Ode to the Aubergine

Last nite, the Kimster and I had a date at Noe's Alice's Chinese Restaurant. It's a cozy spot on a corner, not far from our house, and the food is usually quite good. We shared a veggie mushu, 'cause we both love things wrapped in pancakes, and a shrimp with spicy black bean sauce which truly had some kick. But my favorite thing was our appetizer, Garlic Eggplant. For this, the waiter brings over a dish with a long Chinese eggplant that's been cut into thirds lengthwise, but not all the way; each piece is still attached to the stem. The pieces have, however, been splayed apart and slathered with a sweet/garlicky sauce. Mr. Waiter cuts each piece in half and liberates velvety flesh from stem; two hungry girls then devour all six in record time. Aubergenius!