The Hitching Post 2, in collaboration with LA Loves Alex’s Lemonade, hosted a Sideways BBQ to celebrate the 20th year of the movie over the weekend. Frank Ostini hosted the dinner at his Buellton restaurant, which was featured in the Oscar-winning film, alongside special guest BBQ legend Aaron Franklin from Austin, Texas.
The afternoon included a raw bar by David Lentz and world-famous sea urchin diver Stephanie Mutz, breads, cheese, and charcuterie from Bob’s Well Bread Bakery, artichoke and smoked pork loin pizzas by Jill Davie and Clarke Staub from Full of Life Flatbread.
BBQ from local Nick Priedite of Priedite Barbecue, Franklin, and Ostini included Texas brisket, pulled pork, sausages, and smoked duck for the West by Southwest buffet, with sides by Texan Jason Paluska of The Lark, like sweet and spicy pickles, fennel cabbage slaw, and roasted Anaheim chili cornbread with honey butter. Brad Lettau, a chef at the restaurant for 40 years, came out of retirement to lend his expertise to the Santa Maria style BBQ.
Raw bar with from left: David Lentz, Stephanie Mutz and diver Trent Petterson (Michele Stueven)
Dessert from Valerie Gordon included Durango cookies and strawberry rhubarb pie, plus the local McConnell’s ice cream truck was on hand with a selection of flavors that included Eureka lemon and marionberry.
Wineries and winemakers will include Hitching Post, Foxen, Au Bon Climat, Alma Rose, Fess Parker, and Whitcraft.
“Being here at the Hitching Post 2, I feel like I’m looking into my own future,” Franklin told LA Weekly as he stoked the fire. “It’s been here so long, and the amount of love that is in this place is incredible.”
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of 4-year-old Alexandra Scott, who was fighting cancer and wanted to raise money to find cures for all children with cancer. Her spirit and determination inspired others to support her cause, and when she passed away at the age of 8, she had raised $1 million. Since then, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement. Today, ALSF is one of the leading funders of pediatric cancer research in the U.S. and Canada, raising more than $175 million so far, funding nearly 1,000 research projects, and providing programs to families affected by childhood cancer.
Jill Davie from Full of Life Flatbread (Michele Stueven)
Each year, chef Suzanne Goin and partner Caroline Styne hold a massive fundraising cookout on the UCLA campus with famous chefs to benefit the foundation. This couple’s night BBQ event at The Hitching Post 2 alone raised $75,000 at the 2024 LA Loves Alex’s Lemonade auction
“Alex was my big sister and was two years older than me, “ her brother, Eddie Scott, told LA Weekly while nibbling on a Full of Life Flatbread pizza. “She never really knew how she started something bigger than all of us. My sister would be overwhelmed to see how big it has grown and how many people have become so dedicated to the cause. Not many people can say that their sister changed the world. She is still the biggest inspiration in my life.”
Go behind the scenes in our photo gallery.
West by Southwest BBQ (Michele Stueven)
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