My fleeting one-month stand, Alphonso
Alphonso flew in from India. I felt I had to see him. And peel him. And cut him up. And eat him and be sticky. Because he’s only here for a brief time (season is April-May), so who am I to hum and haw about his homeland being slightly out of the 100-mile loop of India.
No, you can’t get Alphonsos at the local market (and yes, I love to shop at the local market–yay corn, yay carrots, yay elk meat) but deliciousness is deliciousness. ( I know–one can say that about veal and foie gras and Cheetos too) but FOCUS people. This is an experience that is truly unique and yes, comes from another country. But these are not foreign potatoes than we can grow in our own backyard.
Morning Mango--and I'm usually anti-fruit with breakfast.
The colour of the Alphonso is more intense then the orange of a pumpkin shell. The fleshy interior is soft, yielding and not at all stringy…and the flavour…it’s Super Duper Duper Mango–rich, sweet and with a slight perfumed aroma.
My box of Alphonsos came by way of Kohinoor Foods at Gerrard and Ashdale. Our friend Ron got the Tweet alert. Marilyn, his wife, called the store and was told the shipment had arrived the previous evening. She kindly picked us up a box. They will not be available as long as usual because the crop was affected by colder than usual weather this past winter.
So go to Little India and talk to the shopkeepers and have them pull out a special box of these mangoes from behind the counter (with a knowing look in their eye). And squeeze them a bit and pay the $25 for one box, and feel happy as you see the shipping sticker that says, “Air India”.
And go home dreaming about the best mango lassi you’ve ever had in your life, just a blender whrrrrrr away. Made with local yogurt of course. Duhhh….
Darling, save the last mango pit for me....
cheese and toast 
Elliot and I just ate two of these and he was begging for more. Aren’t we lucky to live up the street from kohinoor!