Good luck ordering baba ghannouj or eggplant parmesan, at least for the next few weeks.
A historic trio of severe winter freezes in Florida, northern Mexico and Southern California have cut eggplant supplies across the country. What survived is often selling for triple the usual price.
"It's the great eggplant shortage of 2011," said Ghassan Maalouf, co-owner of Nate's Deli & Restaurant on West 25th Street in Cleveland, where one of the signature dishes, baba ghannouj, is now off the menu.
Maalouf said he would have to charge $15 — triple the usual price — for the popular dip made with roasted eggplant and sesame paste.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: The Cleveland Plain Dealer
