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

 

Get your Goat: The New Brickhouse Menu...

Just over a year ago, the general foodie moan in Hong Kong was the dearth of South American restaurants. Fast forward to spring 2013, and the city's awash with Latin dining spots, from Chicha to Taco Chaca with Socialito and Mr Taco Truck in between...

 

If we had to dole out a prize for the best Margarita in town though? Well there's really no question about it, it has to be Lang Kwai Fong's South American offering, Brickhouse...

If the thought of heading to Lang Kwai Fong for Mexican food conjures images of giant sombreros, slush puppy-style, fluoro green margaritas and dodgy burritos, panic not, that really couldn't be further from the truth. On the fringes of neon-lit tourist land, just past the kebab shops, purveyors of vodka-laced jelly and hawkers selling flashing glasses, lurks a dank, dirty back street which just happens to lead to the best Mexican cocktails in town. This may look like the sort of spot that only cockroaches and thugs would lurk, but persevere and you’ll emerge, Alice in Wonderland-like, in the middle of Mexico-City.

 

Perennially packed and with a strict no-bookings policy, if you spot a spare perch make sure that you nab it immediately. If every seat's taken, put your name on the waiting list and grab a drink - people watching from the bar with a Margarita in hand can never be too awful... The favela-style décor is the perfect mix of gritty cool – graffitied concrete walls, flickering candles, mish-mash furniture and sunny, bright murals. Each month the restaurant showcases the work of a different artist and the staff have all contributed to a mural or tag somewhere on Brickhouse's walls.  The atmosphere is buzzy but laid-back, the service is sunny and super efficient, this is the perfect place for a catch-up over cocktails, a mid-week dinner or a pre-night out warm-up.

 

Since Brickhouse threw open its doors last year, we've been fast fans. This is part of a new breed of much less chainy, genuinely cool eateries in the city and the food's pretty delicious to boot. What more could you want?

 

So when we heard that Brickhouse was relaunching its menu with a couple of new cocktails and a whole host of brand new dishes with a special focus on goat  we were thoroughly overexcited and more than a little intrigued... 

We started off with one of those legendary Brickhouse Margaritas a delicious but deadly concoction which is a pineapply twist on everyone's favourite Mexican cocktail. In our experience nothing goes better with a Brickhouse Margarita than a serving of the organic stone ground tortilla chips and a great big pot of guacamole. But on the new menu is a switch-up to the original Margarita partner - those same salty, moreish tortilla chips are served with not one, not two but three types of guacamole - original, fruit and chipotle. The original is it's usual creamy, deliciousness in a pot, the chipotle is smoky with a nice little fiery kick and the fruit with its chunks of pineapple may seem an odd mixture but is unquestionably the stand out star of the three.

Next up, something to ease our conscience after all the chips and dip gorging, a salad. But the Casa Salad isn't your average salad, we're not talking a couple of leaves of wilted lettuce with a few cherry tomatoes, this is the Mack Daddy of salads - braised baby carrots, mixed field greens, mozzarella, roasted beetroot, habanero-carrot purée, beetroot vinaigrette & crispy garlic. Each forkful was gleefully gobbled with cries of 'it's so healthy we should order another cocktail'... 

Eager to try one of the new options from the drinks' menu we asked the barman to recommend something for us, moments later a round of Pisco Sours arrived - glasses brimming with a foamy, fruity, nutmeg-laced drink which tasted dangerously non-alcoholic...

Next out of the kitchen was my most anticipated dish of the evening - the DIY Bone Marrow Tacos. Bone marrow has recently replaced foie gras as my ultimate naughty, savoury indulgence. Although some people seem a little squeamish about it, if you can overcome the idea of it, this rich, buttery treat is absolutely sublime. Brickhouse serve its bone marrow encased in a light batter to be rolled into tacos with a generous helping of oxtail salsa, a dollop of chimichurri and a scattering of slow roasted tomatoes. These taco parcels were every bit as delicious as I'd hoped but quite possibly the most messy thing on the menu. Date food this is not, if you're out with someone who you wouldn't want to see you with grease running down your chin and oxtail salsa all over your hands we suggest giving them the slip and settling in for a very happy half an hour full of bone marrow taco amazingness...

Next up, a hit of ceviche, the perfect refreshing follow up to the rich tacos. The Agua Chili is slithers of shrimp dressed with cucumber water, pickled red onion, cilantro and chili oil - light, zingy and very summery.

In fact, the ideal accompaniment to an ice-cold bottle of beer... and how could you resist a bottle of Great White?! Beer with a bite...

Beginning to feel our waistbands biting, we were close to surrender when we heard that the star of the new menu was on it's way... the goat...

We like to think that we're fairly adventurous eaters. We've eaten Ostrich and Kangaroo, frogs legs and snails, chicken's feet and jellyfish but somehow goat hasn't yet made it onto our dinner plates. But with 50% less fat than beef and sworn promises that goat is leaps and bounds more delicious than chicken's feet, we tucked into our Barbacoa Tacos with relish. The slow-braised goat is melt in your mouth tender and quite similar to beef in flavour.  Goat's apparently the most widely consumed meat in the world - well it seems the rest of the world's tasty, low fat secret is out...! Piled onto a soft tortilla with a heap of crumbly feta-like cheese, plenty of radish and avocado salsa, and lots of pickled shallots, coriander and lime these are finger-licking amazing.

Approaching perilous levels of fullness, we took a short cocktail break to sample a second new cocktail, the Elmo's Lemonade. This surprisingly savoury drink is part spiked lemonade, part bloody Mary with a dash of Gazpacho tang - perhaps an acquired taste but the ideal antidote to an enormous tummy-ful of Mexican feast. 

However, moments later, when our final dish, the Rojas con Crema, showed up all thoughts of having had enough to eat were pushed to one side. Who doesn't love melted cheese and onions topped off with a dash of fire poblano chili?! Wickedness in a bowl but so incredibly awesome that you can't help but devour the lot.

Fit to burst we almost skipped dessert but felt that it would be wrong to leave without at least a spoonful of the second goat related dish on the menu - coconut rice tamale and vanilla ice-cream drizzled with goat's milk caramel. Yet another triumph, a spoonful seriously isn't enough, next time I'll be at least making a show of taking it easy on the bone marrow tacos in a bid to keep enough room for at least a couple more mouthfuls of this creamy, coconutty slice of heaven.

We've been raving about Brickhouse since it opened and it's definitely got a firm place in our little black book of places in town for a relaxed dinner and several cocktails. With the amped up menu we're going to be down here even more than usual. But when you catch us sitting in a corner with a pile of tacos before us just remember, goat's low fat...

Brickhouse
 G/F, 20A D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong

Open Monday-Wednesday 6pm-2am, Thursday-Saturday 6pm-4am

Closed on Sundays

No Reservation – No Phone

https://www.facebook.com/brickhousehk
http://www.brickhouse.com.hk/

3BM's Summer Beauty Buys...

The sun has got his hat on in London this week so I've decided to take full advantage of this fact and plan for a rip roaring summer ahead. Wishful thinking? Maybe... but you've got to have something to keep you going right?! So in the spirit of positive thinking I've pulled together a checklist of the must-have items that will keep you looking sunkissed, healthy and fabulously flawless through the coming summer months... 

• A rich body oil 
• A hard-wearing mascara 
• A nude eyeliner for bigger & brighter eyes
• A bronzing dream cream
• A long-wearing nail varnish 

Now before I get onto my top pick of products mapped to my checklist above, I want to make clear that once you've made your summer essentials list, you must stick by it and commit to it. The boss in me is emerging - beware! The key to perseverance when it comes to upkeep is simple - buy products you love - that way you won't see your beauty regime as a chore but instead a daily delight! Some inspirational shots of spruced up summer beauties who by the looks of things whole-heartedly swear by their little black book of summer prep products... 

Hopefully that little hall of fame has inspired you and not left you reaching for the duvet and chocolate ready from summer hibernation! 

Onto my handpicked items, each of which I consider the best summer prep products out there...

A rich body oil...

Dr Hauschka's Birch Arnica Body Oil - £18.25
Your skin needs moisture and I don't believe there is a product out there that can beat this baby! First up, it smells divine; second, it sinks into your skin quickly; and lastly, it leaves your skin feeling seriously soft, fully nourished and ready for the day ahead. It also activates the skin's metabolism and increases blood circulation so not only does it make you feel amazing but it's good for you too - why thank you Dr Hauschka, you are really spoiling us! 

A hard-wearing mascara...

Chantecaille's Faux Cils Mascara - £35
I personally think that the key to a fresh summer look is a cracking mascara. When you've got a natural tan or even if your glow comes courtesy of a bottle (check out our 3BM Tan Trials post if you need a little help selecting a good fake tan), mascara is pretty much all you need to complete your look. It's therefore worth investing in a hard-wearing product that's going to do the job properly. This Chantecaille beauty does just that. I always struggle to get my lashes to curl up to attention, even with eyelash curlers. The Faux Cils feels silky smooth on but also lengthens and coats each lash evenly so you don't get that dreaded clumpy the clown look - well worth the extra dosh in my opinion.

A nude eyeliner for bigger & brighter eyes...

Benefit's Eye Bright - £15
For winter I like a charcoal grey inner eyeliner but for summer it's skin colour liner all the way. Simply apply to inner and outer corners of the eye and PING your eyes will appear bigger and brighter than ever - longer lasting than a coffee fix that's for sure! Go easy on it mind, you want to keep it subtle not TOWIE-tastic!

A bronzing dream cream...

Dr Hauschka's Translucent Bronze Concentrate - £27.45

The last thing you want to mess around with when it's hot outside is applying layer upon layer of make-up to achieve the ultimate sunkissed look. Instead opt for Dr Hauschka's (yes i'm obsessed with the brand) secret weapon which will give you a healthy golden bronze hue in seconds. Just a couple of pumps mixed in with your daily moisturiser is all you need to give your skin a lightweight even finish. Top tip is to apply and make a cuppa whilst it sets and fully dries then swirl a dash of Nars Laguna bronzer over your forehead, temples and cheeks and you're good to go!

 

 

A long-wearing nail varnish...

Mavala Nail Polish - £4.50
Naked or even worse chipped and peeling nails don't make for sexy summer sandal feet. We want bright, glossy nails to make us bright and glossy people! The brand that does it for me when it comes to nail varnish is Mavala - the colour range is never ending, it's so afordable you can have a bottle of every colour, the varnish is thick and glossy and it's practically unchippable! 

Summer beauty sorted, now all we need is for the sun to stick around...

3BM Shops: Avenue 32 Wishlist

Spring may have taken its time this year, but that's just meant that we've had even more time than usual to carefully put together our new season wardrobes. The only thing is that when it's chilly and drizzly outside, hitting the shops, even when they're full to bursting with summery fashion amazingness, just doesn't quite compare to being snuggled at home in a onesie with a big glass of wine... 

 

Thank God for online shopping then!

 

And when it comes to shopping on the net, we're not shy to say that we're pretty much pros (if you're not so au fait, see our beginner's guide). Despite having a cast of trusty favs, we're always on the look out for new e-tailers to add to our bulging black book of places to virtually flex our poor, groaning credit cards and when we find a star it's obviously our duty to try it out 'for the blog'...

 

Our latest online obsession is Avenue 32. Having only launched a year and a half ago, we won't judge you if this fab shopping spot hasn't found its way into your online rolodex just yet, but we suggest that you clear a space for it immediately - this is the ultimate place to pick up something a bit special when you feel like a bit of an online splurge. Not only does the site stock a brilliant range of both new and established international designers, but each designer curates and sells their line from their own self-customised shopfront. All of which makes shopping at Avenue 32 much more akin to boutique hopping down a real life street just with less jostling, getting caught in the rain and snooty, Pretty Woman style shop assistants. We love that we can shop for brands we already know and love (think Temperley, Lara Bohinc and 3.1 Phillip Lim) while also discovering some lesser known, new brands which may otherwise have slipped under our fashion radars (we're currently swooning over everything Cédric Charlier and obsessed with the simple, pared-back Lizzy Disney bags). 

 

With the sun having finally shown it's face, we thought it was the perfect time to do some Avenue 32 cruising, to put together our spring summer wishlists and possibly treating ourselves in the process... It's almost May, it's not snowing, that's definitely cause to celebrate...

The Dress: Cédric Charlier Black Cut Out Dress - £375; 

The Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim Two In One 31 Minute Clutch - £460; 

The Boots: Jerome C. Rousseau 115mm Black Leather Juda Lace Boots - £690; 

The Cuff: Maria Francesca Pepe Rose Gold Plated Bolt Cuff - £210.

 

HK Mouse's Wishlist 

The Spring/Summer collections are awash with cut-outs, so I’ve decided that I need to bite the bullet and try the trend out. I figure a peek of ribcage is far less scary than a full-on exposed midriff and this gorgeous Cédric Charlier dress has a modest enough hemline to set off the flesh flashing. It’s also a little more wallet friendly than the Michael Kors numbers I’ve been eyeing. Lace was another big catwalk trend and I’ve fallen head over heels for these boots. Romantic and elegant with a bit of punk edge, I can see myself wearing these with everything from rolled up boyfriend jeans to a cocktail dress. I’ve been lusting after a clear clutch for aeons but my handbag’s always so messy that I’ve decided that they’re probably just not for me. This 3.1 Phillip Lim number is the answer to all my transparent bag prayers though. With a pretty gold clutch inside the larger clear clutch, I can stash all my mess away from prying eyes and keep just a few choice pieces on display. Last but not least, I’m seriously coveting this Maria Francesca Pepe rose gold cuff. This arm candy will toughen up spring’s girly, pastel palette – the perfect finishing touch to any arm party.
 

 

The Top:Nonoo Magnolia Lace Grazia Top - £470;

The Shorts: Ellery Black City Thunder Pleat Shorts - £410;

The Jacket:Tim Ryan Silver Lurex Fringed Jacket - £1,430;

The Bracelet:Lara Bohinc Platinum Solar Eclipse Bracelet - £415;

The Shoes:Cédric Charlier 110mm Nude Two Strap Sandals - £370.

Middle Mouse's wishlist
Monochrome palettes are hot, hot, hot this season, and I for one intend to embrace this trend whole-heartedly … so I've opted for a head-to-toe black & white look with a gothic glamour edge! First up I would pull these dare-to-bare Ellery thigh-grazing textured shorts and pair them with Nonoo’s oh so feminine lacy top – a punchy yet pretty look! To add even more drama to the mix, Tim Ryan’s sexy yet slightly sinister hand woven fringed jacket is a must. A bit like Marmite, you’ll either love it or hate it, regardless, you can’t argue that it demands attention and will have heads turning left, right and centre. To complete the look I'd team my outfit with Cédric Charlier’s beautiful two-tone textured sandals and Laura Bohinc’s art deco silver cuff. Together these five items would be my idea of a bangin’ look – both impactful and brave, no one would dare to mess with me in this get-up.

The Dress: Giles Black Laser Cut Leather Dress - £5,635;

The Headphones: Frends Gold Taylor Headphones - £170;

The Collar: Michaela Buerger Multi Embellished Crochet Tacha Collar - £405;

The Bag: Nena Peter Neon Pink Python Box Bag - £300.

Mini Mouse's wishlist
Multi-textured looks be it lace, leather, contrast trims or cutwork, are huge for spring and I think it's about time to go full throttle and face the trends head on! A piece that has this down to a tee and totally steals the show is this incredible laser cut black leather Giles dress - WOW! It hits the cute yet edgy mark, has luxe sophistication mixed with grungy cool and scores top marks in the wardrobe eye candy stakes! As ever I am always on the look out for chunky, statement jewellery so this Michaela Buerger neon, stud-tastic number captured my heart at first glance. It would instantly freshen up any outfit and in this case adds a hint of playfulness to an otherwise potentially severe look - tick! My new season must have has to be these super cool Frends headphones. What a way to transfer geek to chic when it comes to techno gadgets?! The combination of white leather and ever so shiny yellow gold strikes a perfect balance between classic and modern cool... Cross my heart, I'll be going nowhere this spring without these beauties - magpies stay away! Finally, this hot pink Nena Peter python satchel is the icing on the cake...an easy accessory to give any outfit a boost and the ideal way to inject a flash of colour and fun to my perfect Avenue 32 wishlist!
 

Happy shopping!
x
The Mice

The Big Easy Crab Shack...

A new week, a new post about feasting on crab...last week it was Sri Lanka's Ministry of Crab and today it's the Big Easy Crab Shack on the Kings Road! Very opposite ends on the location and clientele scale, however both serving up seafood that's super duper tasty!  

 

I've been meaning to pay a visit to the Big Easy for a while, but Sloane Square's not being the most convenient for me which always puts a bit of a dampner on the plan! Last weekend though, my uni girls and I decided to mix it up a bit, so we shed our eEst London loyalties and set off to explore further afield. We didn't get a reservation in time, so decided to turn up on the night in hope of a bar table - first word of warning....get a reservation before heading down! We were added to the waiting list and issued a two hour wait, this place is very popular and deservedly so, but a wait that long is never welcome! I managed to stack up a 45 min delay in my arrival (a long story full of broken umbrellas, late buses, wrong tube stations...all sorts went down...), so that limited my waiting time, however the other girls were feeling positively boozy by the time we were seated!  

 

That aside, I loved the Big Easy! The decor is cool without being try hard, the space is cosy and the atmosphere's buzzy.... 

 

 

 

 

 

The service is excellent - staff are friendly and the barmen are always happy to mix you another cocktail whilst you wait... And most important of all the food was delish! Fran and I opted for the Lobster roll and Vanessa went for the fajitas...apologises for awful photography skills the lighting was very red and dark which seems to have made the food look plastic but I promise it was 100% real!  

 

 

 

Fear not, if dinner on a Saturday night is not your style (eating is cheating, I get that!), trusty Big Easy caters for week day guests like eating's going out of fashion! They have permanent weekly specials, which are reason enough for another visit! You pay a set amount (usually £14.95 or £19.95) and get the likes of all you can eat fajitas, all you can eat shrimp, 2lb fresh Maine Lobster or steak and lobster usually with either a frozen margarita or beer! Check the website out for the weekly offers - how much do I want to try Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday...I think you get my drift! 

 

And for those of you that are lazy like me and don't live a tube stop away, you'll be pleased to hear that a new branch is set to open in Covent Garden this Summer. We're sharpening our pincers at the thought....! 

 

The three of us left happy little chappies, suitably fuelled for the night ahead of further drinking and dancing in Barts and yes, we even made an appearance at Embargo!!!!