SC - Eggplant 'confusion'

[Philip & Susan Troy]

twila hoon wrote:
> 
> I've just ran across a paarticular notation in a cookbook I've been
> enjoying. The book is "A Taste of Ancient Rome" by Ilaria Gozzini Giacosa
> and translated by Anna Herklotz.  The reference appears in the second
> chapter where she gives a (much appreciated) run down of those foods which
> are _not_ Roman due to being New World.  She than includes (this is what
> puzzles me) Eggplant with the list of foods which include corn, sweet and
> hot peppers and turkey.
> 
> I've seen eggplant or "aubergine" referenced in many (many) recipes and
> sources, is this a mistranslation or is eggplant in the recipes (especially
> middle east) something besides what my concept of eggplant is?
> 
> Saffia al Sabia

No, there's only one eggplant, although several different varieties.
They are not, AFAIK, New World. I think Giacosa[et al]'s point is that
the Romans appear not to have had them, because they seem not to have
made it to Western Europe until considerably later, presumably with the
Moors. Or, to put it another way, while there are eggplant recipes from
the time period and places covered by the SCA, can you think of an
eggplant recipe that is neither late-period nor Islamic? There might be
one in the Manuscrito Anonimo (I don't have a copy and don't know for
sure, but if it exists that is the kind of source I'd check).

Adamantius
- -- 
Phil & Susan Troy

troy at asan.com