We got there just 30 minutes after they opened this time, we learned from last year's mistake of showing up around noon and parking a mile away. I had planned to meet up with some of my coworkers from when I worked at CIS. As planned all three of them showed up with their families.
At the mango tasting event they had mangoes we could taste and rate. Here's this years list of what they had. I think this is complete. I went through the first time and they didn't have the Glenn. The Glenn had been my favorite mango before this week. The first time I went through they didn't have the Glenn out. So I had to go back in to get some Glenn and revote. Here's what they had and how I rated them.
- Glenn (1)
- Kent (2)
- Mallika
- Palmer (4)
- Ataulfo (5) This one gets a five because I'm burned out on Ataulfo's.
- Lucknow (3)
- Hatcher
- BP 19-21, from Israel, it was alright.
- Peach, way too fiberous, too much pit, not enough fruit.
- Big Satiun, too bitter, waste of money.
- Valencia Pride, Now my favorite. This mango was so sweet and juicy. I have a VP tree which should hold fruit next year.
- Hatcher
- Julie, pretty good mango.
- Bombay, really good and sweet.
- Bailey Marvel, really good and peachy flavor.
- Glenn, still one of my favorites.
After tasting mangoes we walked around, ate, and went to the butterfly garden. The staff at the butterfly garden tried to tell us all that it's better than Butterfly World. They are smoking some serious crack. It was just alright. And the staff were rude, pushy, and pushing people through the lines like it was a Nazi camp. On top of that it was so crowded everyone was pushing their stinky sweaty bodies up against each other.
After we all got through the butterfly garden we got rained on. For ten minute we just stood/sat there in the rain and took it. Eventually it rained so hard we had to go inside for a half hour. We waited it out and then went to buy some mango snacks before leaving. We were on a mission to find mango pie. This year, no mango pie. We did get some mango smoothies and chocolate mango balls though. The mango balls were good. I bought the spicy ones. I'll be trying to make some soon. Basically its blended mango, ginger, and lime juice with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper, formed into a ball, and covered in chocolate and frozen. When biting into it it's a nice sweet flavor with a slight after burn when the cayenne hits.
After buying our snacks we decided we needed to get moving again quick. A good call. As soon as I got the stroller in the back of the car the clouds opened up again. If we had gotten there late like the year before, and parked any further back, we would have had another ten minute walk in the rain.
After the tasting event we were waiting outside for other friends to show up and this African Rainbow Lizard came over to see what's going on.
Adri, Sophia, and Annabell playing.
All the girls together again. Last time they were all together was at Key Biscayne in Feb 2011.
Of course when we said "All the girls", Kiko had to get in the picture.
I am really happy about the mangoes.
That Valencia Pride on the left is the single best mango I have ever had in my life.
These mangoes weren't for sale. This was at the mangoes from around the world event. The next day they actioned off the plates. I heard the year before someone paid over $550 for a plate of Champagne mangoes. Ripoff if you ask me. I think the 3rd plate on the left are Alfonso mangoes. Like I mentioned in last year's post, I have an Alphonso tree but have still never tasted the mango.
In the butterfly garden.
Even the butterflies like the mangoes.
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