???? ON THE TUBE TONIGHT-

(all times CLT)

Netflix is trying to make Christmas reality TV a thing: The streamer is rolling out a series of reality TV shows with a holiday-themed twist in what we think is an effort to bring together two highly-watched genres. In Blown Away, five glass-blowing artists compete to create the best Christmas decorations, whether it’s a sculpture, a tree, or winter wonderland installations. The contestants are given a prompt such as “create something that reminds you of the best Christmas gift you received” and then have to explain the motives behind their work. Similarly in School of Chocolate, contestants take to the kitchen to compete to create edible cocoa masterpieces. Master Chocolatier Amaury Guichon sets challenges for the contestants, who are prompted to use chocolate to build an optical illusion, an architectural project, an interactive piece, and a “gravity-defying” creation.

⚽ Chelsea will play against Manchester United in the English Premier League at 6:30pm tonight. The blues aim to tighten their control over the league, but put the reds in the line of fire as interim coach Michael Carrick seeks to avoid any additional losses before handing over the technical leadership of the Devils to the new coach. Meanwhile at 4pm, Manchester City has a difficult match ahead against West Ham, while Brentford is going up against Everton, Burnley against Tottenham Hotspur, and Leicester City against Watford.

Today’s match between Real Madrid and Seville could potentially tip the scales at the top, as they face off in La Liga at 10pm. In another big match, Atletico Madrid goes out to face Cadiz at 7:30pm and the former has a chance to rise to second place from its current position at fourth, provided that it grabs the three points.

In the Italian League: Milan is playing against Sassuolo at 4pm while a clash between the league leader Napoli and Lazio is taking place at 10pm.

???? EAT THIS TONIGHT-

Salt of the Earth has made its way to Cairo: The Sahel restaurant recently opened its doors in Garden 8 in New Cairo, offering a variety of international, beautifully presented dishes of excellent quality and taste. Taking a cue from the name, Salt of the Earth’s aesthetic relies on wood, plants, and colorful granite for a relaxing outdoorsy feel. We can’t get enough of their prawn spaghetti with sun-dried tomatoes as well as their truffle angel hair pasta with braised chicken and wild mushrooms. Other dishes we found special were their truffle infused shrimp amborio, charbroiled ribeye, and all their poke bowls. Finally, their dessert is an experience you can’t miss out on, with options such as layered souffle pancakes (that come surrounded with fruits and granola) and their pain perdu with caramel sauce.

???? OUT AND ABOUT-

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Back to Egypt: A Brazilian Collection of Photographs displays 90 photographs taken in Egypt during the 1870s by the former emperor of Brazil, Dom Pedro II. The joint venture between the Embassy of Brazil in Cairo and the Culture Ministry runs till 30 November at the Gezira Art Center in Zamalek, with opening hours from 10am to 2pm and from 5pm to 9pm.

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Elif Shafak’s The Island of Missing Trees is a showcase of her undeniable literary skills: We consider Shafak a master of her trade, skillfully weaving together words to create complex worlds full of emotion and meaning. She describes her latest novel, The Island of Missing Trees, as “the book she’s waited years to write” as she explores inherited trauma, displacement, and grief. The book starts with two lovers whose background makes their romance forbidden amid a divided Cyprus in 1974: Greek Kostas and Turkish Defne. After Defne gets pregnant, things quickly take a turn and the love becomes a mixture of joy and sorrow as they begin to understand the consequences. The book then follows their daughter Ada’s experience as she moves to London with her father after tragedy befalls the mother. It’s her sorrow that then drives the story as she struggles to create a future while being unable to let go of a past that she never got a chance to live. The Guardian is out with a powerful review.