The banana is one of those fruits it's easy to take for granted. They're pretty much everywhere: on kitchen counters, by the cash register at health club cafes and corporate cafeterias, overflowing from the stands in the produce aisle. Who stops to consider where the banana comes from, or even which varieties we're eating?

Answer: the Houston Botanic Garden.

Houston's urban garden is throwing a banana bash June 2 and 3. Back by popular demand, the Go Bananas!festival is a celebration of the popular fruit, one of the can't-miss plants in the garden. There's a host of banana-themed happenings to help guests better understand this tropical delight.

On Friday, June 2 from 6-10 pm, the garden hosts a pop-up dinner and wine pairing. For $145 a ticket, guests get a five-course dinner, each course featuring a banana-infused or inspired dish.

How infused? Chef Keisha Griggs of Kuji Kitchen and Bocage Catering has crafted special creations that showcase the banana's flavors and versatility. Think banana bisque with hazelnuts and banana-leaf-wrapped sea bass.

On June 3, with the price of admission to the garden, guests can taste several different banana varieties, help judge the garden's first-ever banana bread baking contest, and solve the mystery of the disappearance of a popular banana variety from supermarket shelves. (Admission s $15; $10 for children and students.)

On Saturday, June 3 from 9 am to 2 pm, the event will feature educational offerings on banana-related topics, cooking demonstrations and tastings of banana and plantain-inspired dishes, a kid’s zone, farmer’s market, and more, per the organization.

Banana experts will also be on hand to talk about the fruit's history and role in trade and culture.

Of course, no banana festival would be complete without brunch, complete with coffee, mimosas and peanut butter and banana bread pudding beforehand that Saturday from 9:30-11:30 am. ($65 per person.)

Houstonians would be, well, bananas to miss out.

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Houston Botanic Garden's Go Bananas! festival runs Friday and Saturday, June 2 and 3 at Houston Botanic Gardens, One Botanic Ln. For tickets and information, visit the event site. $15 to $145.

  

Photo courtesy of Houston Botanic Garden

Don your Dolce & Banana for this one.