• LOVE Mango Cafe, and this is a cute shot of Polo---
  who used to be 'Mango Man' in Madison, WI. He makes yummy stuff and is a super nice guy.

  

  To all our dear friends and costumers =) Beginning October, Saturday 13th Polo´s Mango Cafe will be on vacation for a few weeks, we´ll come back on November 10th with a renewed venue and some other surprises on the menu!

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  the above photo is shared from fb post, 'Soul de Isla'  which provides frequent updates I enjoy. 

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  Interestingly, we have some shared history.  Years ago, it turns out Lori rented a condo from my son in Madison.  Many years ago, we were on Isla walking around the North end and saw a girl we knew had to be Lori's daughter. No one else could look like that with her hair! I asked if she used to live in Madison, & if her mom was Lori, and yes...it was! and they were house sitting and dog caretaking...They had decided to make the move to Isla after loving it so, so much.  Turns out she & Polo became a team & then opened Mango cafe... a successful 'start-up' in the restaurant business, taking a chance on opening mid island, away from downtown, which was kind of breaking new ground at the time... There's a long story about mangos which I won't  go into...only that Polo had run a street cart on the Library Mall of UW Madison, and was called 'Mango Man,' mango smoothies being his specialty. Madison was where they met, but Isla is where they ended up.  Strangely, Lori had been in Africa (UW Madison Asst Art Prof, I think) & we have our own Africa (Morocco) experience.  Polo is from Oaxaca, & I had also been in Oaxaca some years ago, studying Spanish (love that place!)...Polo loves horses, & me too! (you'll see a photo of a horse he is personally acquainted with, on the Mango restaurant wall...
  Polo has brought many nice touches to Mango, including Oaxacan coffee, with his extensive experiences and connections in Mexico. I love how he personally shops the farmers' markets in Cancun for the freshest vegetables and other items.
    :-)  
  
  Anyway, Long story, short... Mango cafe succeeded.  Lori moved on & has since opened another restaurant downtown, and Polo continues to run Mango cafe, with a team of talented staff. Lori's restaurant downtown, Lola Valentina, is also showcasing her creative side, as did Mango Cafe. Great efforts, creative talent, hard work...gets results. We have had many good visits, and many good meals at both places, & patronize MC & LV, and love to take visitors to both places.
  
  Nothing is sure in life except change...and there has been change.
  I hear there may be new changes on the horizon again for Mango Cafe. I wish them well.
  I like that it's not far for us to go; it's low key and friendly, and when Polo is around, you can count on his friendly visit to your table and his time with you to chat.
  
  Last season, he was willing to have his chefs cook up some fish a friend brought in (for the second time)!   And, delicious it was.
  (here is Polo, with our friends & guests, Jeff & Irina, enjoying his catch.  
  

  

  

   

  (I wish I had an insider's glimpse & behind-the-scenes knowledge of other restaurants on the island...I remember once being at Casa O's and a guy came out of the sea, carrying a fish he'd caught, walked it back into the kitchen area, and waited in the dining area for it to be served up.  It seems these thing kinds of things are not rare on Isla.   

  Polo is one that makes dining out a personal & memorable experience.