Nick and Sharity Wojtow are a husband-and-wife team that are passionate about sustainable farming and healthy eating. So much so, the couple’s goal with Familyfarm2you is to “source the best 100% grass-fed beef, pastured pork and other farm fresh foods on the West Coast and bring those products locally all the while supporting the small-scale family farmer.”
Familyfarm2you is one of many great vendors who serve up fresh food each Friday at the Mission Viejo Farmers Market.
“We feel it’s important to support ‘all’ local farmers throughout the country,” Nick said. “All of our beef comes from the beautiful Willamette Valley wine country, which is known for producing most of the nation’s grass seed and beautiful pastures.”
The beef comes from the MckRanch grass farm and cattle ranch, a sustainable operation that uses no artificial irrigation.
“All of their cattle are 100% grass fed, fattened and finished,” he said, noting that the beef they sell is antibiotic and hormone free and quite delicious. In fact, it is dry-aged for 21 days like meat you find in high-end restaurants, he said.
The farm sells roasts, steaks, Tri Tip, Brisket, short ribs, ground beef, nitrite-free hot dogs and more. They offer fresh and frozen cuts.
Along with outstanding vendors, Friday’s market will also feature the talents of singer/songwriter Philip Bardowell, who was influenced early on by songwriting greats – The Beatles, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, The Eagles, Queen, Earth Wind And Fire and Bob Marley. In his youth, he formed a band with actor John Stamos and later backed the legendary surf duo Jan and Dean as their bassist and vocalist. Mike Love of the Beach Boys hired Philip to serve as lead guitarist and vocalist for The Beach Boys.
While enjoying the live entertainment and a host of vendors, be sure to also drop by Chef Ted Rodriguez’s “Flavor Rush” food truck for some good eats. French cuisine captured the chef’s palette early in life and he attended the prestigious French Culinary Institute in New York, learning from masters like Jacques Pepin, Andrea Soultnor and Jacques Torres. His menu changes weekly but patrons will find fare like scallops and abalone; lentil soup; and croissants stuffed with cheese and tomato served with fries and a hint of French truffle.
The Mission Viejo Farmers Market takes place each Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Civic Center parking lot, 200 Civic Center.
For more information, visit http://cityofmissionviejo.org/farmersmarket.
