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Out & About #443 | Collective April Visuals

4/30/2018

April showers bring May flowers.
If that's true then I expect cherry blossoms in full bloom within the next five days.

The first quarter of 2018 was a strange mix of sun, gloomy precipitation-filled periods, strong gusts, and - the most painful of them all - freezing rain and ice. With the conclusion of these thirty days, it is with utmost optimism that the upcoming days shall bear warmer temperatures and clear skies.

As always, here are some visuals to wrap up the month, some more reflective of indoor activities than others.

1) Accidental creation of Nutella Mousse
2) Oh-so-luscious Egg Yolk Lava Buns and freshly-steamed BBQ Pork Buns from Summit Garden have become my new (likely temporary) addiction.

Be mindful that such 小點 are only available during dim sum hours (ie. between 11 AM and 3:30 PM), where wait times can be extensive but sustenance is guaranteed fresh.

3) The formulation of an ideal Japanese-style Soufflé Pancake was undertaken as research, resulting in three experimental sessions. Some boasted superb texture, while others delivered visual appeal. Regardless, the desired height and consistency had failed to be attained, and so the saga continues.

4) CoCo and Matcha Lattes are musts in all types of weather.
5) Cold Foam Cappuccino and Cold Foam Cold Brew are wonderful introductions to the spring/summer menu at Starbucks

Out & About #442 | Sauga Things: SU&BU, Port Credit + Soufflé Pancake Trial

4/23/2018

Following the nerve-wrecking fiasco that was ticket sales for the upcoming Eyes On You World Tour, I can finally bring myself to discuss a few select other happenings throughout the week.
In case you were wondering, I utterly FAILED in securing a P1 ticket, and ultimately ended up purchasing backup P2 tickets - two tickets, in fact. Thankfully, not all hope was lost as a certain potato was subjected to ridiculous luck and managed to obtain P1 spots for every U.S. stop. (Let the NYC trip planning begin!)

When I dropped by the Toronto Coffee & Tea Expo last weekend, my sole purpose was to obtain matcha powder from Momo Tea. A delayed shipment led me to her online shop, where my order was processed in the blink of an eye.

Matsu and Take pouches arrived on my doorstep less 24 hours after the package had been shipped out. In its accompaniment was an elegant bag of melt-in-your-mouth candies.

Thank you Momo Tea!!

SU&BU, a fad eatery which I had taken the liberty of trying out upon Union Juice's closure, has made its way into Mississauga's largest shopping centre. Tucked away in a corner across from Dollarama instead of exposed to food court crowds, one would need to hunt for signs in order to spot the newcomer.

Their most popular item, the Sushi Burger, had been sold out during my downtown travels last year, so it seemed only reasonable to try it out. The OG Poké bowl was also requested. Both were intended as takeout dishes, in spite of the available seating in the vicinity.

My order was delivered to me in less than ten minutes - an appropriate wait time given off-peak weekday traffic and the quick-service nature of the establishment. However, this aside, there is little else to commend the franchise for.
Three to four members of staff worked the prepare orders; the only female member, in particular, seemed to focus on delivering items to the customer at the end of the ingredient bar.

Rarely did I observe her involvement in the handling of ingredients, yet the paper bag that was handed to me was absolutely revolting. Sauce stains, remnants of smushed avocado, and other questionable orange components stared me in the face. The bottom of the bag was greasy and sticky at the same time, posing a threat to the overall cleanliness of my vehicle.
Not a single plastic bag was provided for ease of handling, convenience, nor sake of sanity. Utensils, napkins, and the like were found at the end of the ingredient bar, without so much as a "It's right there. You can get it yourself." lazily uttered for guidance.

I had made grand efforts to ensure safe transport of the two orders. Upon reaching home, though, the paper bag proved no longer resilient enough to withstand the weight of the two items. As depicted above, a nasty tear propagated from the side, endangering the munch-ability of its contents. For reference, lifting forces originated from the top of the bag only; another hand was used to support the base of the bag. This case clearly proves the unreliability of using flimsy paper bags as carrying devices, especially given the weightiness of the contained items.

As if this wasn't frustrating enough of an occurrence, I unveiled the contents of the paper bag to be equally disgusting, if not to an even greater extent. Neither the Sushi Burger box had escaped half-hearted handling, nor the plastic container filled with the OG Poké.

It was beyond all reasoning how such a tremendous amount of greasiness and smashed ingredients could find their way onto each and every time that had come in contact with the food preparation assembly line AND failed to be cleaned off prior to the final hand-off. Germaphobe or not, this is an immensely grotesque sight to witness.

Out & About #441 | Partial April Visuals

4/19/2018

"When will spring come?"
This is likely the question that all East Coasters have been demanding to know. Snow, ice, and cold weather have overstayed their visit. The last two weeks of the month should mean the conclusion of April showers, as well exterior conditions that prompt outdoor explorations.

1) Breakfast in the form of an Iced Matcha Latte + Black Sesame QQ Bun from Bake Code
2) The ever-adored Thai Milk Tea (with a shot of espresso)
3) Current Sulley count at Square One: 9 units

4) Starbucks' Cold Foam Cappuccino
Taking advantage of Starbucks' Happy Hour to try the Cold Foam Cappuccino had been a wonderful decision! A triple shot combined with silky frothed milk ensured potency with a dainty aftertaste in every sip. There was a tad too many ice cubes for "light ice", however.

5) Sake Sakura gummies have landed at Squish despite Toronto weather taking a harsh turn for the cold.

6) Success was witnessed in creating a delicate feather impression utilizing milk foam. (Also observe the side of Almond Pulp Cookies.)
7) Trying CoCo's weekly specials for the CoCo Tea Day - er month? - promotion.

8) The Absolute World Towers on a balmy, cloudless afternoon
9) A slightly demonic expression was witnessed on my Almond Pulp Cake whilst fresh out of the oven.
10) When two McDonald's locations failed to serve up my desired Vanilla Cone in a Cup, the sole solution was to turn to Loblaws for chocolate-coated ice cream cones (and portable Nutella packets).

11) Iced Latte + Cheese Tart from Lucullus for breakfast
12) The full Snoopy collection has been completed!!! (More images later!)

Out & About #440 | Part 1: MeNami (Round 7) + Pacific Mall

4/15/2018

In line with this year's wacky weather was a freezing rain/ice storm - not to mention, in mid-April. Where we saw cherry blossoms bloom last year, the only petals observed this time were icy shards that attacked from all directions.

While most events had been cancelled or postponed due to the dangerous driving conditions, my own activities had not. Neither had the Coffee & Tea Expo that I was eagerly anticipating.

Prior to lunch, I made a stop at Bake Code to pick up a carby assortment for munching on throughout the upcoming week. Speaking with orangecane prompted the purchase of a Matcha Crème Croissant, while a Garlic Knot also caught my attention. Roasted Coffee Buns were also not exempted from the selection.
While I had once complained of the Euro-Asian bakery's steep prices, I can only admit that much relief was sustained in discovering that their regular croissants (you know, the tastier ones) were priced lower than that of the Charcoal variety.

Orangecane had once brought to my attention the location's DineSafe infraction. Though I had dismissed it at the time, their Significant sink-related infraction proved an issue after all: a centipede-like crawler had set up camp in one of the bathroom sinks.
There is no direct correlation between the state of their bathrooms and overall product hygiene, though it remains a factor to be kept in consideration.

My seventh visit to MeNami welcomed me with complete calmness - the restaurant was essentially empty due to poor weather conditions - and a distinctive menu change.

Instead of the filty, tattered sheets of paper tacked onto wooden clipboards, the udon specialty restaurant finally adopted hardcover menu booklets! The offerings were more or less identical, with the exception of a Tonkatsu appetizer; all listings were now accompanied with images and categorized for added clarity.

However, with all menu modifications comes the inevitable occurrence known as inflation.
MeNami's case is not dissimilar to other establishments. Over the course of its two-year operating period, some items have been removed, while others promoted. Trendy additions were tested before earning a permanent spot.

My high degree of familiarity with the menu led to the consolidation of this firsthand acquired data. Below is a comparison of the menu prices observed at three different points in time. (View the high-res versions below.)

MeNami Menu Price Evolution List
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MeNami Menu Price Evolution Graph
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The items of greatest interest to me were the Corn Kaki-age, which was subject to a fifty-cent increase, and the Smoked Salmon with Parsnip Sauce that was originally $10 but later jumped to $12.

There isn't a single patron that would necessarily appreciate gradually climbing price tag. However, I sincerely hope that the quality of food and service is upkept given these unfavourable price adjustments.

We ordered the Corn Kaki-age again on this around, as well as a Seaweed Salad to balance the lack of greens on the table. Personally, I would have preferred a more satisfying Yam Salad over the bowl of slimy wakame. Regardless, I appreciated the finely-sliced radish, light soy seasoning, and crunchy bits on top.

Potato Cream Curry Udon was a dish that I've been wanting to try since hearing an intriguing story from orangecane, a fellow food (and now K-Pop!) enthusiast.
The top layer consisted of airy, whipped potato piped ever so beautifully using cake decorating techniques. It was smooth and creamy, yet devoid of the usual satiating starchiness of mashed potatoes. Underneath was a mound of chewy Sanuki udon bathing in a flavourful, luscious curry sauce; hitting the ideal notes of sweet, savoury, and mild, the dish was a winner despite its minimal broccoli content.

Final aspect to note would the case of splashing potato cream. Much like the Black Sesame Purée Udon with Beef, the sticky, viscous sauce has a tendency to escape its serving apparatus when the noodles are picked up or pulled. On that note, ingesting the dish is a major task in itself. A spoon and fork are advised in place of wooden chopsticks.

View the full album HERE !

Seafood Yaki Udon was a little too reminiscent of the overly greasy Okonomiyaki attempted on a few visits back. Toppings of bonito flakes and Kyuupi mayo were predictable albeit tasty; seafood morsels appeared to be sourced from the same batch of ingredients as the Nagasaki Udon.
Shellfish does not rank high on my list of loves, though select pieces of mussel were proven tastier than expected. The sweetness was not perceived in all pieces, though, indicating a lack of uniform freshness. Cuttlefish rings (from Fresh Fried Ika) and bits of octopus were consumed with glee.

After nagging for a Pacific Mall trip for three consecutive weeks, my wish was granted. I could restock on toner once and for all!

It's official!! THE EYES ON YOU TOUR IS COMING TO TORONTO!!!!!

Unstable is my current mental state, as it has been - and shall continue to remain - until ticket sales take place this woeful Saturday.

Out & About #440 | Part 2: Toronto Coffee & Tea Expo + Nakayoshi Izagaya

4/15/2018

Read Part 1 HERE !

Having achieved our - well, my - shopping goals, it was time to head over to the final activity of the day.

The thought of attending an event at Evergreen Brick Works had always silently resided at the back of my mind, yet it wasn't until ochungg mentioned the Toronto Coffee & Tea Expo that the mere contemplation actualized into the experience I'm retelling. Where events entail admission fees, I tend to steer clear. Upon reviewing the list of vendors for expo, I was instantly intrigued.

Momo Tea, a vendor that I had the opportunity to discover at last year's Japan Festival, had garnered my profound affection since the moment Take was brewed. Upholding a breathtaking standard lightyears beyond Tsujiri's Ume no Shiro and even more luxurious than DAVIDsTEA's crème de la crème Ceremonial Matcha, I was instantly hooked.
As Momo Tea mainly operates online, at festivals/specialty shows, and select retailer(s) in East York, it was tremendously difficult to replenish the stash after use. In short, Momo Tea was the driving force behind my desire to attend the event.

Other familiar names such as Chaiwala and Propeller had also made the list, thus adding to the excitement.

The drive was certainly no easy feat. Lined with ice, patches of freezing puddles, and a slushy snow-like substance, ramps and exits required meticulous handling and a great deal of caution.

Locating the venue was a cinch, but what stood before our eyes was less impressive than imagined. The Toronto Coffee & Tea Expo was being held out of a covered warehouse, meaning that there would be no protection against the elements whatsoever. In addition to this, it was observed that parking would be enforced for every hour of stay. For such settings, where advance registration and admission fees are non-dismissable, it is illogical to charge parking fees. The weather conditions were disastrous enough.

Once inside, one was able to observe the range of vendors lined up along the interior perimeter. Dangling from the ceiling were delicate strings of lights and carnival-esque coloured flags.
The scene wasn't particularly busy, though there was still a larger turnout than expected given the ongoing ice storm.

By this point in time, we had missed all of the workshops, so observing Be A Barista from afar was no longer an option. Instead, we hobbled between stalls - some were offering samples while others engaged in demonstrating precise coffee grain sifting procedures, much like our Grain Size Distribution lab experiments.

Wooden hand grinders, laser cut coasters and macarons, and baked goods were also amongst the selection of offerings.

Out & About #439 | Daldongnae + Soul Café

4/8/2018

After several Hillcrest errands, it dawned upon us that it was lunch time.

McDonald's, whose yellow and red exterior could be clearly seen from the glass panels of Hudson's Bay, was the unanimous choice, both for convenience of location and the sake of finalizing my Snoopy collection.

As luck would have it though, the location did not carry the desired toy series, thus prompting me to cancel the Happy Meal order in favour of a McChicken combo instead.

And so the journey continues for the last Snoopy.

Approximately one month ago, I had proposed a multi-player game session at VR Zone to one of my hip friends. The plan was executed successfully, though our experience was far less impressive than my previous visit during the frigid winter months.
The girl behind the counter was not only rude and unhelpful, but was also adamant about not providing us with an extended play period due to setup delays and equipment malfunctioning. The entire process made it difficult for newcomers to enjoy their time and experience the visual potential of the apparatus.

Fast-forward to dinner time, we headed over to Daldongnae - another one of my suggestions. Korean barbecue (aka KBBQ) is generally not my top choice of cuisine: fumes are rampant and greasy, while meat is the obvious focus of the meal. As someone with a diet primarily consisting of greens, carbs, lean meats, and sugar (in the form of bubble tea), the realm of red meat remains relatively unexplored to me.

To be frank, I had never stepped foot in an authetic Korean barbecue restaurant; my party had never been large enough, and there was never incentive to dine at an establishment where one would depart reeking of the table's selection (or that of the tables adjacent).

Despite being located within close proximity to TORCH, the strip shares a different asphalt lot from the Hair Bank side of shops. Six parking spots can be found immediately outside the restaurant, though not a single spot was vacant at our time of arrival. Eventually, we settled on the unenforced residential area along Connaught, only later to re-position when a spot opened up.

According to the half of our party who had entered the premises first, there had been a minimal wait of ten minutes for the general dining area, which featured wooden booths along the wall and several round tables with backless, barrel seats in the central corridor. A brighter, non-drinking area was situated at the back of the restaurant, presumably for families or groups with small children.

Little to no guidance was provided to us by the waitresses. Menus had been set down, but neither introductions nor instructions were delivered until we inquired about recommendations. Many of the girls stuttered while responding in English. Some were forgetful, while others were nearly impossible to flag down.

Ultimately, we settled for one order each of the Pork Belly (No. 1 on the "pork" listings) and Beef Rib Eye Roll (No. 5 on the "beef" side). An Oden Soup was also requested.

Out & About #443 | Collective April Visuals

Out & About #442 | Sauga Things: SU&BU, Port Credit + Soufflé Pancake Trial

Out & About #441 | Partial April Visuals

Out & About #440 | Part 1: MeNami (Round 7) + Pacific Mall

Out & About #440 | Part 2: Toronto Coffee & Tea Expo + Nakayoshi Izagaya

Out & About #439 | Daldongnae + Soul Café

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Out & About #443 | Collective April Visuals

Out & About #442 | Sauga Things: SU&BU, Port Credit + Soufflé Pancake Trial

Out & About #441 | Partial April Visuals

Out & About #440 | Part 1: MeNami (Round 7) + Pacific Mall

Out & About #440 | Part 2: Toronto Coffee & Tea Expo + Nakayoshi Izagaya

Out & About #439 | Daldongnae + Soul Café

Who Am I?

Archives

Categories

WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

Contact ME

​Subscribe

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