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Santa Maria is most noted for its wine and barbecue. The tri-tip steak has its roots in Santa Maria and is often still known simply as "Santa Maria steak." The tri-tip is a cut of beef from the bottom sirloin. It is a small triangular muscle, usually 1.5 to 2.5 lbs. 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 it became a local specialty in Santa Maria. "Santa Maria Style" barbecue is usually used in reference to the seasoning of tri-tip when rubbed with salt, pepper, and spices and cooked whole on a rotisserie or grilled over local red oak wood. Santa Maria, along with neighboring Lompoc, Los Alamos and Santa Ynez Valleys, combine to create one of the nation's largest wine-producing regions. This northern Santa Barbara County enclave, which has recently been in the spotlight with the production of 2004's movie Sideways, is often referred to as "Santa Barbara" wine country because it is in Santa Barbara County. Santa Maria's Allan Hancock College is home to the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA), a noted theatrical school and production company. This institution not only provides professional theatre year round but also trains acting and technical artisans for careers in the theatre. The two-year program is the only one of its kind offered by a community college. Unlike most university programs in partnership with professional companies, PCPA fully integrates its resident artists into the studios, shops, and classrooms providing each student with direct mentorship experiences in their area of specialization. The PCPA student learns from, and most importantly, learns with working professionals. Santa Maria is home to one of the main two locations of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court - the other is at Santa Barbara. From 2003 until 2005 the court in Santa Maria handled a felony complaint against Michael Jackson. Santa Maria was selected because the nearest courthouse was deemed to be too small to accommodate the trial and media. Also since the alleged offense took place in northern Santa Barbara County, the District Attorney chose to have it in the city of Santa Maria. Jackson's Neverland Ranch is closer to Santa Maria compared to Santa Barbara.
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