When Santa Barbara Smoke Meets West Hollywood Chic
On Sunday, August 17, 2025, the world of wood-fired Santa Maria barbecue and elegant Los Angeles dining collide in a one-night-only culinary spectacle. A.O.C., the celebrated Third Street restaurant from Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne, is welcoming none other than Frank Ostini of the legendary Hitching Post 2.
With his iconic red oak-fired rig in tow, Ostini is making the trek from Buellton to West Hollywood to deliver a Santa Maria BBQ and wine cookout experience like no other—melding rustic fire cooking with haute market cuisine.
For aficionados of refined dining with a Central Coast soul, this is more than a dinner—it’s an event.
A Culinary Dream Team Lights Up West Hollywood
When Suzanne Goin and Frank Ostini team up, expectations run high—and this special Sunday Supper event promises to overdeliver. At $125 per guest with an optional $65 wine pairing, the dinner offers a luxury experience without pretense, nestled in the chic atmosphere of A.O.C. on West 3rd Street.
Chef Ostini, revered for his red oak-grilled meats at Hitching Post 2, will co-create the menu alongside Goin. The dinner begins with Goin’s vibrant starters like albacore ceviche with avocado, lime, and cilantro, paired with Hitching Post’s fresh Pet Nat Rosé Valdiguié 2024, followed by a heirloom tomato tart elevated with tapenade and fromage blanc.
But the fire truly starts with Frank’s signature red oak–grilled duck breast, pork chop, and prime New York steak. Goin’s farm-fresh sides—think cornbread pudding, smoked tomato butter, and pine nut pistou—round out the dishes, while dessert closes the night with a decadent crème fraîche panna cotta topped with summer stone fruit and berries.
“There’s nothing quite like the flavor that comes off Frank’s grill,”
Suzanne Goin
“We’re thrilled to share that experience with our guests in a setting like A.O.C.”
Sip Like a Central Coast Insider
This Santa Maria BBQ & Wine Cookout wouldn’t be complete without the wines that made Hitching Post a household name—especially after their star turn in Sideways. Frank Ostini’s longtime winemaking partner, Gray Hartley, will be personally pouring selections from their acclaimed library.
Expect rare pours like the 2003 Highliner Pinot Noir alongside newer vintages such as the 2021 “Perfect Set” Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills, showing just how well Hitching Post wines age.
“Our wines are meant to be enjoyed with food and friends,”
Hartley
“There’s no better place for that than A.O.C. with Suzanne and Caroline.”
Tickets for this unique evening are available via OpenTable Experiences or by calling the restaurant directly at 310.859.9859.
A Night Worth Traveling For
From Aspen to Manhattan, food-lovers in-the-know are circling August 17 on their calendars. For those seeking elevated yet earthy cuisine, the Santa Maria BBQ and wine cookout at A.O.C. is a culinary pilgrimage worth taking.
In a city that has seen every kind of pop-up and chef collab, this stands out as a singular blend of old-school California grilling and market-driven refinement. And with just one seating, it’s also one of the summer’s hottest tickets.
A.O.C.’s stylish space, known for its intimate garden patio and warm wood interiors, will provide the perfect backdrop for smoky meats, stellar wines, and coastal camaraderie.
Reservations Are a Must
For diners from Chicago to Hong Kong with a palate for open-flame cooking and boutique pinot noir, this is the ultimate summer dinner party. As the flames flicker and the pinots swirl, guests will taste the magic that happens when culinary legends come together for one unforgettable night.
Call A.O.C. at 310.859.9859 or reserve your table via OpenTable Experience.
