A cut above the rest, Mike Van Loo knows meat and seafood. It’s been his life-long career, which began when he was 13-years-old pushing a broom in a butcher shop near Tillamook.

He learned a lot during those formative years, and today he’s Market of Choice’s Meat Manager, serving customers at the Corvallis store. He joined the Market of Choice team 19 years ago.

In addition to his vast knowledge of beef, pork, lamb, buffalo, poultry and seafood, Mike is also an excellent cook. If you’re in a rush and looking for a quick, easy meal, Mike is the man with the plan. From basic cooking tips to complete recipes, he’s always happy to help. It’s the best part of his job, he says.

“I enjoy interacting with customers one-on-one and I love to cook. I like sharing recipes with people, and I like it when they share theirs with me.”

Many Market of Choice stores, including Corvallis, offer full-service meat and seafood counters full of beautifully displayed steaks, chops, chicken, sausages, fresh seafood and much more. Many items are already seasoned, marinated, stuffed and ready for the pan or grill.

“I’m all about flavor,” says Mike, who has created recipes for many of the hand-prepared items, including a delicious glazed pork roast stuffed with apricots and prunes. Ask for it the next time you visit your Market. “Just cover it and put it in the oven for an hour,” he says.

When he’s not behind the meat and seafood counter, Mike enjoys spending time on his 80-acre farm in Yoncalla. An animal lover and gardener, his farm includes more than 500 varieties of dahlias. He also grows vegetables and spices, which end up on his table alongside the meats from his Market.