In a message dated 12/21/1999 7:30:28 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

> I doubt you'd get sick if
>  you ate eggplant raw, then again, you probably wouldn't enjoy it, either.

Have you tried it?  A really fresh eggplant is yummy raw.  I found out by
sampling while chopping (to weed out bitter ones).  There are lots of
traditional recipes using raw or barely cooked eggplant for Mediterranean and
Middle Eastern dips, etc.  The Sicilian ones (white and purple) are the
sweetest and meatiest to my taste.

Holly