Review: Mangal 1.1, Shoreditch

A few weeks ago I was invited along to try the newly launched Mangal 1.1 Turkish restaurant in Shoreditch. Located inside the Bedroom Bar, the cosy restaurant is the newest eatery in the company. Mangal already has a fierce reputation in the city and is well known for it's delicious, mouth-watering dishes. So I knew I was in for a very tasty night night indeed.

I met Lily outside after work and we settled down for a Turkish feast and to put the world to rights. What a feast we were treated too! First a selection of delicious mezze with endless chunky warm bread. Dishes of creamy hummus, cucumber and yogurt cacik and a spicy tomato ezme salata were eagerly moped up with the bread.

It wasn't long before a fresh salad was placed on the table and a generous portion of juicy seasoned meat appeared. Lamb koftas, chicken cheese, lamb chops, spicy chilis and slabs of tender beef were all piled high on a plate with floury wraps for us to make our very own kebab. The meat was perfectly cooked and melted in your mouth. The lamb chops were a personal favourite.

The meal was finished off with sweet baklava. Layers upon layers of crispy, sweet filo pastry filed with syrupy pistachio nuts. Just the ticket to satisfy our sweet tooth.

Mangal is expertly priced especially for Shoreditch. It's a great place to go with friends, we never felt rushed and as a result managed to have a long-awaited catch up. I really do dislike this 2 hour limit on tables in London. They also offer a takeaway service so you can enjoy it in the comfort of your own home.

Thanks for such a lovely evening Mangal 1.1. I'll be back!

 68 Rivington St London, Greater London EC2A 3AY

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Alternative advent calendars

Over the last few years the trend for alternative advent calendars are really seemed to pick up. Chocolate ones are becoming old hat. Arran Aromatics* have brought the perfect one for beauty fanatics. What a fabulous treat it was!

Filled with 25 gorgeous smelling miniature body lotions, candles, soaps, bubble soaks and shower gels, it's the perfect daily treat. The calendar retails at £40 but it has a value of £60, making it great value for money. I can't wait to light the candles - the grapefruit one smells amazing! Available both online and John Lewis, you best be quick treating yourself to one as only 1000 are available.

Another advent calendar is a tea one from Victoria Mae Designs*. Oh my gosh, the smell when I opened this package was intense. I wanted to gulp them all down at once!

Priced at £19.50, 25 gorgeous teabags come packaging in a cute little brown box. All the tea is sourced from a local British tea company and comes in handmade paper pouches. A lovely little treat to start each morning with in December.

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5 ideas for a cosy evening

I don't know about you but now the nights are getting darker and the air is getting colder, I'm looking to hibernate. Once I get home after my commute into the city, I'm straight into my snuggly pyjamas and locking up for the night. Staying home doesn't have to be boring, use the time to have concentrate on making your soul feel happy.

1. Films and chocolate. Could there be any better combination? I love nothing more than popping my favourite film or boxset on - Peaky Blinders may have been watched about four times over the last few weeks - and snuggling under the duvet with a good box of chocolates. My favourites ones of late have been these delicious Lindt limited edition orange lindor truffles*. I may or may not have scoffed a whole box as I was drooling over Cillian Murphy with a cup of Tetley's new Super Fruit Boosts cup of tea*. Even with a razor blade sewn in his hat, he's still a babe.

2. If you can't face going out on a Friday night after a long week at work, invite your BFF round for a slumber party. Order in your favourite takeaway, get under the covers and prepare to chatter the night away. Sometimes the best tonic is your friends. They are just as weird and wonderful as you are.

3. I live for long, bubble filed baths with a bit of Craig David on Spotify to take away my troubles. Light your favourite candles, grab your most gorgeous smelling hair mask and warm up your vocal chords for an evening of bath singing and soaking. You'll get out feeling refreshed and ready cosy up in fleecy pyjamas.

4. Ban technology for the night - yes even the addictive Instagram - and switch off. I promise you'll sleep so much better and make a start on that pile of unread books on your shelf. Get lost in a world of make-believe and before you know it it'll be time to enter the land of nod.

5. Pop to the supermarket and stock up on marshmallows, squirty cream and Cadburys hot chocolate to make yourself the hot drink of dreams. Pile those fluffy balls of goodness sky high and sip away your troubles. There's nothing a good cup of hot chocolate in front of the telly can't solve. We all deserve a treat in winter time.

What do you do to make the dark nights seem less daunting?

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