DINING

Guy Fieri is featuring this popular Des Moines restaurant on his new Food Network show

Brian Taylor Carlson
The Des Moines Register

Guy Fieri seems to love this restaurant in Des Moines. Four years after being featured on Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," this popular Louisiana-themed eatery is making its way back onto the network for another episode.  

Fieri's new series, "Triple D Nation," will feature Flying Mango on an episode airing on Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. CST. According to the Food Network's website, the episode — titled 'Fried and Smoked' — will feature a dish made from Flying Mango's smoked duck.

The show features his personal favorites from the 1,400 restaurants he visited and showcased on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. 

Red Neck Surf-n-Turf: Cajun Catfish & Ribs, red beans & rice, served at Flying Mango, 4345 Hickman Rd., on Tuesday, June 28th, 2011.

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Owner Mike Wedeking announced on the upcoming episode on the restaurant's Facebook page on Dec. 8.

"I’ll keep this brief, as y’all know, about 4 years ago, Flying Mango was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," Wedeking wrote. "It was without question a once in a lifetime opportunity, or so I thought... Flying Mango will be featured on a new series called Triple D Nation. The basis of the show, Guy, himself has selected a few of his favorites from all the places he’s been in the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives series…it is beyond humbling to have been selected... Hence, a second once in a lifetime opportunity!"

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"I'm very fortunate to be successful and I couldn't have done that without my incredible staff and very loyal customers from the last 16 years," Wedeking said. "So many of them have become so much more than customers. They've become a family. It's just so humbling."

- -Flying Mango co-owner Mike Wedeking checks on ribs in the restaurant's smoker. Register photo by Mary Chind (June 8, 2006)- -Photo by Mary Chind/The Register "Fire it up" 4 barbecue masters reveal how to add sizzle to your grill skills

Wedeking said the crew focused much of their time interviewing customers. "This show is going to be considerably different than what everyone's expecting," Wedeking said. "It's less about the food and more about the experience. To be picked from out of 1,400 places, it don't suck."

Wedeking said the episode was filmed on Sept. 8.

Datebook Diner review of Flying Mango - Seared tuna salad(top right), smoked chicken dip(top left), chicken creole(front) photographed Thursday Feb 18, 2016, in Des Moines.

Flying Mango was featured in Season 22, Episode 1 of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," named "Fish, Fries and Feet" for being a "Southern spot cooking up all the classics, from ribs and red beans and rice to catfish cakes and collards." The episode was first aired on Jan. 16, 2015.

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Flying Mango

Location: 4345 Hickman Rd., Des Moines

Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 5 to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m.; closed Sundays and Mondays. 

Contact: (515) 255-4111; flyingmango.com; Facebook