[Sca-cooks] Eggplant query

[David Friedman]

Local grocery stores normally carry at least two varieties of eggplant. 
What I think of as the standard eggplant is large with dark blue skin. 
There are also thinner, lighter varieties with paler skins, variously 
labeled as Japanese, Chinese or Filipino eggplants.

Does anyone know what varieties existed in period? Eggplants show up in 
at least Italian and Middle Eastern recipes, and presumably should show 
up in paintings, but I don't remember seeing any.

-- 
David/Cariadoc
www.daviddfriedman.com
http://daviddfriedman.blogspot.com/