Original Hitching Post And The Hitching Post Ii Restaurants Recognized As The 2008 California Beef Backer Award Winner

California Cattle Producers Recognize Casmalia and Buellton Locations as Best Beef Restaurants in the State


SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Hitching Post restaurant in Casmalia and sister restaurant, The Hitching Post II in Buellton have been recognized as the recipient of the 2008 California Beef Backer Award by the California Beef Council (CBC).

Established in 2000, the California Beef Backer Award recognizes restaurants that promote beef and the beef industry through innovative menuing, promotions, and delicious beef entr�es that draw customers back time after time. The award is selected from a committee of beef industry leaders annually to honor restaurants that demonstrate a commitment to outstanding beef marketing and menuing.

The Hitching Post was first opened by Frank and Natalie Ostini in 1952. Located in Casmalia, a once thriving farming community on the California coast, the restaurant popularized regional "Santa Maria Style Barbecue," a tradition dating back to the Spanish Rancheros. Seasoning meats with the family secret blend of spices and grilling them over a hot red-oak wood fire became their signature recipe for steaks that is now world renowned. The Ostini children, Bill, Bob and Terri currently operate the original Hitching Post in Casmalia. Frank Ostini Jr. became sole owner of the family's second location, The Hitching Post II, in Buellton, in 1993, and continues to preserve the family tradition while producing award-winning Hitching Post wines to complement the restaurant's dishes.

"The Ostini family has created a unique tradition of serving and promoting high quality beef in innovative and creative ways that ensure their patrons an excellent beef eating experience," said Jim Maxey, 2008 chairman of the CBC. "They have been a loyal partner to the beef industry and are deserving of this award." The original Hitching Post in Casmalia and The Hitching Post II's hand-cut steaks grilled over a red-oak wood fire and seasoned with their unique blend of salt and spices are truly some of the best steaks anywhere.

Both restaurants are celebrated for their innovation as well as tradition. The Hitching Post II, which is known for its blend of traditional and contemporary culinary styles, is also famous for its winery, featuring their Hitching Post Pinot Noir "Highliner." The winery has grown in reputation and size to produce over 15 bottlings yearly from the best vineyards in Santa Barbara County and offers them directly from their restaurant Web site, www.hitchingpost2.com along with other signature products, including the restaurant's "Magic Dust" seasoning and Smoked Tomato Pesto.

The Casmalia Hitching Post recently launched www.hitchingpostproducts.com with the new BBQ2YOU in September 2008, offering a variety of Hitching Post favorite dishes and making them available anywhere in the United States. Ordered from their Web site, the world-famous Hitching Post steaks, artichokes and ribs are prepared to Santa Maria Style perfection, flash frozen and air-shipped anywhere in the United States.

For more information about The Hitching Post in Casmalia and BBQ2YOU, visit www.hitchingpost1.com or www.hitchingpostproducts.com. For more information about The Hitching Post II Restaurant and Winery in Buellton, visit www.hitchingpost2.com. For more information about the California Beef Council and the California Beef Backer Award program as well as a list of past Beef Backer Award-winning restaurants, visit www.calbeef.org.

Electronic images available upon request.

The California Beef Council (CBC) was established in 1954 to serve as the promotion, research, and education arm of the California beef industry, and is mandated by the California Food and Ag