Ichiban Eggplant

If a contest were held for the most elegant vegetable, this could well be the winner. While the traditional rounded eggplant is an old favorite, solid, dependable, yet voluptuous (its deep glistening skin always catches my eye in the market), this leaner version—the Asian Ichiban type—has a more lyrical form. As I was sculpting this piece, balancing it on a metal rod so that I could get a good look at the sinuous shape, it appeared to be almost in motion, like a majestic heron on its long skinny legs at the pond’s edge.

Place this sophisticated, alluring vegetable on a low, platform base to accentuate the fluidity of the form. Turn it around and around in your hand, admiring its sleek shape and details. The delicate calyx is a study in understatement. Find inspiration for the best ratatouille you’ll ever make, or encouragement to start a vegetable garden.