During the Geography Department’s recent fall barbecue, one of our new graduate students peered into the barbecue pit and asked our Master Chef Dan Montello if he was grilling turkeys. Dan later admitted that he was sorely tempted to say yes, but, upon reflection, remembered that tri-tip (as Californians know this cut of bottom sirloin) had its origins in Central California and would, indeed, be a “mystery meat” to most foreigners.
A whole tri-tip is a triangular cut of muscle located at the bottom of the sirloin, it weighs 2-4 pounds, and there is only one per side of beef. “In the United States, this cut was typically used for ground beef or sliced into steaks until the late 1950s, when Otto Schaefer marketed it [whole] in Oakland, California. Shortly thereafter, it became a local specialty in Santa Maria, California, rubbed with salt, pepper, fresh garlic, and other seasonings, grilled directly over red oak wood to medium-rare. Other nontraditional preparations include being roasted whole on a rotisserie, smoked in a pit, baked in an oven, grilled, or braised in a Dutch oven after searing on a grill. After cooking, the meat is normally sliced across the grain before serving. Often labeled “Santa Maria steak”, the roast is most popular in the Central Coast of California and Central Valley regions of California and has begun to enjoy increasing favor elsewhere for its full flavor, lower fat content, and comparatively lower cost” (source).
Of course, the UCSB Geography Department barbecues aren’t just about tri-tip. Balmy weather, a beautiful setting, and bodacious food conspired to make Geography’s 2013 Fall BBQ one of the best ever. The shindig was held at Goleta Beach Park on Friday, Oct 4, 3:30 pm – sundown, and it provided a golden opportunity for old and new faculty, grads, alumni, and staff to interact with each other in an informal manner.
While the tradition of holding “get togethers” for Geography personnel goes back to the very beginning of the Department, the tradition of holding a barbecue at the beginning and the end of the school year began when Joel Michaelsen was Chair, 1992-1997. Whatever the pedigree, such events are part of the glue that binds members of the department together. To paraphrase the cliché, a department that plays together stays together!
Editor’s note: The accompanying photos are just a few of the 40+ candid shots taken by the editor, and graduate student Jeong-Hyun Kim has chipped in another 25. If anyone else has some others they’d care to share, please send them to Bill Norrington. All the photos of the 2013 Fall BBQ will be posted on our Event Photo page.
Article by Bill Norrington
