AJ “How necessary is the eggplant?” Slater weighs the engorged, purple fruit in his hand with a frown. “In eggplant parmesan?” I ask dryly. “Pretty necessary.” “Fair enough. I’m a little skeptical though,” he confesses, tossing it into the basket I’m holding. “You’ve never had eggplant?” A dirty, teasing smile spreads over his mouth in…