Lima's Lazy Lunch...

It's no secret that brunch is the most important meal of the week for us Mice...there's nothing better than waking up fully rested, meeting your best friends and munching away whilst the gossip flows. If that wasn't perfect enough, throw in a hefty side of prosecco and cocktails and we're in total heaven! 

Last weekend we were lucky enough to be invited to try the new Lima Floral weekend brunch menu. If you're a fan of Peruvian cuisine you should already know all about the wonder that is Lima, however if not lets get you up to speed!

There are four main things you need to know about Lima London...they have two locations - Fitzrovia and Floral Street (Covent Garden), they were the first Peruvian restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star, the delicious duo are backed by renowned Peruvian chef Virgilio Martinez and the food is an absolute sensation! 

Boozy Brunch : Avenue...

As you may already be aware we're no strangers to an unlimited Champagne brunch...regardless of how terrible we feel the next day, somehow the suggestion always seems like a great idea!

Our favourite so far has to be South Place Hotel, we posted about this a while ago but it's still up there - delicious, affordable and a short trot from Shoreditch, so tonnes of post-brunch/ early evening options!

However when one of the girls suggested we try Avenue to mix it up, we thought why not?!

£20 for 2 courses with an additional £10 on top for unlimited Prosecco...we were there in a flash! The condition is that you only get two and half hours of Prosecco. But, as three hours in, we were still there with drinks being poured perhaps the rules are there to be broken...!

Located on St. Jame's Street, a five minute walk from Green Park underground, you're right slap bang in central with endless options for afterwards...believe me no matter how good your intentions are to get home, this will not happen! 

The interior is modern, chic and grand - not in an uncomfortable way, but creating the perfect backdrop for an afternoon of sipping bubbles! The small touches are what makes this venue a little more special...a chandelier style centre piece made from wine and champagne glasses, beautiful high ceilings, soft lighting and hydrangeas scattered down the centre of each table! 

10/10 for beautiful surroundings and fun, upbeat vibe. 

Now onto the food...personally I think South Place has the edge here, as the menu was a little more limited at Avenue, however saying that, the Black Truffle Mac'n'Cheese was pretty darn good! I was a little disappointed with my eggs benedict (the hollandaise was quite vinegary) however the pancakes went down a treat as did the soft shell crab bun. 

Most importantly Avenue wins top points for attentive service, there's a tendency for slightly slower service at Prosecco brunches...there's nothing worse than being the greedy kid asking for more, however Avenue ensured everyone's glass was continually filled to the brim and didn't once complain about our perhaps rather loud behaviour towards the end! 

Definitely one that we'll be visiting again...an evening followed where the majority of us don't remember getting home, but flashbacks have started to surface of rickshaw dancing, falling off chairs (a number of times!) and a nameless boy from the group being stripped of his shirt while dancing to disco! 

The pictures I'm sure are to follow...until then though this pretty much sums up the Avenue effect!!!

This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

In London this week we've had a gorgeous glimpse of what summer has to bring (pretty please keep this up!)...warm weather, no coats or scarfs (come on it is April!) and the RayBans have been out in full force! Word is, it's set to be cool this weekend, but even after just that quick flash of sunshine we're ready for festivals, BBQ's, roof-top drinking and short sleeves right now...just in case that wasn't clear!  

 

We also need a reason to invest in the new Blackberry and Elderflower Pimms...how exciting! Winter Pimms is good, but can never quite steal my heart - I'm an original Pimms girl through and through...however the elderflower element in the new summer version could well make me waver! But it just isn't right to drinking Pimms unless the sun's out...so COME ONNNNN keep your hat on Mr Sun...permanently preferably!  

Image via www.thedrinksbusiness.com

 

When we haven't been catching a speed ray at lunch or praying every night for no more rain, this week the Mice have mostly been... 

 

Secretly raving about the best new brunch spot ever...A Little of What You Fancy. We've kept it quiet for a few weeks but I suppose it's only fair to share this delicious little secret! It isn't in the most convenient location (Kingsland Road, Hackney) which actually makes me quite happy as it does mean you won't find a queue and it's mainly locals and neighbourhood strangers in the know paying a visit. ALOWYF is a short walk from Dalston Junction overground or a supposed twenty minute bus journey from Mice Towers (which actually took far longer and made us 45 mins late) but despite this I'll be returning without a doubt!  

 

 

The space is filled with bare low hanging light bulbs, mismatched wooden chairs (the sort that we sat on at primary school), menus on clipboards and crates full of fresh juices and fruit and veg. Shabby chic at its best which immediately makes you feel welcome and relaxed, as does the divine smelling food and super friendly staff - this is easily my new favourite haunt!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then there's the food, which is absolutely out of this world! The menu goes beyond standard brunch options of eggs on toast and eggs benedict and instead offers unusual combinations that just work! Scrambled eggs, tomatoes and basil on toasted sourdough; truffled field mushrooms on toast; and poached eggs, avocado, roast tomatoes, Greek yogurt, chili jam and chorizo! The latter was my choice and WOW is all I can say! The Greek yogurt and chili jam go perfectly together and offset the spicy chorizo perfectly, all piled a top fresh sourdough!  

 

 

Tempted?! We were! So much so that we couldn't resist pudding once we'd tasted their breakfast creations. The cheesecake was far too pretty to say no to and it's safe to say we gobbled down the whole lot!  

 

This is no one trick pony either, ALOWYF is open all day long serving up breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner...absolutely no excuse not to go! 

 

 

Restraining the almighty urge to buy up the majority of Zara's new Summer shoe range...it's just all oh so pretty! Revolving around multi textures and vivid colours, Zara once again has got it seriously spot on! Aztec monochrome, shiny gold mixed with vibrant colours, cut out designs, patterned fabric mix and all without blowing the budget! Get yourself down there before we snap them ALL up....

£39.99

£29.99

£69.99

£29.99

£39.99

£49.99

 

Vowing to never buy cheap bikinis again after getting to Sri Lanka and realising half of mine were faded and misshapen, resulted in me binning half of them immediately! I'm all for some H&M and Topshop bargains but no more in the swimwear stakes! To look bikini beautiful I am now a strong believer in putting the time and money in to gain the rewards...on that note, some gym visits might not go amiss either...!  

 

With summer holiday number one booked, I started my mission, I didn't want to spend a fortune, but just enough so that my bikinis won't fall apart or look washed out after a week's wear. When I found Insight on ASOS I knew I had struck gold...good quality and fit, fun AND flattering! So far I have snapped up this aztec number...

Image via www.asos.com, £45

 

I love it so much that temptation is definitely going to get the better of me come pay day, watch this space....

Image via www.asos.com, Top £35 & Knickers £25

 

Image via www.asos.com, Top £30 & Knickers £20

Image via www.asos.com, £55

Image via www.asos.com, £55

Well that's it for another week! I'll leave you all dreaming of Pimms, bikinis and a super fun summer! Here's hoping for another scorcher next week....

The Mice x

 

This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

Once again what a week?! HK mouse is distinctly under the weather suffering from Glandular Fever, Middle Mouse has also been a poorly pea, so that leaves just me holding the fort and playing nurse to them both, well one in person and other over Whatsapp and email! 

However thankfully, Easter's just around the corner! Hopefully some sun will sort out poorly HK mouse who's jetting off to Thailand for holiday number two this year and us London Mice are on serious countdown to the long weekend and a jaunt down to the Devon for lots of fresh air and clotted cream!! COME quick and snow us all in so we can't possibly get back into work after!! 

When we haven't been sniffing, sneezing and generally feeling sorry for ourselves, this week the Mice have mostly been...

  

Smugly saving whilst sipping on delicious cocktails at 3BM fave Archers Street! We've already blogged about the amazing waitress singing, expert cocktail shaking, super fun bar...however if you missed it check it out here! 

If all that isn't enough to get you down there, then the new 'Party on the Piste' surely is! Make a trip on a Wednesday night from 6pm (it's hump Wednesday after all so should definitely be celebrated), invest in a £10 ski pass and receive 50% off cocktails all night, who wouldn't want an Oriental Rose (Ketel One Vodka, rose liqueur, and lychee juice shaken with freshly squeezed lemon juice and Earl Grey syrup) for £5.25 a pop whilst watching the waiters dancing and singing their hearts out on the tables?! 

Surely there is no better excuse for a hungover Thursday!

Image via www.londonpopups.com

Mmmmmmm'ing at the thought of our Dishoom Brunch last weekend and planning to do it all over again ASAP! Now we've blogged about how amazing the dinner was back in our December post, and have since heard that the brunch is an event not to be missed! If i'm honest I wasn't too sure what to expect, was it going to be curry for breakfast and if so could I really handle that on a hangover?! 


However WOW is all I can say....a seriously good Indian twist on eggs, bacon and sausages...basically normal breakfast ingredients mixed up with a cup of amazing'ness! I opted for homemade granola, fresh fruit and vanilla pod yoghurt to start (so so so delicious!) 

And then I chose Akuri, which if like me you aren't familiar with, is spicy scrambled eggs piled on top of fire toast (buttered bloomer bread grilled) and vine roasted tomatoes. I cannot explain how good this was...you need to taste for yourself! Middle Mouse went for the famous Bacon Nan Roll, fresh nan wrapped around bacon, chili tomato jam, cream cheese and herbs, with an extra portion of fire toast and raspberry jam on the side. Sadly I don't have any pictures...we were hungover, hungry and trust me it looks far too good to wait a second! I don't think there was a word spoken whilst we munched away, however when our plates were clean we announced that we would now be coming every weekend for our breakfast! I cannnnnot wait for our next visit!!!

Bravely signing up to the new wardrobe must have colour...white! If you head into anywhere on the high street right now what you are mostly faced with is clean, simplistic outfits of white, white and more white! Now if like me this ignites an almighty fear inside, take a deep breath and embrace it, somehow I have?! If there is one person in the world that shouldn't wear white it's most definitely me! 

Every morning I get foundation, bronzer and mascara smeared all over me, I then fight for a tube seat only to perch precariously as we all know they are just a basin of London filth, and don't even get me started on pens, highlighters and lunchtime soup....I am honestly the one that no one wants to lend to! However I am donning my big girl pants and learning to walk a little slower, carry fewer cups of tea and generally take my daily pace down a few notches!  

If, like me, you're game for the challenge have a little peruse of a few faves....

Jacket, £79.99

Image via www.zara.com 

Slouchy Open Knit, £38

Image via www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

Live Fast Tee, £60

Image via www.zoekarssenshop.com

Western Shirt, £42

Image via www.urbanoutfitter.co.uk

Crochet Cami, £88

Image via www.freepeople.co.uk

IRO Sweat, £170

Image via www.my-wardrobe.com

T by Alexander Wang, £163

Image via www.net-a-porter.com

Textured tunic, £98
Image via www.freepeople.co.uk

I will leave you with the strong desire to shop and wish you all a SUPER DUPER weekend...hopefully dressing up in something fabulous, drinking cocktails and laughing a LOT!!!

The Mice xx