Ashtrays used to be common in almost every household and came in all shapes and sizes, souvenirs from holiday destinations, onyx blocks with a groove on which to rest your fag, silver, steel and glass. Now they are quite rare. Perhaps I should start collecting them!
Asian basil is slightly coarser than the sweet basil of Europe, and with a more robust aroma. It survives cooking in stews, adding a fresh menthol, camphor end of the spectrum.
Similar in appearance to celery but longer and slimmer with dark green leaves. It is dealt with in the same way as common celery.
The Asian leek is a variety of thin leek up to 60 cm (2f ft) long grown in China and Japan. Only the white part is used and has the flavour of a mild spring onion (US: scallion), a distinct, onion-suggestive flavour but not as fierce. It is thicker than a spring onion. It is good grilled or used in salads, poached or baked.
