![Caribbean St. Lucia Jade Mountain Club entrance, Pitons in view](https://bestofstlucia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/JADEMOUNTAIN6-e1327260634196.jpg)
A bridge leads to the amazing Jade Mountain Club, Jade Mountain's exclusive restaurant celebrating Jade Cuisine created by celebrity chef, James Beard award winner Allen Susser
“1001 Things To Do With Mangos Before You Die”: Jade Mountain in St. Lucia will celebrate its 5th annual Mango Festival from June 15-18, hosted by James Beard award winning chef Allen Susser and his Jade Mountain culinary team led by Executive Chef Jonathan Dearden. 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 Mango Madness Festival will start off on Friday evening with the Mango Madness Cocktail Party featuring Mangotinis and Mango Mojitos. On Saturday from 10AM to noon, attend Chef Allen’s Mango Madness cooking class including sampling 10 varieties of St. Lucia mangos. This evening will be a sensory tasting experience…Night of 1000 Mangos, a 5 course exotic dinner. And on Sunday a water taxi will take guests to the nearby Anse Mamin plantation, part of the 600 acre property, where there will be a buffet lunch of mango treats and a guided walk through the historical estate. For early arrivals on Friday, there is an in-depth mango chutney workshop and grilled lunch from 11AM to 1PM.
The New York Times called Allen the “Ponce De Leon of New Florida cooking.” Allen Susser personal culinary viewpoint has been established since 1986 upon opening his groundbreaking Miami restaurant Chef Allen’s.
![JonathanDearden](https://bestofstlucia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/JonathanDearden-200x300.jpg)
Jade Mountain Executive Chef Jonathan Dearden takes inspiration from St.Lucia's lush tropical foliage
“Jade Cuisine is a celebration of the bold flavors of the world’s tropical cultures in my kitchen at Jade Mountain“, says Chef Allen. “The cooking is fresh, simple and succinct. There is always flexibility for the seasons, and availability of local product. As a chef my passion is taste. The bottom line here is that food comes to nature and the nature of taste.”
Allen is a spokesman for the National Mango Board. He is a prestigious James Beard Award winner and received an honorary Doctorate of Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University. Allen was Chef of the Year for Share Our Strength for his community involvement to End Childhood Hunger, as well as currently active on the Board of the Daily Bread Food Bank.
Rising majestically above the exclusive 600 acre beachfront estate of ANSE CHASTANET, JADE MOUNTAIN is an architectural marvel celebrating St.Lucia’s stunning scenic beauty. The sanctuaries are grand sweeping spaces with extravagantly sized private infinity pools which appear to float out to nature and to the amazing views of the Pitons and Caribbean Sea. JADE MOUNTAIN has repeatedly been recognized as one of the Caribbean’s Top Resorts by magazines such as Travel and Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler. For more information about the Mango Madness Festival and Jade Mountain, visit the resort website or call 1-800-223-1108.