Five things Fay Maschler ate this week

1. In many ways and guises the Christmas ham, a present from Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University. Reg and I might now give ham a rest for a while.

2. On December 31, 2013, Del’ish, an Iranian-Mediterranean restaurant, opened on the corner of Whitfield and Warren Street, W1. Mixed platter of chicken shish, lamb shish, lamb Koobideh (minced) served with salad spoke of skill on the grill.

3. Nigel Slater’s recipe of chicken thighs cooked with celery, a sly, spectral vegetable flavour I love.

4. My own roasted duck stock with mushrooms, spring onions, carrot ribbons, baby spinach leaves and more celery — back to the 5-2 diet, oh yes.

5. After the rather gladdening oldster movie Last Vegas, notably crisp emerald okra with black beans (manager Edwin’s recommendation) and also Kon Chin baby squid with fresh chilli, at Mr Kong in Chinatown.