427959 Sat Aug 04 15:09:19 -0700 2007 25 2 Los Angeles Area 0 2814101 Who's the king or queen of eggplant in L.A.? I mean where eggplant is the star of the dish. Sat Aug 04 15:09:19 -0700 2007 11201 Diana 1 2815512 I hope you had a chance to try the eggplant stuffed with shrimp paste when you had your sublime dim sum experience at 888. If you didn't, please head back to the SGV and give it a whirl. In fact, you could probably go to just about any respectable Chinese eatery that offers some kind of eggplant dish that most eggplant lovers would enjoy. Probably the most common ways to prepare eggplant is to braise, stew, or stir-fry it with garlic, black bean sauce, some sort of pork, and chile of some sort for a little heat. The Japanese typically cook eggplant with miso paste. It's simple but the two marry well together. I've eaten it pickled as well, which goes well with the customary bowl of steamed short-grain rice. What I like in particular about the Chinese and Japanese eggplant varieties is that they are wonderfully creamy in texture, on the sweet side, and the skins are very much edible - a plus for those lazy like me who hate peeling. Sun Aug 05 11:34:07 -0700 2007 2814101 64003 bulavinaka 2 2816036 I had the stuffed eggplant, and it was *divine*! Sun Aug 05 16:24:55 -0700 2007 2815512 11201 Diana 3 2816302 Good job, Diana... And that's just the tip of the eggplant! Sun Aug 05 18:34:11 -0700 2007 2816036 64003 bulavinaka 4 2817343 At Orris on Sawtelle,Yamashiro from time to time puts on the menu a beautiful stuffed with foie gras Japanese eggplant in a miso sauce. Mon Aug 06 08:13:45 -0700 2007 2816302 108283 brunello 1 2815525 Kashk-e-bademjan and borani (bademjan) are two eggplant appetizers that can be found at most Persian restaurants in LA. Both are good. I think Shamshiri Grill in West LA serves good borani. There is also a dish called gheymeh bademjan (yellow split peas, eggplant and meat in a tomato based sauce) that is delicious over Persian rice. I usually eat this at home, but it may be on the menu at some Persian restaurants. Sun Aug 05 11:38:21 -0700 2007 2814101 57689 katkoupai 1 2815817 The stir-fried eggplant at Chang's Garden, but only if you enjoy spicy food and a pool of fluorescent red glow staring back at you. Sun Aug 05 14:26:04 -0700 2007 2814101 11583 ipsedixit 2 2816035 How about eggplant in garlic sauce? Is this similar to what is offered at Chang's Garden? Sun Aug 05 16:24:45 -0700 2007 2815817 57689 katkoupai 3 2816567 No. Chang's eggplant dish is chili oil based. Sun Aug 05 20:32:56 -0700 2007 2816035 11583 ipsedixit 2 2816049 I do, I do! Too bad arcadia is a bit far away. Any good aubergine dishes in LA, Santa Monica, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Venice, Malibu, Redondo Beach (a bit far) Pasadena or the SFV? I live in Sherman Oaks. I had a marvelous eggplant stuffed with fontina and baked with parmesian and tomato sauce at Il Tiramisu! I love baba ganouj and japanese eggplant dishes, Indian dishes, and more! I'll try all types of cuisines! Any other standouts? Sanwiches, Salads, Sides, Mains, Appetizers, heck even desserts, if they exist. I love eggplant so much, I have a jar of eggplant sweet preserves! Sun Aug 05 16:29:09 -0700 2007 2815817 11201 Diana 1 2816056 My favorite eggplant dish is at Suehiro in Little Tokyo... their house special... --Dommy! Sun Aug 05 16:30:48 -0700 2007 2814101 10659 Dommy 2 2816061 details? Sun Aug 05 16:34:11 -0700 2007 2816056 11201 Diana 3 2816137 Big chunks of Japanese Eggplant in Miso Sauce. It's simple, hearty, and SO yummy! --Dommy! Sun Aug 05 17:05:00 -0700 2007 2816061 10659 Dommy 1 2816154 I love the moussaka at Alexis in Northridge. For a quick fix, the eggplant parm at Trader Joes is damn good. Sun Aug 05 17:15:00 -0700 2007 2814101 10427 markn 2 2816172 Oh yes!!! I completely forgot about the Eggplant Parm at Vitos... EXCELLENT!! --Dommy! Sun Aug 05 17:27:58 -0700 2007 2816154 10659 Dommy 1 2816258 I truly enjoy the Bengan ka Salan (Sautéed eggplant prepared in coconut-tamarind sauce) at Akbar in Pasadena. Yujean Kang's in Pasadena has a surprisingly tender, Eggplant with Garlic dish. Sun Aug 05 18:12:02 -0700 2007 2814101 103188 adevejian 2 2816989 Oh yum! Mon Aug 06 06:12:26 -0700 2007 2816258 11201 Diana 1 2816991 All these delectable sounding eggplant dishes are making my mouth absolutely water. Perchance I should do an eggplant tour! Mon Aug 06 06:13:02 -0700 2007 2814101 11201 Diana 1 2817365 I am not quite the Eggplant afficionado you are, but I always (very frequently) order: Eggplant Special or Eggplant with Miso - Matsuhisa - Beverly Hills I acutally don't know which is which, but it's cooked, sweet-ish. and it's "THE" star. They also have Eggplant tempura. Melintzanosalata - All/most Greek restaurants - L.A. Uber-opolous Baked eggplant with garlic + _________, depending on where you go. A dip w/ pita. Roasted red pepper & eggplant - Danube (Bulgarian) - Westwood An App where the red pepper edges out the eggplant as the star along with olive oil, garlic, onion & parsley (In my fridge I have "Zergut Hot Ajvar" product of Bulgaria with a few different minor ingridents). Also, they have "Eggplant Rolls in tomato sauce" - never tried that. FYI (*) - If I lusted to try Eggplant in various interpretations at one place, I'd might go here: Coupa Cafe - Venezuelan - Beverly Hills (310) 385-0420 Eggplant Bruschetta Eggplant capresa salad Grilled Eggplant, mozzarella & tomato Panini Vegetarian pizza - .... eggplant..... Eggplant Pasta Grilled Eggplant Crepe (savory) Grilled Eggplant Arepa An Empanada? No luck; however, I counted 8 different veggies, so maybe the'd substitute. (*) Which means I've never tried any of them. Question on Sandwiches - Is there an "Eggplant Burger" out there? . . . . . . All I found in a quick 5 minute search of my menu drawer was a "Goat Cheese and Eggplant Melt". Mon Aug 06 08:17:44 -0700 2007 2814101 11205 JBC 2 2817445 Oh yummy! I gotta go there! *Drool* Mon Aug 06 08:33:55 -0700 2007 2817365 11201 Diana 1 2818064 There was a little kosher restaurant on Victory in Van Nuys named Golan who had the best eggplant pitas. I'd get it with hummous and it was to die for. They moved further east to a larger space and I moved out of the valley, so I don't know if they are still there, but if they are, you'd love this. Mon Aug 06 11:04:07 -0700 2007 2814101 20504 hpcat 2 2818159 I thought I was the only one who knew about Golan!! Tehyar e still there. Doncha love em! Maybe I should go again soon! Mon Aug 06 11:23:25 -0700 2007 2818064 11201 Diana 1 2818194 I enjoy Il Fornaio's Carpaccio Melanzane - grilled eggplant, roasted red and yellow peppers, goat cheese, kalamata olives, basil, capers, balsamic reduction, extra-virgin olive oil. It's a light meal, but full of great flavors. Mon Aug 06 11:29:52 -0700 2007 2814101 14123 ciaobella 1 2835439 My enthusiastic vote would be for the Duck and Eggplant dish at Izayoi in Little Tokyo. I order this EVERY time and it is absolutely fantastic. The duck is delicious and the eggplant sweet and crispy. I think you'll love it! Sat Aug 11 02:53:09 -0700 2007 2814101 17297 SecretAsianMan 1 2837448 I love the eggplant parm at Palermos on Vermont. Their eggplant is freshly fried and not heavy, but very crispy. Also try a small pizza with fried eggplant on it. Just had eggplant parm sandwich at Vito's, the eggplant was small and fried to death, doesn't compare. Sun Aug 12 00:42:09 -0700 2007 2814101 62097 paprkutr 1 2837451 eggplant with tomato sauce in the to go case at LA BOTTEGA MARINO both on larchmont and in west l.a. also the mutahbel at ZANKOU HOLLYWOOD. Sun Aug 12 00:47:29 -0700 2007 2814101 22959 revets2