Chefs to Vie in Regional Mango Challenge
The National Mango Board (NMB) is highlighting regional cuisines’ dishes including mangos. The tropical fruit is the star of the Mango Hometown Tour, which recruits top local chefs to create regional dish showcasing the popular ingredient.
Two chefs in each of six cities will develop a recipe representing their respective regions. The chefs will then take part in a taste-off to see whose mango dish truly highlights mango goodness and captures the regional flair.
At each stop, local retailers will also participate. In addition to displaying seasonal mango varieties, they’ll offer consumers such resources as recipes, tips for choosing and cutting mangos, and additional ingredients that enhance the fruit’s bright flavor.
The Mango Hometown Tour will take place in the following markets:
St. Louis, May 6-7: Chefs Nick Miller and Josh Galliano will face off, while local retail partner Schnucks will offer useful tips and tricks to help consumers enjoy mangos at home.
Charlotte, N.C., May 13-14: Lawyer-turned-restaurateur Fran Scibelli and chef Tom Condron will compete; Harris Teeter will offer recipes and other helpful resources.
Portland, Ore., June 17-18: Food-truck owners Chef Bo Kwon and Addy Bittner will go head to head; Fred Meyer will creative but simple cooking ideas.
Tampa, Fla., July 8-9: Chefs Ferrell Alvarez and Christopher Ponte are competing; Sweetbay Supermarket will feature exciting mango displays and usage ideas in its stores.
Cleveland, July 29-30: Chefs Steve Schimoler and Jonathan Bennett offer up dueling seafood dishes; Giant Eagle will help consumers find the freshest mangos and show them the best ways to select, cut and prepare mangos at home.
Hartford, Conn., Aug. 26-27: Chefs Chris Torla and Billy Grant provide their own versions of late-night fare; Price Chopper will offer customers helpful mango information.
“The Mango Hometown Tour gives us the opportunity to work with chefs to showcase how versatile mangos are,” said Wendy McManus, director of marketing for the Orlando, Fla.-based NMB, a national promotion and research organization. “It will be exciting to see how the chefs incorporate mangos into their unique cooking styles and local cuisines.”
As well as being tasty, mangoes are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, and a good source of dietary fiber, with just 100 calories per one-cup serving.
The NMB is providing tour updates, in addition to opportunities for the public to get involved. Visit www.mango.org/hometowntour for more information on the tour, including dates, location information, event highlights, photos and videos. For more information, visit www.mango.org.