This story begins as a sad one, but ends in mango-bread success.

Karen Matsunaga wrote last year on behalf of her aunt, Gladys Kurosu, the family's best baker. “;Over the years, she has unselfishly shared her talent by making favorite pies and other delightful pastries for countless family members and friends. This past spring, her house was destroyed by fire and with it, her precious recipe collection.”;

Matsunaga was hoping to find a prized mango bread recipe that her aunt had clipped from the Star-Bulletin in the 1970s or '80s. She offered these clues: The directions included making a “;well”; in the dry ingredients, then adding the wet ingredients to the well; the title was “;Mrs. Somebody's Mango Bread”;; and the recipe was accompanied by a photo of Mrs. Somebody, who had a Japanese last name.

A search that far back in the newspaper's files would mean hitting the microfilm at the public library, searching every food section for two decades, so I was hoping for an easier solution. Matsunaga's request was published in this space last month, where it was read by Sylvia Mitsui, who actually had saved the same newspaper clipping.

It came from the May 9, 1973, Star-Bulletin and the “;Mrs.”; was Vivian Shinmoto. Several of her mango recipes were included.

Die-hard recipe collectors are an amazing breed, able to remember what they've got on file even if they've never actually tried the recipe. Mitsui says she has many recipes “;from way back,”; but has made very few. She says she will try the mango bread, though, “;as it must be good if this is the recipe that she wants to replace.”;

Meanwhile, getting back to Aunt Gladys: The recipe also turned up in another relative's recipe box. So she never really needed my help, but this all makes for a good story, and, as Mitsui says, it must be one heck of a recipe—worth sharing.

Of course, finding even the world's best recipe will never make up for the loss of a house, but it is a small step in replacing the things that made it a home. And as Matsunaga says, “;It is just a reminder of how food plays an important part of our celebrations and traditions.”;

To Vivian Shinmoto, wherever you are: Thanks for an unforgettable recipe.

MANGO BREAD

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, optional, or more if desired
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
2 cups chopped ripe mangoes
1 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour 2 8-by-4-inch loaf pans.

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Make a well, then add remaining ingredients and mix.

Pour into prepared pans. Bake 1 hour.

Nutritional information unavailable.

CAN YOU HELP?

Aimee Ching yearns for the food once served out of the Kanda Lunchwagon at Kewalo Basin, especially the roast pork, curry, meatloaf, gravy and macaroni salad. “;My family and I stood in line for almost three hours on Christmas Eve 2003 to get their food for the last time. We really miss it.”; Anyone have a line on the Kandas?