KOCHI: Want to beat the summer blues? Head straight to Lumiere Organic Mango Fest, the week-long organic mango festival organised by Lumiere organic restaurant at Panampilly Nagar. The festival features more than 150 varieties of mangoes, all cultivated and ripened using organic and natural methods.
From full-size coconut mangoes to yummy ‘mosambika aam’, the fest has in store an amazing array of mango delicacies. Said Ganni Khan, the organic cultivator from Karnataka, has brought special mangoes from his organic farm. His farm has some rare mango varieties brought from overseas during the reign of Tippu Sultan. “Unlike the usual types you get in the market, all the varieties here are cultivated without using any artificial methods and ripened by wrapping them with hay,” says Khan.
Traditional mango delicacies like ‘mambazha thadayal,’ ‘thairu manga,’ ‘manga thiral,’ ‘uluva manga’ and ‘mambazha pulisseri’ are on display with an incredible selection of mango pickles that include dried mango pickles and spicy sweet-sour pickles. All the dishes are prepared using organic products and traditional recipes.
Mango sadya, the buffet lunch, has a surprising spread of mango dishes. From the traditional mango fish curry and mango prawn, you will find a number of mango-based recipes. Mango phulka, mango fried rice, mango makhani and mango soup are some scrumptious delicacies on offer. The mango-based desserts on the menu are mango-carrot payasam, tarts made of mango pulp and much more. The special dinner menu features a variety of traditional mango and fish combinations. More than 25 varieties of special mango-based juices and combinations with other fruit, vegetables and herbs are also available.
The fest is on till May 10. Walk in anytime between 10 am and 11 pm. The lunch buffet is from 12 noon to 4 pm, and dinner from 7 pm to 11 pm.
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