SoCo FARMERS' MARKET + FIXTURES LIVING GRAND OPENING = A 'FOODIE' WONDERLAND

Yesterday I had the opportunity to photograph one of my favorite subjects - food.  And, not just any ol' food - oh no.  This was delicious (and dare I say, nutritious!), gourmet cuisine created by the team at the SoCo Farmers' Market using nothing but the freshest ingredients found that same morning in the market. Everything was prepared during a series of live cooking demos during the Grand Opening of the all-new, ultra-modern home appliance store Fixtures Living in the SoCo Collection in Costa Mesa, California.

This self-proclaimed 'foodie' photographer was in heaven.

Ingredients ranged from vibrant 'Pluots' (Plum/Apricot hybrids), to locally-sourced honey, to non-pasteurized almond butter and so much more.  My senses were on overload. The fresh produce - particularly the ripe figs & just-picked cherry tomatoes - took me back to my days of living in Rome, Italy.  I'd forgotten just how good produce can taste when it isn't pumped full of chemicals and too much water (like the majority of the mass-produced produce you find in chain supermarkets around the U.S.!).  Basically - I knew it was a good, flavorful produce they were serving up when kids at the cooking demo were willing to devour the raw zucchini! That's the good stuff.

So, next Saturday when you're tempted to drive over to your local grocery store for your weekly stock-up... do yourself a favor. Take a lil' detour and visit the SoCo Farmers' Market instead. It's good - it's affordable - you will help support local farmers - AND you can visit Fixtures Living (and the rest of the amazing stores in the SoCo Collection & OC Mart Mix) for some home-decor inspiration while you're there!

SoCo Farmers' Market, Every Saturday from 9am - 2pm at 3315 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Connect with them on Facebook and Twitter!