An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude [Hardcover]

Ann Vanderhoof (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 13, 2004

Who hasn’t fantasized about chucking the job, saying good-bye to the rat race, and escaping to some exotic destination in search of sun, sand, and a different way of life? Ann Vanderhoof and her husband, Steve, did just that.

In the mid 1990s, they were driven, forty-something professionals who were desperate for a break from their deadline-dominated, career-defined lives. So they quit their jobs, rented out their house, moved onto a 42-foot sailboat called Receta (“recipe,” in Spanish), and set sail for the Caribbean on a two-year voyage of culinary and cultural discovery.

In lavish detail that will have you packing your swimsuit and dashing for the airport, Vanderhoof describes the sun-drenched landscapes, enchanting characters, and mouthwatering tastes that season their new lifestyle. Come along for the ride and be seduced by Caribbean rhythms as she and Steve sip rum with their island neighbors, hike lush rain forests, pull their supper out of the sea, and adapt to life on “island time.” Exchanging business clothes for bare feet, they drop anchor in sixteen countries—forty-seven individual islands—where they explore secluded beaches and shop at lively local markets. Along the way, Ann records the delectable dishes they encounter—from cracked conch in the Bahamas to curried lobster in Grenada—from Dominican papaya salsa to classic West Indian rum punch—and incorporates these enticing recipes into the text so that readers can participate in the adventure.

Almost as good as being there, An Embarrassment of Mangoes is an intimate account that conjures all the irresistible beauty and bounty from the Bahamas to Trinidad—and just may compel you to make a rash decision that will land you in paradise.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With wit and candor, Vanderhoof, who's worked as a magazine and book editor, recounts her sometimes complicated but always enlightening two-year voyage from Toronto to the West Indies and beyond with her husband in their 42-foot sailboat, Receta. As they escape the restraints that have bound them to their desks for years, the pair undergo not just a change in physical appearance (the noticeable weight loss is an unexpected bonus) but also a change in attitude. And although their trip may sound terrific, it's no three-hour tour. Along with sunset cruises and afternoons spent on untouched beaches (where "you can sit and stare at the ocean for hours scarcely seeing another soul"), they encounter "blinding forks of lightning" during a big squall, hailstones during an unpredicted hurricane and other tumultuous events. The book's strength undoubtedly lies in the way local cuisine and agriculture seep into Vanderhoof's tiny galley. While island hopping, she hunts for the freshest mangoes, conch and papayas even if it involves trekking miles through uncharted territory. These long trips are always worth it, as the author befriends Grenadian and Bequian natives, learning how to reproduce scrumptious local fare. Vanderhoof excels in painting a perfect picture of every island as well as filling in the gaps with historic explanations and authentic recipes, saving the book from becoming merely a flashback and steering it in the direction of a potential reference for those wishing to exchange their Bud Lights for a case of Presidentes. Map not seen by PW.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

What could be better than dropping all of life's mundane day-to-day activities and setting course for the adventure of a lifetime? In the mid-1990s, Steve and Ann Vanderhoof did just that when they packed up their belongings, put their careers on hold, rented out their home, and set sail for a two-year tour of the Caribbean. At the helm of a 42-foot sailboat, Ann and Steve travel more than 7,000 nautical miles and visit 16 countries, taking readers on a lively tour of the flavors, sights, and sounds of the Caribbean. Whether it's enjoying a meal with the locals, participating in festivities, or discovering the secrets of the islands, Ann writes of the rewards of living an uncharted life under the stars. Beautifully written passages transport readers to pristine beaches under azure skies. A detailed travelogue and an intimate portrait of self-discovery, this is a refreshing, soulful journey about rediscovering the things that really matter. Elsa Gaztambide
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Broadway; 1 edition (January 13, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767914023
• ISBN-13: 978-0767914024
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #818,541 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ANN VANDERHOOF is an award-winning writer and magazine and book editor whose work has appeared in publications including Gourmet, Islands, Sail, Outside, More, Explore, the Globe and Mail, and the Toronto Star. She is an avid cook, traveler, sailor, hiker, kayaker, and scuba diver. Her first book, An Embarrassment of Mangoes, introduced readers to her life aboard the sailboat Receta.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great reading adventure if you're on cruiseboat deck, April 21, 2005

By 

secret squirrel (hoy miami; manana buenos aires) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude (Hardcover)

`embarassment of mangoes' is much less a sailing book than a `wife's view' of a two-year vacation through the carribean. like plenty of sailing couples, ann vanderhoof does not really have the bug, and instead follows gamely along with partner on a toronto-carribean loop. she was the founder of `cottages', a modern magazine incarnation of the `house and garden' ilk, and the book is reads like a 200 page version of one of those chatty recipe article from `cruising world' or `coastal living': `we pulled into unknown Bay x after a horrid/delightful/tumultuous passage, and the next morning while drinking/walking/looking for parts, we fortuitously ran into authentic local fisherman/housewife/fellow sailing couple/non-profit organizer, who fed us amazing/delicious/tasty local x, and here is the recipe.' the peril of a dragging anchor is in this book is equal parts damage to the boat and the threat of upsetting the dinner guests; ms. vanderhoof's sense of adventure is heightened by the profound psychological growth of giving up her toronto hairdresser for two years. and on and on. for a girly-girl sailing adventure, there is precious little about their relationship, hubbie steve instead plays a background role as a sort of invisible lovable oaf. Ann is certainly a capable writer and the book flows along on an even if somewhat predictable and superficial keel, like a seamless dinner conversation with someone intent on subtly pushing their vacuous politically correct message points: we were authentic - we developed real friendships with the locals! we do care about the environment - we felt bad about tossing that old fishing net garbage back into the sea! it did seem like a shame to develop the old man's veggie patch into a resort! we did meet all the icons of the carribean: herb the weatherman & the minister of rum. we gave alms to the poor islanders! we went back to visit! we were sad when it was over, really! So if you're a serious armchair sailor, this book may not be so compelling, the author's progress over two years from ICW to `not being scared of an overnight passage' is child's play. For very light vacation reading of the carribean, or if you're a domestic, tag-along spouse, perhaps sitting on a cruiseboat wondering what life on a sailboat is like, `EoM' may be just the ticket. It is certainly pleasant, light reading -- and the recipes at the end of each chapter do look fantastic.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good winter reading, January 13, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude (Hardcover)

It's a good read for these winter days, a nice, long, leisurely tour of the Caribbean islands over a couple of years, taken by sailboat. The food and drink recipes at the end of most chapters make it easy to travel along with the crew of the Receta-Ann and her husband Steve-by preparing for yourself the same cuisine they enjoyed. And, it's heartwarming to see them get along for the entire two years-there's no crisis, no threats of divorce, just a happy couple taking a long break and learning to see some of the nicer things in life.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Infused with warmth, color, and flavor. A winner!, February 21, 2004

By 

ben (Essex) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Embarrassment of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude (Hardcover)

What a great book! Ann Vanderhoof gives a rich portrayal of the Caribbean that most of us never see, but surely want to.

An Embarrassment of Mangoes is infused with warmth, color, and flavor. As if the vivid descriptions of local markets (you can smell the fruit), ancient rum distilleries, and exploration via the local buses aren't enough, the variety of characters she meets bring the islands to life.

Best, Vanderhoof and her husband are easy to identify with. They took their midlife break on a sailboat. She relates challenges and experiences with a humor that non-sailors will enjoy, and a level of detail that I'm sure sailors will appreciate. But her trip is no near-death escapade. These are real people on an achievable adventure, doing something all of us could do. Vanderhoof steers us off the beaten path to sample real life, deftly capturing the local food, music, language and, most of all, the Caribbean spirit.

"Ann of a Thousand Deadlines" (as she calls her former self) never admits bravery, but her will to leave a good job and the comfort of everyday life for two years shows real courage. The book and its premise are compelling. The recipes at the end of each chapter are a bonus (my wife has already baked the Spicy Island Gingerbread).

I want to go. Now that I have read An Embarrassment of Mangoes, I feel I have gone.

As the review on the book cover says, "what travel writing is all about." Give this one an unarguable five stars.