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There was recently some debate on a blog over whether the loss of the endangered Cavendish might not be such a big problem; a poster from Brazil pointed out that there are many unique bananas available in that country.

True enough, though all have problems that most likely make them poor candidates for global Cavendish replacement. Nevertheless, if you get to Brazil, you should try them. Here - again, inspired by the Brazilian blog poster - are three of the "Fabulous Five."

NANICA: This is a banana that stays a bit green, even when ripe. But that doesn't mean it isn't a good-tasting banana. The Brazilian Fruit Web site describes it as "sweet, tender and pleasantly aromatic."

PRATA: The Prata is a less-sweet banana that grows very well and resists lots of diseases. It is a bit sour, which makes it a less-than-great Corn Flake candidate - but a great potential superstar in a market that might diversify to include varietal bananas (just as we've seen the number of apple types available in stores explode from the days when we simply got red delicious and granny smith fruit.)
Here's a recipe for the Prata banana pastry pictured to the left from the "Taste of Brazil" Web site.

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Penguin Audio Wins Five PW Listen Up Awards for 2007

Penguin Audio won five Publishers Weekly Listen Up Awards, recognizing the best audio books of 2007: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz, read by Jonathan Davis with Staci Snell, and Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl, read by Emily Janice Card, in the Fiction category; Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler, read by Olagh Cassidy, in the Fun Fiction category; Dark of the Moon by John Sandford, read by Eric Conger, in the Mystery category; and The Assault on Reason by Al Gore, read by Will Patton in the History/Politics category.

Lewis Black to Headline BEA 2008's Saturday Night Benefit

Celebrated comedian and Riverhead Books author Lewis Black, who is one of the most prolific and popular performers working today, will take the stage at the Orpheum Theater in downtown Los Angeles in a performance exclusively for BEA's audience on Saturday, May 31 at 9:00 p.m. Proceeds from Lewis Black's performance at BEA will go to help support the Book Industry Foundation which is comprised of the American Booksellers Foundation For Free Expression (ABFFE) and the Association of American Publishers' Get Caught Reading Campaign.