Jan Norris: Food and Florida

Susser

Don’t know a mamey from a mangosteen? Want to know how big a jaboticaba gets? Get to the Mounts Botanical Gardens Saturday for their annual Tropical Fruit Festival, sponsored by the Palm Beach County Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council.

Allen Susser, one of the original Mango Gang chefs of Miami, will be on hand at the Mounts in collaboration with Whole Foods Market for the festival, giving two cooking demos. He’ll be on hand to talk about mangoes and other fruits.

Expect plenty of exhibits, samples of tropical fruit (as long as they last), a sampling table from Whole Foods Market – a co-sponsor – and sales of tropical fruit trees and edible plants. Master gardeners will be on hand to answer questions from backyard gardeners.

One of the gems of the Mounts Botanical Gardens is the bookstore – and cookbooks for tropicals and other plants are for sale.

Cost is $5 with an additional $5 for cooking demos. Seating is limited and on first-come, first-served basis.

Tropical Fruit Festival

• When: Saturday, June 23, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Where: Mounts Botanical Gardens, 531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach
• Cost: Admission, $5; cooking demonstrations, $5 – limited seating.
• Information: www.mounts.org