At new Annandale restaurant, it’s all about mango love

A restaurant slated to open in Annandale later this year will feature an all-mango menu.

The new eatery, to be located on Little River Turnpike, will make the most of the delicious and versatile tropical fruit, says owner and executive chef Burt Gramsey.

You can expect traditional mango concoctions at Mango Tango like salmon with mango salsa, mango and sticky rice, mango strawberry salad, mango cheesecake, mango smoothies, and, of course, mango-tinis.

There will also be plenty of innovative items for the adventurous eater, Gramsey promises, such as:

• Mango Fandango, a Spanish tapas variation featuring oysters, sea grass, coddled squid, and shredded mango;  
• Mangled Mango, a creative dish with mango flakes, Brussels sprouts and corn wrapped in bacon; 
• Mano Mango, an entree featuring steak tartare, pickled okra, lamb sausage, and deep-fried mango nuggets; 
• Mango Bango, featuring braised peacock, fermented tuna, and mango chutney; 
• Manglo mango, with possum tenders, noodles, and a poached egg served with mango-flavor glow-in-the-dark Jell-O; 
• Angry Mangry, a spicy favorite with dried mango chopped in a stew of duck eggs, fire ants, and habanero peppers. 
• For vegetarians, there’s Mango Zango, an exhilarating blend of mango jam, parsnip curls, kombucha, and wild mushroom paste wrapped in seaweed. 

Mangos are not only delicious and go with anything, they are highly nutritious. A mango is packed with vitamin C, vitamin A, various minerals, and plenty of fiber. Known as one of the great “brain foods,” mangos are a great source of vitamin B6, which is essential for healthy brain functioning.

“The avocado has had its moment in the sun. Kale is yesterday’s news,” says Gramsey. “It’s now time for the mango, the queen of the fruits, to rise up and take its rightful place as the star of the table.”