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Ahgabond Adventures | DAY 1: Arrival + Karaoke

2/28/2018

There are some species that are adamant about not attending concerts or music shows solo. I am not one of them.
The level of love, dedication, and respect articulated towards a particular group far outweighs the desire for a companion, who may or may not share the same degree of fondness and admiration.

It hadn't mattered that I had strode through the doors of KCON LA without a single local IGOT7 beknownst to me, for this is was a destination where both temporary and permanent fandom-ships are formed. The convention was the medium of assimilation, and the artist engagements a time of mingling and befriending.

A certain potato and I became acquainted during the GOT7 Hi-Touch lineup, and have remained friends since. In spite of personal schedules and differences in time zones, cross-border communication hardships can also transform into international friendships if carried on correctly.
We may have just been two of many ahgases in the crowd, but through a group that we thoroughly adore and idolize, we've established an everlasting ahgabond.

More recently, this potato came to visit me, on Canadian territory nonetheless. Meticulous cleanups were executed, and a compact schedule of downtown - and uptown - excursions was planned.

The moment began as she drifted through the International Arrival gates at T3 - the same doors DAY6 had passed through just four months prior.

For the remainder of the half-day, we spent time in the suburbs. First was CoCo - the obvious choice for the addict within - then Tim Hortons for an "authentic" Canadian snack wrap.

Post settling in, we headed for four straight hours of karaoke - again, a no-brainer for fangirls.

Apparently an item more representative of east coast offerings, deep-dish pizza at Enzo's assumed the final slot of the day.

The crust was less intrusive than before, though the amount of cheese still paled in comparison to my very first experience at the family-run Streetsville diner. Pepperoni, spicy sauce, and mushrooms topped off the 4-Slice Deep Dish.

Each topping was an additional $1.30, while the basic 4-Slice rang in at $12. By chance though, we had stumbled upon a 50% off daily special, leading the bill to total a measly twelve dollars for two. This ought to be remembered for future visits, along with the fact that one should refrain from using their washrooms if at all possible.

Out & About #427 | Collective February Visuals

2/27/2018

Most of those with cable have been keeping with Pyeongchang. While my household does tend to fall under that category, I frankly haven't been able to allocate much time to anything other than work and prearranged hangouts - oh and of course, this space right here.

As always, here are my snapshots of these past twenty-something days.

1) Lemon Meringue Cups constructed from leftover Lemon Curd and crushed chocolate wafer cookies
2) Smartphone stand delivery from Miniso

3) Revisiting The Wilcox after a full day of baking with ochungg
The Yellowfin Tuna Salad was a horrendous mountain of cabbage slaw served with a greasy pool of sriracha-boosted oil. On the contrary, the Nagano Pork Chop was flavourful and smoky, while the apple brandy sauce lent subtle sweetness.

4) Arirang Radio sent me a participation prize?

5) Lunch consisting of leftover Beef Brisket Noodles from Richmond Court
6) Pumpkin Chai tea pairs extraordinarily well with flaky Portuguese Tarts from Brioche Dorée

7) Behold the Minion Lemon Cheesecake! - the second Minion-themed dish to find its way onto this space.
8) Popping by this year's LunarFest at the Living Arts Centre
9) Scrumptious Korean fried chicken from Mr. Chimaek

10) Snoopy has landed at McD's!!! I suppose it's Happy Meal time.
11) More breakfast visuals

Out & About #426 | Part 2: A Wicked Smile, and A Wicked Wile

2/24/2018

Read Part 1 HERE !

At once, you shall invert that smile.
The food is vile, the booths appalling
Just what exactly is so enthralling?!
Sticky tables you'll scrub alone,
And for some platter you will concede
An amount atrocious enough to feast.

Execute a sharp 180 should you spot Smile Desserts' corner lot in the Midland and Finch plaza, because instead of turning that frown upside down, you'll be departing with a loser crown.

My tastebuds are saddened.
My heart is torn.
But the most excruciating pain hails not from within my digestive organ, but rather the interior of my bag.

Listen carefully, and one shall hear petrified wails, signifying none other than trauma in its most despicable form. To the readers of this space, behold:

My wallet.

For those that succumbed to the sophistication of the sugar dome dessert "platter", you weren't alone. A visit had been proposed solely for the purpose of experiencing the specimen.
Alas, the $29.99 sugar-and-liquid nitrogen bomb shattered my excitement, bringing upon nothing else besides feelings of shame and a sudden realization of stupidity.

We hadn't been warned in advance of the fifteen- to twenty-minute preparation time, nor the gimmick-filled spectacle's method of consumption.
Heck, the contents of the platter hadn't even been specified on the menu. "Some side desserts" came the response.

The girl working the floor (with minimal English skills, might I add) simply stood attentive with a jug of liquid nitrogen, ready to shower the table - and our lower limbs - with cold, wet vapour for the sake of visual appeal.

The side of wafer cubes was tossed within a bucket of liquid nitrogen, such that the infamous "dragon's breath" would result from gnawing on the dry, flavourless pieces. A melty scoop of vanilla ice cream also arrived in tow - why hadn't it been floated in the liquid nitrogen dish to stay solid?

The plate itself was decorated with a multitude of colourful sugar streaks, chocolate pearls, rock candy, mini marshmallows, chocolate-drizzled strawberries, and cookie crumbs. Encased with the sugar sphere was a miniscule portion of Matcha Mousse Cake. Another piece was situated outside of the sphere, and probably a tad too close to the edge of the plate as the waitress's shirt had glided over the rectangular prism at its time of delivery. Two mini Oreos, one large Oreo, and more cookie crumbs surrounded the cakes.

Little can be said about the wafer pieces and liquefied vanilla ice cream - they were standard items from the local grocery.
Needless to say, we were more concerned about the texture of the encased cake segment and intrigued by its surrounding sugar sphere.

Contrary to its appearance, the sugar dome was unbelievably sturdy and actually proved a mission to demolish. At certain points, it showed fragility, while ductility was exhibited at others. Its profile was highly similar to that of cotton candy - equally sticky and thin in consistency, but crispier to taste and more substantial to touch. It was a sophisticated and amusing finishing touch, though by no means worth the ridiculous price tag.

View the full album HERE !

Out & About #426 | Part 1: Jatujak + STC Stopover

2/24/2018

Thai Street Food was the cuisine of choice. The restaurant had two locations in East York and Scarborough, and the former was chosen on the basis of distance and commuting convenience.
More than six months following our last Scarborough excursion, a hangout had finally been secured with feedthebear.

I proudly declare Jatujak to have been my decision: the online menu was vast and very economic, while their dishes possessed colourful visual representations and, overall, positive feedback.
The drive was a bit hectic, given the unforeseen traffic conditions diverging weekend morning congestion to the southeast quarters of the city. A few detours later, I found myself heading down Victoria Park in search of the spot.

Had I not been on the lookout for this particular establishment, I would have missed it entirely. Situated in a small plaza, neighbouring a tech shop and shady-looking nail salon was the black and yellow storefront.

Parking was ample with a high turnover rate. Although, it admittedly tricky to manouever given the lack of space between rows and singular access/egress path. One cannot imagine the horrors of attempting to find a spot in twilight or late evening hours - street lighting appeared minimal.

We had made a reservation prior, though the restaurant was largely peaceful before noon. Instead of the dim booth offered, I inquired whether we could occupy the end of a communal table instead. This request was granted instantaneously.

Two utensil sets - er, fork and napkin duos - lay before me. A jug of water and two plastic cups later made their way over. Water stains were still present on these drinking devices, but at least they did not exhibit griminess.
While in wait, I narrowed down my entrée pick and called for a Thai Iced Tea. The opportunity to taste one of my favourite sweetened tea renditions at an authentic diner could not go to waste.

View the full album HERE !

Priced at $4.25, it wasn't as budget-friendly as I had expected (in comparison to Basil Box). Nonetheless, it was still significantly less than that of Bake Code and retained the dosage of authenticity that I craved.
The beverage was served in a mason jar donning a mustache print - scratched from long periods of usage. Distinct layers of dark tea and off-white creamer were visible from the other side of the glass.

Out & About #425 | Mr. Chimaek

2/20/2018

Korean Fried Chicken has officially earned the title of "KFC" in my heart, easily winning over Colonel Sanders with greater depth of flavour, a more cohesive profile, and a no-fail crunchy exterior. Not to mention: the varieties are seemingly endless.

For fellow Korean drama fanatics, the term "chimaek" shouldn't sound foreign. It depicts the well-loved combination of fried chicken (pronounced 'chikkin'/치킨) and beer (maekju/맥주) - much like bar bites and sangria pitchers on warm summer evenings.

The specific chicken genre is normally difficult to find outside of Koreatown (both at Christie/Bathurst and Yonge/Finch) or within the vicinity of the downtown core. K-Pocha was Mississauga's only similarly-styled establishment (until The Fry came along), though it was sad to say that other areas in the GTA were devoid of the privilege until recently.

Not too far from the Kennedy exit on the Express Toll, Mr. Chimaek is skillfully hidden in a small plaza, storefront camouflaged by shrubbery and a longstanding Pizza Pizza.

The small asphalt lot proved sufficiently spacious for our purposes on a weekday afternoon. Besides the greasy fast food chain, other establishments retailed services or unprocessed meat.

On a quiet weekday afternoon, three tables were occupied - either parties of four or five. A reception desk was positioned immediately in front of the entrance, while a curtain-less kitchen was spotted behind. Seating was distributed along the north-facing side of the restaurant, in addition to a strip of tables near the depths of the space.

A lady donning a dark copper bob greeted us with a beaming smile, and gestured towards one of the many spacious tables. The wide chairs featured bouncy padding on both their backs and bottoms, lending bounciness to its otherwise rigid frame.

The menu took the form of clipboard; its numerous pages listed offerings ranging from hamburg steak lunch sets to an astounding variety of mild and spicy Korean fried chicken.
Admittedly, the thirty-four dollar price tag for the Half & Half was a bit much to stomach at first. But we later discovered the exceptional value of such an item.

A chilled selection of soft drinks, import beers, and soju was also available for the non-drivers.

Appetizers took the form of plain popcorn - no butter, no salt.
Steaming cups of hot barley tea were provided once customers had settled on their meal(s) of choice. The single member of front-line staff had delivered the beverages in Stainless steel cups after order placement, along with a plastic bag-lined bone bucket.
Astonishingly enough, the exterior of the Stainless steel cups did not exhibit signs of condensation nor temperature changes given the heat, or lack thereof, of the contained beverage. Such stellar insulating properties have yet to witnessed elsewhere to this date.
Ice water was also delivered upon request; an ice-making machine ensured ice cubes would be available at all times of the day.

< Pictured above and below: Half & Half Chicken - Original and Rice Powder Fried Chicken, Moosehead >

Sides of corn salad and pickled radish made their way over while chicken-frying procedures took place. The corn salad, which was more alike to coleslaw than salad, comprised of sweet corn kernels and finely chopped cabbage in an aqueous cream sauce that utilized a distinct base of vinegar. It was hearty from the carbs of the kernels, though refreshing from the addition of an acidic element.
White and pink pickled radish filled another container; the level of astringency was on the modest side, dissimilar to store-bought radishes boasting forced saturation.

The Rice Powder Fried Chicken was crisp and extremely fragrant - captivating upon the very first touch. Its flavourful exterior retained a slight kick of heat while offering supple and tender flesh.

Suitable for even those with the weakest tolerance ever, the Original Fried Chicken was completely mild with thin yet textured breading. The just-cooked white meat was absolutely scrumptious, albeit a tad drier than that of the Rice Powder variation. While its seasonings probably did not exceed the basic salt-and-pepper blend, the art of frying had changed the game entirely.

View the full album HERE !

Portions were ginormous in comparison to MyMy, and far more enjoyable on that note. A full order sustained cravings for three separate meals afterwards, even managing to maintain the same degree of deliciousness with re-toasting.

The production rate of chicken wasn't particularly speedy, given the circumstances of the visit, however the service compensated by being ridiculously attentive. Insanely strong observation skills were concluded when corn salad and tea were immediately refilled as the container/cup was set down. In addition, requests were fulfilled with utmost promptness and courteousness.

Out & About #424 | LunarFest (LAC) + Family Day Things

2/19/2018

LunarFest last year was a bundle of cute games that succeeded in engaging kids (and kids at heart alike). The venue was compact, but the activities were festive and exciting.
This year's event took place at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, as opposed to Metro Hall downtown.

The turnout was incredulous considering the accessiblity of parking and the fact that it had been lumped together with a slew of other Family Day activities.

With the emphasis as being a family-friendly day at the theatre, acitivities mainly comprised of paper lantern-making, Pyeongchang-themed headband cutouts, a mini campfire, and a talent show. Attendees had arrived not only for LunarFest, but a series of arts and crafts activities as well.

For participants over the age of five and without small children in tow, the event was concluded to be quite lacklustre overall. We had covered the grounds in under fifteen minutes.

I suggested venturing over to Square One to pass time, as I had made another appointment in the area and hadn't expected to have perused the LunarFest booths in such a short period of time. Oh, how I underestimated the volume of faux-shoppers on such a statutory holiday. Approximately twenty minutes was spent securing a parking spot, while another forty passed before the lineup at Tsujiri neared the cashier. (Ultimately, I wasn't able to purchase my ice cream before my departure.)

Needless to say, Playdium was in an equally tumultuous state.

Out & About #423 | Miniso Bramalea + Crepe de Licious

2/18/2018

If the now-vacant Target space was re-purposed into a Uniqlo or Miniso - or even better, a Daiso! - then it's safe to conclude that I'd never be able to find parking ever again.

As a result of blatant distractions during my second Miniso run at Hillcrest, I had completely forgotten to pick up a wrist guard in the correct size. I was later informed that the store had sold out of the specific product, and thus was prompted to find their other locations.
Bramalea City Centre was seemingly closest in distance, but taking into consideration the sluggishness of the 410 and the overall unsophistication of the city, the journey was downright inefficient in terms of travel time.

While mall expansions and renovations are proved trendy as of late, Bramalea's seems to be a tedious, ongoing process. I appreciated the availability of underground parking near Pickle Barrel, as well as the taller ceiling and Queen Street entrance, though it lacks the cohesive appearance possessed by similarly-sized shopping centres such as Erin Mills and Hillcrest.

On the bright side, Miniso's venture into Flower Town was significantly larger, marked by a store space averaging 2.5 to 3 times as large as that of Hillcrest. Offerings were consistent across both stores, though a larger selection of stationery, accessories (namely jewel-bedecked head scarves), home hardware tools, and plastic sandals were present. The product range was reflective of the demands of local residents; for those that argued return policies for $2.99 items, I have no words for them.

The aisles were undeniably more spacious, which enabled customers to not only maneuver about with ease, but also meander through with baby strollers (and small children) in tow.
Another surprising aspect was the expansive assortment of Korean skincare products, specifically face masks. Only a few Nature Republic and It'sSKIN products had been spotted at Hillcrest, whereas two stacked shelves of It'sSKIN face masks (both limited edition and regular styles), Tony Moly I'm Real sheet masks, and Holika Holika nose strips were situated near the entrance at Bramalea. Prices were quite fair and on par with the official retailers at Pacific Mall.

After leisurely perusing the aisles, the task of the day finally hit me: I needed a wrist guard. Swiping the last unit from the shelf, we joined the lineup and headed in the direction of the food court.

While en route, we stumbled upon a store by the name of Owl Monkeys. I, the ever-devoted lover of primates, voted in favour of making a quick round inside. The hefty price tags, odd-looking cushions, and death glare from the man inside discouraged anything more than a two-minute stay.

Since Square One's first leg of renovations several years ago, Crepe de Licious had been promptly annihilated from the old Target wing. When I managed to catch sight of its appearance after our stroll, I made a beeline for the fast food eatery, evidently excited.

< Pictured above and below: Viva La Crepe and Tuttie Fruitie >

Out & About #422 | Partial February Visuals Feat. Year of the Dog

2/17/2018

It may have been imprudent of me to schedule such a busy series of outings considering that GOT7's comeback is just around the corner. The very notion of teasers has me frazzled, for it not only induces financial suffering, but emotional rollercoasters as well. With a pending world tour schedule and an unquestionably fantastic mini album in its final stages of production, one can only make futile efforts at reducing social activities in an attempt to conserve sanity - er, funds.

That said, I've taken to restricting excursions for the remainder of the month, with the sole exception of my lovely dongsaeng's four-day visit to the Great White North.

1) Recreating Fluffy Matcha Pancakes (over a new stove) with a slight ingredient modification. The results were equally as delectable as the first run.

2) Yonge and Eglinton is currently a commuting nightmare given the ongoing Eglinton LRT excavations and roadwork. Steer clear and beware of detours!
3) One Zo Tapioca officially has my heart.

4) Low-intensity weeknight badminton runs + post-exercise McD's run

5) Even after abundant trials at varying cake shops, Uncle Tetsu's Original Cheesecake retains its reign over all other fluffy/cheesy counterparts.
6) Breakfast snaps consisting of matcha lattes, hoddeok, sesame waffles, a Chocolate Hot Cross bun, and coffee-flavoured milk cartons.

7) CoCo runs are inevitable for this addict.
8) One Zo is a close contender: having stunned with its unique drink profile and chewy, housemade flavoured pearls, it has unexpectedly climbed up the list at lightning speed, even going as far as to question my loyalty to the orange-centred drink chain.
The drinks are unmistakably pricier - especially given that One Zo does not offer a VIP discount - so it's probably not a bad thing that its only locations reside in North York and Chinatown (latter yet to be visited).

9) Elegant paper cuttings from this year's Chinese New Year Market
10) Post-waiting Banango Burst to soothe one's soul and stomach - the 5-hour wait for ASTRO was not easy.

11) Trying Touch in Sol's No Poreblem Primer as a substitute for Shiseido's now-discountinued Refining Makeup Primer

12) Who limits chocolate to Valentine's Day?! Ferrero Rocher is a year-round fave in this household.
13) Chinese New Year visuals comprising of homemade Nian Gao (sticky rice cake) and sesame tangyuan (storebought this time).

I also made a festive attempt to bedazzle my Matcha Latte. The Cheese Tart from Lucullus wasn't bad either.

Out & About #421 | Go Topoki + One Zo Tapioca (Round 2)

2/13/2018

Ddeokbokki - otherwise known as Korean rice cakes - are a specialized type of cuisine generally served street-style and slathered in vivid orange-red gochujang sauce. Usually only available from food carts, it was rather surprising to find a restaurant specifically offering up different styles of the starchy, cylindrical specimens. Its location, on the other hand, was less unexpected, for Yonge and Finch is home to an ever-evolving spectrum of food fads and trendy eateries.

Miss Rushka had visited Go Topoki before me, and reported back that she had enjoyed her time there. Other reviewers had praised both the authenticity and fusion aspect of the establishment, all while appreciating the smiley face-adorned utensils.

Stepping into the restaurant just a few minutes past noon, I was greeted with a spirited Korean welcome (어서 오세요), along with an unmistakable waft of oily fumes. Greasy, invisible odour clouds from the second floor kitchen infiltrated the entire restaurant, saturating everything and anything in its immediate vicinity. My freshly-washed hair could not escape the treacherous vileness.

Few guests filled the dining area on an early weekday afternoon, so I was given the opportunity to choose a table. Booths along the wall readily provided access to charging ports; a password-secured Wi-Fi network ensured that students and tech-saavy guests could remain connected whilst dining.

< Pictured above and below: Rose Topoki with Bacon and Fish Cake Stick (1 skewer) >

Dining alone automatically limited my options: I could no longer choose several varieties and share them with fellow guests. The classic Red Sauce would have suprassed my spice tolerance, though Brown Sauce (soy) appeared too basic. A Rose Topoki with Bacon was requested - it was depicted as a hybrid of the restaurant's Red and White sauces.

The hue leaned more towards a vibrant cheddar than the familiar salmon-toned rosé used in Italian pasta dishes, while its base notes comprised of red pepper-laced creaminess as opposed to floral-tinted tomato paste. Coated within the sauce were Korean rice cakes and finely-chopped pieces of bacon, onion, bell peppers, and a few brocolli florets. The final component of the shallow dish was a single sausage - rock-hard in appearance but well-textured in actuality.

Out & About #420 | Chinese New Year Market Feat. Aunty's Kitchen

2/11/2018

As a consequence of ASTRO's belated arrival at Pearson, the remainder of my Saturday afternoon plans had been discarded entirely.
The original plan was to attend a Chinese New Year Market following my return. This excursion was postponed to the next morning instead.

Attending the Chinese New Year Market is an annual tradition that succeeds in bringing out festive cheer and red-toned flair. Along with the regular spread of zodiac-themed merchandise, the team had added photo-ready props to the stage and a blanket of delicate string lights along the ceiling.

We stayed just past noon, just to catch a peek of the God of Wealth before departing for lunch. Sustenance in the form of vegetarian fare, wheel cakes, and hot/cold beverages were available for purchase at the venue, but the small portion sizes, long wait times (30 minutes for wagon wheels?!?), and previous dining experiences deterred us from dining.