this is how i serve mango to my family and my guests. cut the fleshy sides off the pit, make diagonal cuts on the flesh and serve with a maraschino cherry. scoop the flesh. eating the remaining flesh off the pit is tricky, though, or rather unglamorous so sometimes i don't serve it but save them for myself later on.
this is 'ataulfo' mango, from mexico, the closest one to philippine mango as they are closely related. during the spanish colonization of the philippines, they conquerors loved this variety of mango that they brought tree cuttings to mexico where the mangoes were then cultivated, mexico having almost identical climate as the philippines.
when i arrived in toronto twenty-five years ago, as i passed through customs, i saw a family of five huddled in a corner busily eating a big box of mangoes. customs agents wouldn't let them in with the mangoes - either they eat them before they're admitted or the mangoes will be discarded, so they ate away.
this is also the type of mango that is so delicious to eat when it's not ripe yet, the sourness is heavenly, especially when eaten with shrimp paste, and downed with coca-cola!
Shrimp paste and coca cola?! Nah ... just give it to me plain and ripe and sweet! Beautiful and lush looking photo. I must admit that I found mangoes hard to clean off the skin and the pit. Does that mean that they weren't ripe enough?!
I think you need to take photos for food magazines!!! Food photos are tough -- yet you master them with ease! YUM!!! I want to eat everything you post!!
I guess mango with shrimp and coke is an acquired taste. I think I'd rather have it with the cherry and some fresh whipped cream! Nice shot though. I think I might have to have some tomorrow!
i agree with the comment about you taking food shots. always look appealing even if i don't care for the food and that takes some doing. love mango but truth be told, holly always prepares it and we put it into fruit salads.
@karenann - most probably. mango should be firm but also on the soft side. when you press it lightly your finger should leave a very faint dent. usually, i place them on my fruit container on the table for a few days just to ripen them some more. thank you, karenann.
@roth - well, others would just peel off the skin like a banana. but the juice would trickle all over your hand and arm and plus it's not so glamorous to eat it this way. thank you, sue.
@cscecil - hehehehe! thank you for such generous comment, CS. and i appreciate your confidence in me. just the other day i was telling my partner, and this morning to a good friend at the office, that i fell so bad to realize that i am good at anything i set my heart to do, but not good enough to excel in it. it's like i'm a jack of all trades but a master of none. but i suppose that's better than being no good at anything at all. thank you again, CS.
@catsmeowb - thank you, camille, for that vote of confidence. it's making me feel good already. i do appreciate it. if only it was possible to send all of my 365 friends mango, i would. sadly, it isn't possible soi will just eat one for each of you. hehe!
@sarasdadandmom - no? as i just told camille, if only it was possible to send you some, but your customs people are so strict! i mean these mangoes come from mexico and they travel by truck through the US! well, if you're ever in toronto one of these days let me know, i'll get to taste a mango or two! thank you, terry.
