Produce Briefs...
White Corn
White corn is a sweet corn variety. Its ears are wrapped in tightly layered pale lime green to white husks. One ear of corn can contain up to 400 kernels growing in rows lengthwise.
Rainbow Swiss Chard
Rainbow chard, also known a 5-color silverbeet, is a tender chard variety with multi-colored stalks of yellow, white, orange pink and red.
Seasons/Availability
Eggplant is available year round with a peak season during the summer months.
Current Facts
Although grown and treated as a vegetable, botanically, eggplant is actually a perennial fruit, (agriculturally grown as an annual) as it bears seeds within its body; it is classified as a berry.
Description/Taste
Globe eggplants are the most common, Western market variety. They have glossy, black-purple skin, are oval and oblong in shape, often growing up to 10 inches long and wider at the blossom end. They have a characteristic green calyx and a green stem or a leaf shooting out from the base of the stem, wrapping around the top of the smooth-skinned fruit. The flesh is cream colored with a spongy-firm texture.
Applications
The eggplant's sponge-like texture qualities allow it to easily take on flavorings. Cube, saute in garlic and toss with diced peppers, tomatoes and fresh pasta. Slice eggplant into rounds, layer in a baking dish with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, then bake into eggplant parmesan. Half eggplant and roast until flesh is very soft and cooked, then puree with yogurt, garlic and olive oil into baba ganoush. Saute diced eggplant with chopped swiss chard and onions, then add vegetable mixture to beaten eggs and bake into a frittata. Eggplant will keep, dry and refrigerated, for one to two weeks.
Geography/History
Eggplant got its name from English explorers who discovered the fruit in Asia; the specific variety they found resembled the shape of an egg - hence egg-plant. Growing on bushy foliage and maturing between sixty and seventy-six days, classic purple eggplants are best suited for warm growing regions. Eggplant can be picked when it reaches a desirable size. The larger the eggplant, the more seeds. Eggplants are usually cut off the vine with about an inch of stem remaining on the fruit.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
the other 62...
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Purple Eggplant. One
is easiest, three is harder.
Eggplant is available year round with a peak season during the summer months.
Current Facts
Although grown and treated as a vegetable, botanically, eggplant is actually a perennial fruit, (agriculturally grown as an annual) as it bears seeds within its body; it is classified as a berry.
Description/Taste
Globe eggplants are the most common, Western market variety. They have glossy, black-purple skin, are oval and oblong in shape, often growing up to 10 inches long and wider at the blossom end. They have a characteristic green calyx and a green stem or a leaf shooting out from the base of the stem, wrapping around the top of the smooth-skinned fruit. The flesh is cream colored with a spongy-firm texture.
Applications
The eggplant's sponge-like texture qualities allow it to easily take on flavorings. Cube, saute in garlic and toss with diced peppers, tomatoes and fresh pasta. Slice eggplant into rounds, layer in a baking dish with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, then bake into eggplant parmesan. Half eggplant and roast until flesh is very soft and cooked, then puree with yogurt, garlic and olive oil into baba ganoush. Saute diced eggplant with chopped swiss chard and onions, then add vegetable mixture to beaten eggs and bake into a frittata. Eggplant will keep, dry and refrigerated, for one to two weeks.
Geography/History
Eggplant got its name from English explorers who discovered the fruit in Asia; the specific variety they found resembled the shape of an egg - hence egg-plant. Growing on bushy foliage and maturing between sixty and seventy-six days, classic purple eggplants are best suited for warm growing regions. Eggplant can be picked when it reaches a desirable size. The larger the eggplant, the more seeds. Eggplants are usually cut off the vine with about an inch of stem remaining on the fruit.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Chef de Cuisine | San Diego CA | 619-248-0538 |
| Claire's on Cedros | Solana Beach CA | 858-259-8597 |
| Brigantine Pt Loma | San Diego CA | 619-224-2871 |
| The Keating Lounge and Restaurant | San Diego CA | 619-814-5700 |
| The Kebab Shop Little Italy | San Diego CA | 619-550-5481 |
| Cal A Vie | Vista CA | 760-945-2055 |
| Mimmos Italian Village | San Diego CA | 619-239-3710 |
| Nine - Ten | San Diego CA | 858-964-5400 |
| Lodge at Torrey Pines Main | San Diego CA | 858-453-4420 |
| Brigantine Escondido | Escondido CA | 760-743-4718 |
| The Fantail Cafe | San Diego CA | 619-398-8258 |
| Sogno Di Vino | San Diego CA | 619-531-8887 |
| Urbn Pizza | San Diego CA | 619-255-7300 |
| Hilton Harbor Island | San Diego CA | 619-291-6700 |
| Buon Appetito | San Diego CA | 619-238-9880 |
| Come On In Sorento Valley | San Diego CA | 858-558-8964 |
| Sessions Public | San Diego CA | 619-756-7715 |
| Paradise Point Resort Main Kitchen | San Diego CA | 858-490-6363 |
| Trattoria I Trulli | Encinitas CA | 760-943-6800 |
| Waters Catering | San Diego CA | 619-276-8803 |
| Come On In La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-551-1063 |
| Bread & Cie Café | San Diego CA | 619-683-9322 |
| The Greenspot Salad Co. | San Diego CA | 858-587-2585 |
| Parioli Italian Bistro | San Diego CA | 619-755-2525 |
| Villa Capri 2 Family Style Trattoria | San Diego CA | 858-538-5884 |
| Cucina Urbana | San Diego CA | 619-239-2222 |
| Capri Blu | San Diego CA | 858-673-5100 |
| The Kebab Shop (Downtown) | San Diego CA | 619-525-0055 |
| Barleymash | San Diego CA | 619-276-6700 x304 |
| Bernardo Heights Country Club | San Diego CA | 858-487-4022 |
| Acqua Al 2 Ristorante | San Diego CA | 619-230-0382 |
| Anthology | San Diego CA | 619-595-0300 |
| La Valencia | San Diego CA | 858-551-3750 |
| Jack & Giulio's | San Diego CA | 619-294-2074 |
| Gauchito Grill | San Marcos CA | 858-705-1747 |
| Come on in Pacific Heights | San Diego CA | 858-638-0088 |
| Village Pizzaria | Coronado CA | 619-522-6890 |
| Jake's Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-755-2002 |
| Inn at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 800 843 4661 |
| Bice Ristorante | San Diego CA | 469-450-3519 |
| Catamaran | San Diego CA | 858-488-1081 |
| Cork and Platter | San Diego CA | 619-253-8311 |
| Cafe Chloe | San Diego CA | 619-232-3242 |
| Roy's La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-455-1616 |
| In The Market | San Diego CA | 619-232-6367 |
| Sheraton La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-453-5500 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-543-2764 |
| Kecho's Café | San Diego CA | 619-225-9043 |
| Bencotto Italian Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-450-4786 |
| The Kebab Shop (Encinites) | Encinitas CA | 760-634-9822 |
| Lauberge Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-259-1515 |
| Marriott Marquis & Marina San Diego | San Diego CA | 619-234-1500 x6113 |
| Tartine | Coronado CA | 619-435-4323 |
| Leroy's Kitchen & Lounge | Coronado CA | 619-522-6890 |
| Cafe Secret | Del Mar CA | 858-792-0821 |
| World Famous | San Diego CA | 858-272-3100 |
| Toast Catering | La Mesa CA | 619-464-0201 |
| California State University San Marcos | San Marcos CA | 760-750-4765 |
| US Grant Hotel Main | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| Brigantine La Mesa | La Mesa CA | 619-465-1935 |
| Ebisu Sushi Bar | San Diego CA | 619-297-3119 |
| Milton's Delicatessen, Grill & Bakery | Del Mar CA | 858-792-2225 |
| Bistro West | Carlsbad CA | 760-431-9195 |
| San Diego Culinary Institute Inc. | La Mesa CA | 619-644-2100 |
| Brigantine Coronado | Coronado CA | 619-435-4166 |
| The Pearl Hotel | San Diego CA | 877-732-7573 |
| Handlery Hotel & Resort | San Diego CA | 619-298-0511 |
| Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-1582 |
| The Wine Pub | San Diego CA | 619-758-9325 |
| Avenue 5 | San Diego CA | 619-542-0394 |
| Herringbone | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0221 |
| Piatti | San Diego CA | 858-454-1589 |
| West Steak and Seafood | Carlsbad CA | 760-930-9100 |
| Sea Rocket Bistro | San Diego CA | 619-255-7049 |
| Villa Capri Cucina Italiana | San Diego CA | 858-720-8777 |
| Marine Room | San Diego CA | 858-551-4676 |
| Fibonaccis | San Diego CA | 858-677-9974 |
| Amici's East Coast Pizzeria | San Diego CA | 858-729-9988 |
| Donovan's Prime Seafood | San Diego CA | 619-906-4850 |
| Brigantine Poway | Poway CA | 858-486-3066 |
| Villa Capri Poway | Poway CA | 858-391-9400 |
| The Village at 631 | San Diego CA | 619-255-9405 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Purple Eggplant. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Cooking with Amy |
|
Berry Berry Good: Eggplant Lasagna |
| The Pioneer Woman |
|
Pasta with Eggplant |
| Beyond Salmon |
|
Honey Garlic Grilled Eggplant |
| Recipe Girl |
|
Baba Ghanoush (eggplant spread) |
