featured in a number of food magazines, as well as on the Food Network show BBQ with Bobby Flay and others.
To this day, Susie Q’s remains close to its local roots. Righetti’s daughters and grandchildren have a hand in the day-to-day business, which is still headquartered in Santa Maria.
“Business has grown steadily over the past 30 years, but we’re still a small family operation at heart,” Righetti said. “And we never get tired of celebrating and sharing the flavors of Santa Maria-style barbecue with others.”
Susie Q’s Brand can be found at local Albertsons, Vons, Costco, Foods Co., Food 4 Less, Spencer’s Fresh Markets, and other grocery stores throughout the Central Coast.
For recipes, grilling tips, and more information, visit susieqbrand.com.
Highlights
• The public is invited to display cars, trucks, and motorcycles at the 17th annual Santa Maria Elks Car Show, set for June 25 at the Elks Lodge from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All proceeds from the event will benefit Elks’ charities. Entrants must be at least 16 years old. Early registration is $25 per entry if postmarked before June 14.
Food and beverages will be available at the event, as will a live DJ, vendors, raffle prizes, and drawings. There will also be a Relay for Life Pancake Breakfast for a $5 donation to the American Cancer Society.
Awards will be handed out at 2 p.m. in categories including Best Custom Car, Participants Choice, Best Rod, Exalted Ruler’s Choice, the Bobby Payne Memorial Award, Best Motorcycle, and Best of Show.
Elks Lodge 1538 is at 1309 N. Bradley Road in Santa Maria.
For more information, call Bob Oathout at 934-2245 or Keith Barks at 928-5823.
• Community Partners in Caring, a nonprofit group serving seniors on the Central Coast, will hold its annual fundraising dinner on June 11 at the Radisson Hotel in Santa Maria.
The Camelot-themed event begins at 5:30 p.m. and includes a silent and live auction. Dinner follows at 6:30 p.m. and includes special musical performances.
Tickets cost $100 and can be purchased at the Community Partners in Caring office at 111 South I St., suite C1, in Lompoc, or by calling 925-8000.
For more information, call 737-1976.
Biz Spotlight/Highlights are written and compiled by Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Jun 2-9, 2011.