St. Lucia’s Jade Mountain Resort celebrates its 3rd annual Mango Madness Festival from June 17-20, 2011.

Mango lovers will soon be in mango heaven on Saint Lucia. The mango season is about to start on this scenic Eastern Caribbean island and travelers to Saint Lucia will be able to enjoy the delicious fruit au natural at street corners or as part of a delicious meal or drink, whether it be mango pancakes at breakfast or mango mojitos at sundown !

The ultimate mango afficionado will try to stay at Jade Mountain for the resort’s annual Mango Madness event, from June 17-20, 2011.

The Mango Madness Festival is hosted by Jade Mountain’s consulting chef, James Beard award winner Allen Susser and his team. Allen Susser is the author of The Great Mango Book and the definite authority on this remarkable fruit. During the Mango Madness Festival, Chef Allen will explore the versatile and delicious local fruits and ingredients growing right in the resort’s backyard. “On St. Lucia, each mango offers a different flavor, texture and color. Each dictates its own culinary destination,” comments Susser.

The event will start on Friday June 17th at the Jade Mountain Club, with a special Mango cocktail party from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Mango cocktails will be served including the resort’s 30 pound infused mango – Mangotini and the equally memorable St Lucian Rum Mango Mojito. Chef Allen Susser and Chef Jonathan Dearden will host an Interactive Mango display to tantalize everyone’s taste buds.

On Saturday June 18th, guests will be treated to a Mango Tour of Nick Troubetzkoy’s Emerald Gardens; the visit will be hosted by consulting Chef Allen Susser from 9:00- 11:00 a.m. Guests will view and sample 10 varieties of St. Lucian Mangos. The visit will end with a tropical snack and more mangos on the back porch of the farmhouse.

In the late afternoon at 4 p.m., guests can participate in Chef Allen’s “Mangos Madness” cooking class in the Jade Mountain Club: Chef Allen will share his vision of cooking with Mangos in a live interactive cooking demonstration, including tastings and of course all recipes will be made available to the participants.

Saturday night is titled the “Night of 1001 Mangos” in the Jade Mountain Club; – guests will be able to savor a five-course spectacular Mango dinner as part of a seasonal and sustainable menu matched with wines

Sunday, June 19, begins with a Champagne Mango Cocktail in Bed, followed by brunch including hot and cold mango treats, seasonal exotic fruits, freshly baked breads, artesian cheeses and freshly brewed St Lucian native coffee or loose-leaf teas will be served.

On Monday June 20, a mango lunch is served on Anse Mamin beach at the Jungle Grill . The beach can be reached by watertaxi and advance reservations are necessary. The culinary team will serve a leisurely lunch grilled under the palm trees and mango trees

In the afternoon, guests may tour the 18th century plantation of Anse Mamin escorted by one of the estate guides with astonishing knowledge about the history of the plantation and ancient bush medicine. The plantation was originally a sugarcane plantation, until a change in ownership resulted in the growing of cocoa plants. In the Anse Mamin plantation, one can find  turmeric, cashews, tamarind, mango, avocado, oranges, tangerines, guavas, papaya, coconut, breadfruit, yams and sweet potatoes.

Allen Susser personal culinary viewpoint has been established since 1986 upon opening his groundbreaking Miami restaurant Chef Allen’s. The New York Times called Allen the “Ponce De Leon of New Florida cooking”. Chef Allen’s New World Cuisine is fresh and flavorful, like a tropical vacation on a plate. His vision of what the future holds is a culinary fusion of cultures that share similar landscapes, tropical ingredients and diverse spices.

After Mango Madness, Jade Mountain will host two more culinary events this year: October 14-17 – Spices of the Caribbean and December 9 – 12 – Discover Chocolate Festival.

But mangos aren’t the only sensory experience. Guests will also be treated to a banquet  of  iconic Caribbean vistas from  Jade Mountain which rises majestically above the 600 acre beach front resort of Anse Chastanet. It is a cornucopia of organic architecture celebrating St Lucia’s stunning scenic beauty. The bold architectural design – individual bridges leading to exceptional infinity pool sanctuaries and rugged stoned-faced columns reaching towards the sky – makes Jade Mountain one of the Caribbean’s most mesmerizing resort experiences.

Wrapped around an infinity pool with a dazzling kaleidoscope of colors, the Jade Mountain Club caters exclusively to resident guests, celebrating James Beard Award winner Chef Allen Susser’s “Jade Cuisine.” Hovering in space above the Jade Mountain Club is the Celestial Terrace, perfect for sunset cocktails or star-gazing.

A three night stay at JADE MOUNTAIN including Mango Madness events and all meals and beverages start from US 2079 per person in double occupancy in a sky jacuzzi suite and US 2699 per person in double occupancy in a star infinity pool sanctuary. For those who would like to stay longer, book four nights and get the 5th free.

Whilst the festivals cater foremostly to guests staying at Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet, individual reservations are possible for some of the culinary events. Contact jademountain@ansechastanet.com for more information and prices or call Tel 1-800-223-1108. To learn more about Jade Mountain, visit http://www.jademountain.com