I am a lover of aubergines and frequently buy them. I have been asked at least 10 times what they are and WTF you do with them by other shoppers in the queue and by check out chicks (the teenageboys pay more attention to the food than to an over 30 woman).
So it's not only our transatlantic cousins who may not know an eggplant froma Chinese goosberry.
The same goes for fresh artichokes.
cali