Chefs Compete in Mango Challenge Focused on Regional Cuisine

ORLANDO, Fla., April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Mango Board (NMB) is celebrating regional cuisines with an inspirational ingredient – mangos. The world's most popular fruit will be featured in the Mango Hometown Tour, a program that enlists the help of top local chefs who will be incorporating the naturally sweet flavor of mangos into a regional dish.

Two chefs in each of six cities will be challenged to create a recipe that reflects the best of their region. The chefs will participate in a taste-off to see whose mango dish truly highlights mango goodness and captures the regional flair.

At each stop along the way, local retailers will be part of the action as well. Besides showcasing seasonal mango varieties, they will provide consumers with resources like recipes, tips for selecting and cutting a mango, as well as fresh ingredients that complement the fruit's bright flavor.

The Mango Hometown Tour is set:

• St. Louis, MO – May 6-7: In a city deemed the "Gateway to the West," Chefs Nick Miller and Josh Galliano will compete to create a recipe that captures the essence of New American cuisine. Galliano of Monarch combines unique cooking techniques and flavors to create a modern-take on American cuisine. At his restaurant, Harvest, Miller emphasizes the use of seasonal products to create delectable dishes. Local retail partner, Schnuck's, will offer useful tips and tricks to help consumers enjoy mangos at home.  
• Charlotte, NC – May 13-14: In a place known for its Southern charm, Fran Scibelli and Chef Tom Condron are challenged to create a dish that infuses mangos into their upscale southern cooking. Scibelli, lawyer-turned-restaurateur, is known for delivering her signature eclectic American food to customers at Fran's Filling Station and has been a local favorite for years. Condron, co-owner and executive chef at The Liberty, serves up delectable Southern fare in this hip South End gastropub. Harris Teeter grocery stores will inspire Charlotte consumers to enjoy the fruit at home with recipes and other helpful resources.
• Portland, OR – June 17-18: Food truck restaurateurs Chef Bo Kwon and Addy Bittner will face off to create a mango dish reflective of America's premier food truck city. Kwon's Koi Fusion serves up Korean-style tacos at his two carts, a stationary location and a catering division. Bittner, owner of Addy's Sandwich Bar, draws in customers with her unique pairing of European flavors and quality ingredients. In Portland, consumers can find mangos at Fred Meyer, where they can take home creative but simple cooking ideas.
• Tampa, FL – July 8-9: Chef Ferrell Alvarez and Chef Christopher Ponte will pay homage to their city's diverse roots by creating tantalizing fusion dishes featuring mangos. At Cafe Dufrain, Alvarez serves up contemporary American fusion cuisine with a magnificent waterfront view. Ponte creates a luscious meld of Asian, Italian and European flavors at his Tampa Bay restaurant, Cafe Ponte. Tampa's Sweetbay Supermarket will feature exciting mango displays and usage ideas in each store, to help consumers bring home some mango magic.
• Cleveland, OH – July 29-30: In a city where the food is as great as the lakes, Chef Steve Schimoler and Chef Jonathan Bennett are challenged to create seafood dishes paired with fresh mangos. Schimoler's Crop Bistro & Bar is known for its fun, inventive culinary creations starring fresh local fare. Bennett's Moxie, the Restaurant, features imaginative New American cuisine with a fresh take on a variety of complex yet simple seafood dishes. Cleveland retail partner, Giant Eagle, will help consumers find the freshest mangos and show them the best ways to select, cut and prepare mangos at home.
• Hartford, CT – August 26-27: Surrounded by a Mecca of universities and colleges, it is no surprise that Hartford's food scene is known for late night dining. That's why we've challenged Chef Chris Torla and Chef Billy Grant to give their late night fare a mango makeover suitable for all hours. As partner and executive chef at Trumbull Kitchen, Torla's menu draws on various cultures to create dishes bursting with flavor. At all three of Grant's Hartford establishments, Restaurant Bricco, Grant's Restaurant and Bar and Bricco Trattoria, his offerings incorporate fresh, seasonal items into each dish. Price Chopper will help Hartford customers learn all about mangos, helping them bring home a taste of the tropics.

"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 National Mango Board. "It will be exciting to see how the chefs incorporate mangos into their unique cooking styles and local cuisines."

Not only are mangos delicious, they serve as an excellent source of vitamins A and C and a good source of dietary fiber with only 100 calories per one cup serving.

The NMB will be providing updates on the tour and offering opportunities for the public to get involved in the action. Visit www.mango.org/hometowntour for additional information on the Mango Hometown Tour including dates, location information, event highlights, photos and videos.

About National Mango Board

The National Mango Board is a national promotion and research organization, which is supported by assessments from both domestic and imported mangos. The board was designed to drive awareness and consumption of fresh mangos in the U.S. One cup of mango is only 100 calories, an excellent source of vitamins A and C, a good source of fiber and an amazing source of tropical flavor.

Mango availability per capita has quadrupled since 1990 to an estimated 2.24 pounds per year in 2010.  Mango import volume for 2010 was 770 million pounds.  Learn more at www.mango.org.

SOURCE National Mango Board