After the mango tastings, we wandered over to "The Gallery" building for a culinary demonstration by Charles Podesta from Marcanio's European Deli & Caffe in Coconut Grove. Chef Podesta whipped up some mouth watering risotto with sweet mango sauce for the attendees.

The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden covers over 80 acres of prime South Florida real estate, so we broke away from the crowds at the mango festival and went exploring. Some of the must see areas of Fairchild are the Butterfly Garden, the Bamboo Collection, the Jewels of the Caribbean, the Spiny Forest of Madagascar, the Rainforest, and the Tropical Flower Garden.

Getting into the Mango Festival cost $20 per person but we then took their offer to apply that fee to the cost of a $70 "Associate Plus" membership. The membership allows the two of us free entrance for one year or she (the member) can go with one guest.

Miami isn't the only city to hold a Mango Festival. A few of the other cities that have similar events include Delhi in India, Deerfield Beach in Florida, Cebu in the Philippines and Negril in Jamaica. Mangos are big business in India since the country provides more than 50% of the world's supply. From what I've read, the Delhi festival is a mango lover's Graceland.

The Fairchild Garden is open every day of the year and worth the visit anytime, but for some more excitement you could attend one of the special events such as "No End To The Banana", Butterfly Days, the Bonsai Show, the Halloween Bash, the Family Harvest Day, the International Orchid Festival and the Chocolate Festival.

For more pictures please check out my Dale Chihuly Blown Glass Art @ Fairchild update or my Kanapaha Botanical Gardens - Gainesville, FL gallery. If you're ever in the Miami or Coral Gables area, be sure to go visit the Fairchild.