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Out & About #334 | Collective April Visuals

4/30/2017

April showers bring May flowers, but it looks like this year might have tossed that theory in reverse.

With the exception of a few overcast days, the majority of the month comprised of mildness with a slight breeze. Such conditions were favourable for outdoor explorations (I should have debuted my bike ride of the year), namely strolling around the downtown core and midtown attractions.

Behold the second round-up of this month's (primarily gustatory and K-Pop-related) visuals!

1) Homemade Matcha Latte + Kinako Adzuki and Matcha Chiffon Cakes for breakfast

2) Exploring Koreatown for the first time by means of a less environmentally-friendly option: the household automotive
3) Reunited with my adorable fur babies at the Disney store (Eaton Centre Sulley count: 4)

4) The best exam pick-me-ups: Bubble Gaga and Three Guys
5) Late afternoon snack involving a seriously sticky Pecan Roll from Panera Bread, which really is more of an inverted cinnamon roll, but with glazed pecans in place of cinnamon
6) CoCo Tea Richmond Hill is as much of a knockoff as the Metro Square location: visible reduction of toppings, no points for promo items, no bathrooms, weak English communication skills, and minimal parking - need I say more?

7) I never truly recognized the significance of LINE Bubble 2 in my life until my account was accidentally reset and all 600+ stages' worth of game data was relinquished to the black hole of a server. Retrieving lost data did not prove successful, so the one and only solution that remained was to re-tackle the stages in hopes of quickly regaining game stamina. This strategy has been proving tolerable thus far.
Happy 2nd Anniversary, LINE Bubble!

8) Various munching randoms

9) An insufficient egg-to-rice ratio yielded a semi-successful lunch of omurice. (Ketchup decor couldn't be exempted, obviously. Ahem 진영~)

10) Despite the incredulous amount of negative publicity and pre-airing scandals that surfaced, one cannot suppress curiosity regarding the second season of Produce 101. Incredulous talent is harnessed within this year's contenders, and I honestly can't wait for the upcoming group/rap/dance/vocal battles!

Among the 98 trainees (as of Episode 4 anyway), two in particular have caught my attention. Pink-haired Kang Daniel (강다니엘) from Busan is a confident dancer/rapper overflowing with irresistible charm; hailing from Fantagio (ie. ASTRO's company!), Ong Seungwoo (옹성우) is dance prodigy with crazy coordination and an aura of sleek sophistication. The two have captured my heartstrings as the trainee-version of 왕개박개 (Hehehe).

Out & About #333 | Toronto Travels: SU&BU, Nohohon, and Distillery District

4/29/2017

This mortal will travel for food, no matter the distance or convenience (or lack thereof). If the spot or desired dish in question is sufficiently intriguing, a entire trip may be planned out for the sake of satisfying such an interest.

With news of Nohohon's temporary closure and relocation, I couldn't help but feel a sudden pang of anxiety. The urge to rush downtown to coat myself in zen was prominent, and soon resolved to a trip down the Gardiner on a Saturday afternoon.

The entire journey lasted over an hour long: ramps were closed, cars were slow, and congestion was absolutely ridiculous. A full 65 minutes passed before we managed to inch our way down the Jarvis exit, then creep up Parliament with only slight improvement.

Our first stop of the day was lunch. While I had initially slid into the driver's seat with minimal appetite, the tedious, gas-squandering trip had left me hunched over and ready for something substantial.
The poke phase has more or less adjourned for me after two seasons of hunting down the best spot in the city (1, 2, 3), but Sushi Burgers remained an item of interest.

SU&BU had taken over Union Juice's previous location at King and John some few months ago, and I had patiently awaited the opportunity to swing by while pointing out my most frequented City office building.

The inside was more hectic than expected for 2 PM on a Saturday, with naive-looking Chinese students dressed in business casual hovering around the attached Presotea booth. Perhaps a nearby CPA test had cause this influx, as the remainder of the space was still relatively unoccupied.

SU&BU had actually removed some of the seating area to make room for a bubble tea-specific extension, significantly reducing the amount of space for customers to move around and wait in line. Bar seats remained the same, but with smaller stools, a grimier surface, and the additional placement of napkin holders. Hooks were in complete absence, meaning that all bags were to either be hugged closely during meal consumption or placed on the tiny neighbouring seat that caught as many tobiko fallouts as the floor.
The once conveniently-situated garbage bins had now been shifted to the eastmost end of the store - an area that almost unreachable once a group of noisy friends had blocked off the corridor to chat away at meaningless topics I wanted no part of.

In all honesty, the washrooms weren't much better. While I cannot compare SU&BU to its precedessor - I hadn't been aware that Union Juice had a washroom at all, it is not difficult to conclude my negative impressions of the space.
Two individual stalls were present for customer use: one standard and one accessible. The standard featured a urinal-shaped sink and, once again, an absence of bag hooks; the accessible one was a tad more spacious and included a more user-friendly sink. Neither was particularly clean, nor painted with a high degree of proficiency.

The menu adopted a similar LED screen layout as Union Juice, but voluntarily provided a seriously peevish pop-up that would cover several menu items and their descriptions. The staff member attempting to assist us was incompetent at best: from his indifferent attitude to obvious resentment of his physical presence, I would have walked right out had I not been famished from the lengthy drive.

"Can you please turn the pop-up off?"
"We can't. It just appears." came his snide response. "It's not like it's blocking anything anyway.", completely dismissing the fact that half of two menu items had been hidden from view.

Patience rapidly deteriorating, we settled for a half portion of the Sensei Sushi Burrito and the Poke Nachos. The Sushi Burger had been "sold out" for the day, which was odd considering the mite of a weekend lunch rush. He ought to have told us that they simply hadn't prepared any at all.

The sushi burritos were available in half or full portions, however this did not necessarily mean easier economic decisions. I liked that white sushi rice could be swapped for purple rice, but that the extent of my joy. A leaking pocket of sauce, non-existent marination, and mediocre quality ingredients surely did not justify its $7.99 price tag; the most disappointing of all was the tacky quality retained by the fish. The messy mini meal wasn't even fresh.

Poke Nachos were a $9.99 atrocity. Deep fried wonton skins coated with synthetic cheese, tobiko, and an excessive amount of sauce was the definition of fushion "comfort" food gone wrong. Intended to be served warm, the shop's rendition was kept chilled to maintain texture of the fish, but this also meant that cheese shreds were firm and rigid instead of melty and gooey. Sriracha aioli was a suitable addition to counter tooth-splitting wonton chips, as the stiff triangles possessed absolute blandness.
Salmon and tuna chunks were in abundance, but ineptly added to the "chips" for a disjointed combination.

Out & About #332 | The First Blossom + Outpost Coffee Roasters

4/24/2017

Not even a week had passed before the spring highlights of High Park made their long awaited appearance. It was official: the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and the magnitude of congestion had amounted to the people's same extent of excitement.

We hopped onto the Gardiner on a late Monday afternoon in hopes of catching a glimpse of this natural wonder before rainfall was to hit the GTA in the upcoming days. While traffic had been light, the scene at the park entrance was an entirely different view.
K-Pop played on shuffle to ease impatience and soothe nerves, though it didn't quite mask the fact that we only made inches of progress with the wrapping up of each song.

Eventually, we found ourselves amidst the cherry blossom trees and ecstati selfie-snappers; some were young couples, others small families (Do people not have jobs to attend to?!). Slowly but surely, we creeped along the curved one-way path towards The Grenadier, until a middle-aged man strode across the pathway, keys in hand.

Luck had been bestowed upon us! I snagged the spot with swiftness, then proceeded with manuever through Cantonese-speaking aunties and uncles for shots of the pale pink flowers.

Picnics and family photoshoots were in full swing, making photobombing more intentional than accidental. There was no doubt that every level shot would involve a foggy, illuminated silhouette.
I set out to conquer this challenge, undeterred by my absentmindedness at having forgotten a reflector for the astonishingly sunny weather.

For the duration of our shortlived stay, it was observed that majority of park visitors would try their best to avoid intruding in the space of others while evident photo-taking processes were carried out. Some citizens did not abide by this common courtesy, however.
While in search of pretty petals, I was interrupted once by a rude bunch of amateurs attempting to capture a backlit portrait image with a cut-rate, panel-type car reflector (Excuse yourself, thank you very much!) and twice by a visor-donning middle-aged woman for making physical contact with the tree branches. Though I suppose neither was nearly as frustrating as being crowded by baby strollers and picnic blankets in close proximity.

View the full album HERE !

Out & About 331 | Duo Patisserie & Cafe Preview

4/22/2017

Eclairs, macarons, petits fours - these French pastries share the similarities of being visually impressive and labour intensive. With Nadege, Nugateau, Delysees, and many other independent bakery-cafes making waves for their respective specialties in Toronto, there's an alternate option for comparable treats in the uptown region.

Located in the same plaza as Go for Tea's old location on Commerce Valley Drive and neighbours to It's A Bao Time and The Captain's Boil is quaint pastry shop-cafe hybrid by the name of duo Patisserie & Cafe.

The ceilings are tall, but effective dining area is minimal. duo consists of several small tables for dine-in clients, a long, narrow refrigerated glass case for showcasing various pastry and bakery items, and a decently large kitchen at its further depths. Hovering in the centre of the shop is a small selection of dainty packaged goods ranging from artisan chocolate bark to mini madeleines to loose tea leaves.

Not particularly a fan of these costly elaborate pastries myself, I was on a mission to obtain an item that would bring pleasure to my favourite fangirl.

For first-timers, there was little to no acknowledgement nor assistance provided when we made our entry. Customers were expected to line up along the length of the display case, relay their order(s) to the cashier, and merely linger until the boxes were packed.
Undecisive and unfamiliarity with the menu was a problem, as this quickly caused queuing and a state of confusion for the customers that followed suit. Albeit the incredible degree of clarity on the labes resting in front of the available pastry options, there was seemingly no other method of data assembly available except standing in front of each item to read their simplified ingredient and allergen list. The two frontline members of staff managing the shop were also found incapable of providing adequate information and product details to further our understanding of the items before our eyes.

Some ten minutes later, our picks were finally narrowed down (with difficulty) to Pearl, Yuco, Mont Blanc, Tatin, and a Pain au Chocolat; the five pieces came to a jaw-dropping total of thirty five dollars and forty three cents.

Pearl adopted the demure attitude of an oyster, presenting a textured swirl of mint cream and spoonful of chopped mangos barely encased in a choux pastry. A light dusting of what appeared to be lime zest floated on the protruding edges of the cream filling.
As one of the patisserie's best sellers, I would presume the texture and flavour profile to satisfy even the pickiest of cream puff enthusiasts. Personally, I did not try this and therefore cannot comment on its degree of satisfaction, or lack thereof.

View the full album HERE !

Out & About #330 | Downtown Errands Feat. Cherry Blossoms at Eaton

4/21/2017

"You've probably gained a good amount of arm muscle from carrying so many bags all the time - HARD CARRYing."

While this was uttered in a much more casual manner, I can't deny occhung's skillful incorporation of my all-time favourite title track into our conversation. Her interpretation of my muscle-straining, errand-running adventure through the core and onto a ridiculously overloaded streetcar during rush hour provided some relief to my claustrophobia-inducing torture.

As a person who is minimalist in nature, it probably comes as a surprise that a completely contradicting theory is exercised when assembling a day trip carryall, regardless if it's a hiking excursion spanning several hours or a shopping trip with my favourite fangirl.

I dragged the fangirl in question, unintentionally so, throughout Eaton for the sake of checking out a few things I've had my eyes on. Prior to this, though, was a quick meal at Pizzeria Bosco within the Richtree Market.

Orange-yellow lighting, grease-filled fumes, and sticky tables made up the bulk of the dining area. Richtree adopted an Urban Eatery style of dining by means of providing various cuisine options within the same area and by replacing garbage bins with clean-up areas and constantly revolving staff members; the differences lay in that the area offered much less illumination than generic mall food courts and that majority of the bar seats offered outlets.

My Hawaiian Chef's Slice emerged quickly from the stone oven after a brief re-heating, but the made-to-order Proscuitto Arugula Pizza required significantly lengthier preparation time. Although I didn't taste the 10-inch personal pizza, it was observed that the toppings, while standard, were fresh.
The Hawaiian single slice, which came to six dollars after tax, was equivalent to two regular slices from pizza pizza; a combo option (canned soft drink) was available for an extra toonie. It featured tacky tomato sauce, stubby, firm bits of pineapple, and even firmer edges of crust. In short, it definitely wasn't my cup of tea, but speedy enough for satisfying pre-retail therapy emptiness. Time permitted, banh mi would have been a far tastier and economic option (DineSafe measures aside).

We then embarked on a stroll through the shopping centre, stopping first outside Nordstrom's south entrance to snap some shots of the artifical cherry blossoms (ahem High Park) as well as the not-so-syntethic yellow tulips.

The Korean beauty pop-up shop within the department store has now evolved into a colourful clothing and accessory booth with a smaller selection of sheet masks. In its stead are vivid pink shelves and futuristic-looking ensembles more suited to the runway than the sidewalk.
Interesting finds were a "SJYP" sweater - team SM or JYP?? - and a plush taco with a furry side profile reminiscent of ground beef.

Dineen Coffee was the immediate stop following Uniqlo. An extremely fashion-conscious friend of mine had consistently raved about the cafe's espressos and cortados to the point where the name (and address) had been embedded in my brain.

Out & About #329 | Planta

4/17/2017

Keep an open mind, keep an open mind. I reminded myself again and again.

The menu, as viewed online, was needlessly elaborate for the type of fare being served, complicating basic appetizers with supposedly complex condiments and tacking on price tags sufficient enough to rival that of an upscale diner like Momofuku.
Well, it is Yorkville after all.

Ever since our first encounter at Teara Lab, feedthebear and I have attempted two potential meet-ups in the Markham/Scarborough area, both of which emerged unsuccessful due to schedule and logistics conflicts. For the rare weekday she happened to be unoccupied, we contemplated several spots in the GTA before finally settling for a downtown spot upon her recommendation.

Planta, in all its exposed brick and glass panel glory, can be easily spotted upon exiting Bay station at its west exit on Bay Street. Seldom does the opportunity for me to venture to the luxury retail region of the core arise, and even rarer is the chance for a proper sit-down meal as I'm usually hopping from one spot to another with minimal time to spare.

We arrived shortly before noon to find, in the most literal sense possible, a largely empty restaurant.
The establishment boasted high ceilings (with shrubbery peeking out from allotted rectangular spots), plants of varying sizes in almost every nook and cranny, construction materials ranging from sleek lacquered pillars to the same exposed brick formation used for the exterior, and a mindblowing assortment of geometric light fixtures. The black and white base theme was largely minimal, yet the boxy details and splashes of rose gold added sophistication as well as cohesion.

Additionally, there was a private party room located on the ground floor, separated by sliding doors for added intimacy. The ultimate level of exclusivity was reserved for the upper level dining room - it was half the size of that of the first floor but thrice as intimating in terms of aura, emitting a forceful "You don't belong here" vibe.

Interior design was phenomenal to say in the least - even the washroom stall doors featured rose gold locks! The musty-hued seats could have undergone some degree of hygiene refreshing though.

We were able to choose a rather quiet table near the tall window panes before the tumultuous lunch rush, and were soon provided menus by the raglan top-clad waitress. She presented us with two options for aqua replenishment: cold tap water infused with lemon and cucumber or bottled water for an additional charge. The former choice was poured into handle-less glass mugs with a textured bubble surface.

I had already reviewed the generic lunch menu in its digital form prior to our arrival, though hadn't been particularly keen on any of their offerings. While exclusive to the dine-in visit, the monthly special and drink menus placed before us did not assist in the decision-making process either.

Before we realized, the atmosphere had become a tad rowdy with lady lunch-goers, making it increasingly urgent to draw to a conclusion.
After much debate (and Insta-research), the Beet & Carrot Tartare, Peas & Rice, Beauty and the Beet were requested. My utterance of the side dish had earned me a subtle eyebrow raise and change of tone, but I wasn't about to doubt my choice until witnessing the dish.

Beauty and the Beet arrived well-chilled in a lovely, coconut-flake-rimmed cocktail glass and with an unmistakable magenta hue. The vibrancy of the shade was well juxtaposed with a sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes and simple black straw.
While I cannot recall the exact components of the beverage, I recall the inclusion of Planta juice, a housemade cold-pressed juice of beets and mint. The first sip was an overwhelming hit of mouthwash-strength mint.

"This taste is all too familiar" I thought, "Ah, it's toothpaste!"

Beet juice was plenty, but not as abundant as crushed ice. For every sip of flesh-staining liquid, there were three solid spoonfuls of ice. It didn't take me long to discover that eleven dollars had brought me a cup of ice, some mouthwash-like concoction, and a frail amount of discernible gin. Quite a shame really - the coconut flakes were fragrant, despite the fact that they contributed absolutely no impact to the beverage.

The Beet & Carrot Tartare was the second to arrive. Its multi-toned appearance was reflective of its description: a layered mound of plant-based ingredients topped with buttery smooth avocado (that was further enhanced with a splash of olive oil) and generous sprinkle of tortilla chip dust.

Out & About #328 | Easter Brunch, High Park, and Koreatown Things

4/16/2017

The desire for Easter brunch came swiftly but surely with the coming of my last examination. It seemed the most proper method of celebrating the termination of another semester and wrapping up my somewhat nonexistent Easter weekend.

Of course, last-minute ideas aren't always easy to execute. After being reminded that many restaurants would likely be filled with reservations, I took to my trust pal, known otherwise as Chrome, to bring forth the next available and uniquely distinct option. Some offered Chicken & Waffles and others a Mexican twist on a standard American breakfast; but alas, none fit the bill (or the budget, for that matter)

Instead of hauling myself to a potentially disappointing experience for a fifteen-dollar platter of greasy eggs and burnt toast, I took matters into my own hands: an exclusive in-house brunch it was!

The menu stemmed from a compilation of Pinterest images, relevant Insta-feeds, and several of my favourite online cooking channels. Within an hour and a half, a trio of munch-ready dishes was prepared and promptly devoured.

French Toast is a timeless treat meant for indulgence and sugar cravings; an elevated version meant Stuffed French Toast. In order to take the dish to new savoury heights, I once again drew inspiration from SORTED Food's Levelled Up Grilled Cheese to craft a gloriously glossy French Toast Grilled Cheese, complete with fresh apple slices, thick fluffy bread slices, and a drizzle of honey. A poached egg and yogurt sauce accompanied the maple butter-sautéed dish to the table.

Omelettes are also no stranger to the breakfast game, though my interest lay with the wispy thin variety that packed a revitalizing punch with diced cherry tomatoes. The fitness-conscious mortals' favourite source of "healthy fat" - also known as the "avocado" to the general public - was arranged atop in its overripe entirety, along with pickled ginger and a light dusting of pork floss.

Out & About #328 | Ryu's Noodle Bar (Takeout) + Little Pebbles

4/16/2017

For Part 1 of this Easter Sunday adventure, click HERE !

While en route home, it was mentioned that few leftovers had remained from the previous nights, thus prompting a divergence into the incredibly hectic downtown core.

I suggested Ryu's Noodle Bar, a laidback spot on Baldwin (east of Spadina) not too far from Kinton 1. It was a ramen joint that I had always remained curious towards, but hadn't managed to find a day to visit due to the fact that it simply did not fall along my regular route of interest.
Calling in advance to place an order, we were delighted to find the shop open despite the Easter holiday and requested their top three non-spicy picks: Shoyu, Shio, and Pork Blaster w/ Miso.

Securing a temporary parking spot on the cramped one-way street was an arduous task in itself, so the swift and friendly service of the staff at Ryu's truly made the pick-up process significantly more enjoyable. The order had already been placed in a foodora paper bag with the inclusion of napkins neatly wound around disposable chopsticks and my name written clearly on the overhanging receipt.

The broths and noodles were stored in separate containers within orderly knotted plastic bags and labelled with an incredible amount of clarity. Extra precautions had been taken by sealing the broth-containing tubs with tape.

Shoyu and Shio both featured thin noodles in a savoury broth of medium viscosity as well as two slices of pork - one fatty and one lean.
In addition to chashu, the soy sauce-based ramen consisted of arugula, bamboo shoots, and a few camouflaged red pepper threads that were milder than they appeared to be. The lean piece of pork was rather uniform in terms of fat distribution, while the more unctuous piece presented meat and fat in distinctive segments.

Out & About #327 | Mid-April Visuals

4/15/2017

To have one's final examinations scheduled within the first week of the testing period is both a blessing and a nightmare. Three exams in two days? - no biggie right.

By the time someone reads this, I'll probably be furiously flipping through pages of the CDH while metaphorically clasping my hands in solemn prayer that reinforced concrete will have mercy on my poor, non-structurally-adept brain.

For the first time since entering this program, this term marks the very first opportunity to conclude the academic year before the third- (or second-) last day of the month. It also inadvertently means taking the necessary measures to curb procrastination (pfft) and adopting the unsocial lifestyle of a house hermit, which may or may not have cause sharp weight gain in the process.

As a resulting consequence of being locked indoors, figuratively speaking anyway, I've accumulated quite a few pinhole camera-quality visuals. Here are some mid-month images to summarize my sedentary cramming sessions:

1) GOT7 - FLIGHT LOG: ARRIVAL

MY ALBUMS HAVE FINALLY ARRIVED!!!!

Hi 왕개박개!

Behold the beauty of the Never and Ever versions, plus the pre-order Log Books.

2) CoCo's April special of Three Guys and Bubble Gaga is likely the monthly deal warranting the greatest value yet! Extremely generous topping portions are an added bonus.

3) Yellow-hued staple snack groups (aka orangecane's favourites)
4) Yuzu-Sour Plum slushies have been my go-tos as of late
5) Attempts at latte art
6) Uncle Tetsu's delectableTriple Baked Cheese Tarts courtesy of my favourite fangirl

7) I can finally claim victory in conquering the Tapas menu at MeNami!

8) Unwrapping too cool for school's Highline eye liner, just to find it defective and in need of return

Out & About #326 | MeNami, Pacific Mall, and Sushi Bong

4/2/2017

“I’m a person that makes lists and pulls through each of them” read one of the multiple choice options from a personality test I completed one summer. And it’s true: simple to-do lists are the simplest way to list out responsibilities by priority and complete them in a sequential manner.
My affection for MeNami has been widely proclaimed throughout this space, and from this day forward, I can officially state that I have tasted every single item on their Tapas menu. That’s one item crossed off my list of gustatory achievements.

After a period of chills and bleak skies, we headed to North York for a late Sunday lunch on the mildest day of the week. Given the balmy temperatures and cloudless wash of blue over our heads, it was anticipated that the udon & sake bar would be busier than normal, thus prompting a last-minute call to reserve a table.

The girl who picked up had a difficult time making out my words initially, but ultimately set aside a small table for us. With traffic conditions in our favour, the destination of choice was attained significantly earlier than expected; our arrival coincided with the conclusion of the first lunch rush, which consequently permitted shifting to a more spacious, well-lit spot than the cramped table we first received. Regardless, I deeply appreciated the hostess/waitress’ efforts – having to wait for a table would have meant much more frustration than being seated in a dim section of the restaurant. (Inefficiency does not consociate with my life motto.)

Since my last visit in December, a seasonal selection consisting of Potato Cream Curry Udon, Dondeki (pork jowl steak with the appearance of teriyaki chicken), and Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches had been introduced and tacked onto the regular menu. Beef Sashimi, also known as 육회 in Korean, was the single new addition to the Tapas menu.

The seasonal specials seemed to pale in comparison to the standard selection: Potato Cream Curry sounded gimmicky (and essentially looked like carb overkill), while Dondeki was too similar to Katsuya’s tonkatsu layouts for my liking. Never one to enjoy macarons in their sugary, meringue-like wholesomeness, I suggested dismissing the trio. Instead, the two remaining untried items were requested, along with the Beef Sashimi and Black Sesame Puree Udon with Beef.

Fresh Fried Okra made its appearance first. This vegetarian dish was of particular interest to me, since okra is a crunchy-sticky variety of greens that is difficult to incorporate. Its description was brief but mentioned the use of wasabi salt, another ingredient I hadn’t witnessed elsewhere.
Six pieces of battered whole okra was presented to us atop a thin chevron plate and white draining paper. Its texture and flavour profile was entirely unexpected: while a bit too generous on the sodium, the coarse wasabi salt camouflaged the internal tackiness of the vegetable, transferring the focus to the wispy thin casing. Needless to say, I was pleased with this economically-priced discovery.

Next came the Crispy King Prawn, followed by Korea’s take on beef tartare.

On a general note, I’m usually not too fond of shellfish nor red meat. However, these two dishes took me by complete surprise. Crispy King Prawn was characterized by a popping, fiery glow: a glorious mountain of aonori-topped taro shreds strategically sat on top of a pyramid formed by delectably crunchy prawn. The structure supported a glassy orange drizzle of habanero chili sauce.
As a party of mild spice tolerance, this appetizer was admittedly spicy for our tastes. Despite this, a medley of sweet (and slightly sour) seasonings could still be perceived through the speckled blaze. The vibrant red pepper flakes within the sauce added texture as well as visual appeal. It was exceptionally enjoyable, even for mortals with vulnerable tolerances such as myself.

For vegans and/or animal-lovers, 육회 would be a dish that I’d recommend skipping. The mound of string-like fleshiness would be enough to make animal rights enthusiast curl up in indignance, or vegetarians flee from disgust and disappointment. Adopting the saturated pink tones commonly sighted at your regular butcher shop, this egg yolk-topped dish definitely isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

View the full album HERE !

From the perspective of someone whose body doesn’t process red meat too proficiently, I took baby steps in conquering this dish. The base was comprised of shredded Asian pear, bits of (macadamia? pine?) nuts, and thin stalks of an unspecified source of fibre. With a refreshing and nutty aura established, I ventured upwards with a mouthful of smooth, yet textured marinated beef.
The taste was reminiscent of marinated bulgogi, with present in a form possessing both chewiness and unthinkable silkiness. Not a single tough bit was tasted, not a vein was in sight. It left behind a formidable impression that had me reaching for several more bites.

Out & About #334 | Collective April Visuals

Out & About #333 | Toronto Travels: SU&BU, Nohohon, and Distillery District

Out & About #332 | The First Blossom + Outpost Coffee Roasters

Out & About 331 | Duo Patisserie & Cafe Preview

Out & About #330 | Downtown Errands Feat. Cherry Blossoms at Eaton

Out & About #329 | Planta

Out & About #328 | Easter Brunch, High Park, and Koreatown Things

Out & About #328 | Ryu's Noodle Bar (Takeout) + Little Pebbles

Out & About #327 | Mid-April Visuals

Out & About #326 | MeNami, Pacific Mall, and Sushi Bong

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