It just happened to me. One appointment was finished earlier than I thought, the other was still far away, I had to eat, there were friends nearby and I suddenly joined them. I didn't even have to order, they did that for me. They even asked me on the phone if I liked eggplant. Of course, I live for eating eggplants. The preparation doesn't matter much by the way. It can be the melanzanesalade from Siadaris on Gijsbrecht van Amstelstraat in Hilversum (tip!) or a grilled eggplant at home from the barbecue. But back to where I joined, because that was at Mana Mana in West. On a corner of the street with a view of Westerpark, I might have eaten the tastiest smoked eggplant of my life with my friends. The sauce was in artistic colors, the eggplant was perfectly smoked in flavor and everything else on the table was too, from the shakshuka to the pita with labneh. And then that dessert that we absolutely had to take home from the chef. Neatly packed in a container for home. I am counting the days until I can eat there again.

Image: Instagram @manamana_amsterdam