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Out & About #467 | Collective June Visuals

6/30/2018

I profess: I don't remember much of this month taking place. Compressed within the past while has been the craze of Convocation, an utterly packed weekend, a three-day excursion up north in Barrie, and a stifling amount of backlog to dig through. Technological difficulties have also been popping up here and there, ensuring that not a second was surrendered to rest or sleep.

Physical exhaustion aside, I've been keeping busy with at-home experiments and the occasional social hangout for my sanity's sake.

1) Kitchen Projects including Orange Chiffon Cake (with Orange-Infused Whipped Cream and Candied Oranges) and Orange Marmalade
2) Salsa Fried Rice - because kimchi was obsolete in our refrigerator

3) Sephora purchases including an extra adorable double-tipped eyeliner from tarte

The star detail and sparkling packaging is quite a stunner indeed.

4) Sampling my Orange Chiffon Cake and constructing a trifle to-go with the crumbled cake fragments

5) Scorching summer days (read: 40 degrees and over) call for fruity iced beverages. For maximum customization, crafting from scratch is the way to go! (Orange peel and leftover tapioca was also added for chewiness.)
6) Someone had accidentally purchased the larger 1-kilogram jar of Nutella - but hey, I'm not complaining.
7) Low-res recaps of our meals in Barrie: Pie Wood and The Blue Willow

Out & About #466 | North York Trip

6/28/2018

The heat wave has begun - just in time for GOT7's arrival too.

In dire need of obtaining a new sunscreen, a journey to the east side of the GTA was drafted, specifically centered around Pacific Mall and its Korean beauty aisle.

Some 50 minutes of riding across congested freeways, we made it to our first stop: Lunch at MeNami.

The feeling of visiting an old favourite is pleasant, even if it entails some unwarranted price raises.

Never ceasing to die in popularity was the Corn Kaki-age. I also took the opportunity to suggest the Roasted Pork Belly, for the opportunity to try it last time it was delivered to the table was negated due to a high number of dishes. The greasiness of the slices were a bit overbearing for someone that rarely eats fatty fare; surging forward to aid the digestion process were tasty pickled onions.

San Pellegrino was the more economic alternative for a virgin cocktail. Confined within was the same satisfying sparkle, ringing in at $3 per 250ml bottle instead of its carefully (bar)tendered, seven-dollar counterparts.
In retrospect though, it was significantly smaller than the bottles offered at other establishments for the same price (minus Lake House).

Our waitress, whom I recall from our visit shortly after the Kipling ceremony, deserves special mention. Despite bearing the burden of the hostess, dining floor waitress, as well as patio waitress, she remained amiable, efficient, and intuitive during the entire visit. Items were delivered with exceptional speed and grace, while requests were administered in the same agile manner.

The next destination was where the concept of a North York trip had originated: Pacific Mall.

The Korean beauty aisle has more or less remained the same as during a certain potato's visit to the North side of the border. Solely different was Missha's relocation from their spot across from Debbie Cosmetics to the main aisle that houses Aritaum and IT's SKIN.

Observations from this visit include:
- Tony Moly's weekday staff is often rude, but it's rare for them to utterly ignore and forget the membership discount.
- M Brand now carries BT21 character cushions; its authenticity demands a judgement call and discerning eye.
- Majority of beauty brands are holding seasonal sales to rid winter hues
- The Face Shop is officially taking in Dr. Belmeur and VDL to supplement sales
- I will remain forever weak to GOT7 as beauty brand spokespeople

I feel the need to elaborate - and possibly clarify? - on my final remark.

Taped to the front of the store was reusable white tote bag bearing Jackson's face on one side, and BamBam's on the other. It was the version 1 release, but I was intrigued nonetheless.

Out & About #465 | Wedding Reception at The Doctor's House

6/24/2018

Our three-day excursion in Barrie concluded with a well-deserved detour to Starbucks - one can only withstand a caffeine-free diet for so long, after all.

Having been deprived of quality matcha from Momo Tea for at least two weeks, I opted for an Iced Microground Green Tea Latte, considering that the hot version had been adequately appetizing. Near the entrance of the shop was a sign notifying patrons of newly launched beverages, with the Mango Dragonfruit Refresher as one of them.

I resorting to adding bits of the fruity elements into my iced latte for the best of both worlds, ultimately creating an intriguing yet mildly confusing pink-green gradient. Either owed to the hefty amount of ice ("Light Ice" people!) or insufficient matcha powder, the concoction emerged bland and watery.

The rest of the afternoon was a blur of laundry and unpacking, immediately succeeded by a trip to Kleinburg for the purpose of attending feedthebear's wedding reception.

Due to schedule conflicts, I was unfortunately unable to participate in the ceremony at Casa Loma. Regardless, it was a definite honour to earn an invitation to such a wonderful celebration.

Situated north of Vaughan, I had anticipated The Doctor's House to involve a forty-plus-minute drive. Thankfully, the route wasn't as fearful, nor as lengthy, as Google Maps had predicted. As I turned uphill onto a quaint, quiet street reminiscent of Main Street Unionville, I had counted less than half an hour of active driving time.

The venue comprised to two floors, each featuring a banquet hall and bar area, along with a contained steakhouse. Cocktail time and hors d'oeuvre rotation commenced at 6 PM sharp, which the time that many guests began to pull in. Parking was ample, especially considering the size of the building; there was a vast asphalt lot in addition to the more accessible spots surrounding the accessway.

The ceremony was initiated in a very orderly and thoughtful manner. A Chinese wedding tea ceremony took place while guests meandered through the various tables in search of their designated seat. As the clock neared 8PM, servers carrying hors d'oeuvres gradually faded into the background, allowing the emcee to introduce the families of the bride and groom, the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and, of course, the newlywed couple themselves.

Heartfelt speeches, games, and audience interaction took place between the delivery of each dish. The entire meal was approximated to span between 8 PM to 11 PM, inclusive of the final dance segment and the announcing of Free Dance time.

Upon each table was a floral centrepiece of pale pink and white flowers. Surrounding the slightly shriveled petals were jugs of water and sparkling water, chilled white and red wine, and condiments.
Bread rolls were served amidst the first game: while placed onto our table in a napkin-lined wire basket, the mounds were not warm. Stale and dry in appearance, I cannot comment further as I did not try any of these varieties for the sake of saving stomach space.

A vivid Butternut Squash Soup was the appetizer of the evening. Its warmth and substantial chunkiness was comforting to many of us, seeing as it was nearing 9 PM by this point and many of us had yet to consumer a proper meal. Neither too runny nor viscous in consistency, it was clear that the soup had employed blending of the seasonal vegetable, instead of merely relying on preserved flavour enhancers.

The squiggle on its surface was quite concerning, might I add, for it was neither milk nor cream. The trails had hardened and congealed without forming a layer of film, leading my table mates and myself to contemplate the possibility of mayonnaise in our shallow bowls.
In a general sense, the soup was a great palate cleanser for the items to come. On the other hand, this also drew attention its utter lack of seasoning and depth.

Next came a small plate of Penne Bolognese. Adorned with a single strand of microgreens and coated uniformly in a light bolognese sauce, this dish was, yet again, rather conservative as far as pasta goes. Grated Parmesan made its way around the table to compensate for the absence of cheese (and basic levels of sodium).

Majority of the my table had taken to the consumption of alcoholic beverages throughout the night, regardless of their post-celebratory responsibilities at handling an automobile. While curious to taste the various cocktails available, I was not willing to endanger myself, my vehicle, nor the vehicles around me. A virgin Sex on the Beach consisting of orange juice, cranberry juice, and club soda was requested instead.

Towards 10 PM, the main dish arrived. Inarguably the most generous portion of the evening, a medley of roasted vegetables, roasted potato, steak, and chicken filled the plate.

Out & About #464 | Breath of Barrie Day 3: Gravenhurst + Revisiting Chelsea Chocolates

6/23/2018

The weekend welcomed us with scattered showers and minimal sunshine. To combat the lack of summer-appropriate weather and inability to go for a second round of swimming, we dove into the car and drove (even further) up north.

Gravenhurst was about forty minutes away in the municipality of Muskoka. The trip was tedious, if anything, as landmarks of interest were scarce along the curves of Hwy 11. A curated playlist of upbeat tunes aided in relieving tension. I was nowhere thrilled to be potentially engaging in another meal at Dock of the Bay and thus was promised alternatives when we neared the port.

Passing through a sidewalk sale on the streets of Muskoka Road, it took a total of two U-turn before I found my way to the asphalt lot surrounded by tourist traps.

The skies were dreary, unlike our last visit. This didn't stop half of our party from parading the port with noise pollution, however. Rather, a lengthy period of snapping touristy photos ensued before we could gather the entirety of the group for lunch.

Adamant about not returning to Dock of the Bay and all of its unpleasantness, I suggested The Blue Willow. First and foremost, it was close in proximity and offered a decent view of the lake. Secondly, it offered a type of cuisine uncommon to the area: English-style afternoon tea.

As with many tea shops, The Blue Willow possesses its own selection of loose leaf teas, scones, and fruit preserves (ie. jam). Tables are few within the establishment, and all seating by the window had been reserved well in advance.

View the full album HERE !

Out & About #463 | Breath of Barrie Day 2: The Narrows + Webers

6/22/2018

The early bird gets the worm, which, in this case, is the benefit of additional time to invest in one's regular duties.

Commencing with a morning swim, then a leisurely lunch of leftovers from the previous evening, the day was off to a solid, unwasteful manner.
Following this was a drive to Orillia - very much a request on my part. The previous years of rowing had been of utmost enjoyment to me, so it was only fitting to relive the scene come warm weather season.

As opposed to embarking from J.B. Tudhope Park, on the north side of Hwy 12, we sourced Narrows Canoe as an alternative to Kayak-ity-Yak. Located southeast of the family-friendly park, it allowed for direct entry into the waters without unneeded exposure to sandy silts. The business owners were exceptionally friendly, and even directed our attention to a map, noting the calm and turbulent areas. Considering that this was private property, there were, regrettably, no public bathrooms nor changerooms available.

Opting for this route contributed a dose of uncertainty, further enhancing curiosity levels as well as an overall sense of adventurism. The two-hour trip was exhilarating: The Narrows were calm, but the channel (underneath Hwy 12) was expansive and busy. Small bays were filled with pristine waters, delicate blue dragonflies, and lush shrubbery - an awe-inducing sight indeed. The return trip was less tranquil, however, with opposing currents posing a tiring challenge to already fatigued muscles.
Regardless, the entire ordeal yielded an experience that was more than just satisfactory; the path less travelled was indeed enthralling. I honestly can't wait to so it again!

The ideal post-rowing treat is a delicious double scoop from Sweet Dreams. Visiting on a weekday negated this possibility, as both the dessert parlour and adjacent savoury sustenance booth were shuttered.
With hunger catching up to me at a hanger-inducing rate, I aggressive proposed a trip to Webers for immediate fulfillment.

With a twenty-minute drive ahead of us (and then a coiling lineup for the popular charcoal barbecued burgers), achieving sustenance wasn't instantaneous. That said, it remained a swifter process than travelling elsewhere for sluggish restaurant service.
Actually, the process was rather swift given the lineup. Several members of staff would manually take orders from customers in the lineup, mark requested items on an inventory list, then deliver it to the kitchen for processing. The bill would then be printed and cash flow would occur while in wait. Notably efficient was how staff members carried exact amounts of change in anticipation for patrons paying bills of $15.55 with a twenty-dollar bill.

Out & About #462 | Breath of Barrie Day 1: Pie Wood (Barrie South End)

6/21/2018

The semi-annual trip to Simcoe County resumes for another summer!
As a resident of the suburbs (with constant metropolitan influence), it is admittedly rare to find myself away from a screen and shops, even if the surrounding community poses more than enough opportunities to embrace it.

Major retail stores are spotted less frequently up north, and the same goes for the presence of public transit routes. Several of the roads do not intersect, which means travel time can be extended from a mere ten- to fifteen-minute drive to thirty minutes and beyond to cover the same distance.

By the time we had exited the 400, it was already late afternoon. Issues with a bathroom leakage further delayed our scheduled activities.

The original plan of biking around the area was postponed due to time restrictions. Instead, we slathered on formulas of SPF 50 PA+++ and headed to the pool for some weekend getaway-appropriate Vitamin E exposure.
Vicious UV rays shone down upon us, leaving their mark in the form of noticeably darker pigmentation of the epidermis.

For our first meal of the weekend, I suggested Pie Wood. Our experience at the downtown location had been wonderful: flashbacks of Big Quack and Tsunami resounded in my mind, distinctly vivid in spite of the fatigue I had accumulated from the early early morning 7 for 7 VLive Showcase.

My companions were less excited at this suggestion, with the primary reason being that one member in particular was less fond of cheese than the rest of us. Gritting their teeth, they agreed to try Pie Wood's Mapleview location.

We were seated on an empty patio on a slow weekday evening.

Gushingly friendly were the staff members, especially our waitress. She was more than happy to share her recommendations with us, even providing additional details on the Featured Soup - which apparently is swapped out for a new flavour every week on the account of the chef. Her descriptions relative to the size of the dishes were frankly not as on par with our petite appetites, though this was not a large issue.
I guess my only complaint was that utensil and napkin sets were forgotten even after delivery of our starters.

Drink orders were taken to start, followed by the delivery of salad and soup.

The Pie Salad was a more substantial portion than we pictured for slick fragments of chopped lettuce, arugula, and baby spinach. Coated profusely in a red wine vinaigrette that was more oil than vinegar, we picked at a few pieces before shoving the bowl aside. I have recently grown absentminded, carelessly neglecting the importance of specifying dressing on the side.

< Pictured above and below: Ginger Ale, Pie Salad, French Onion Soup, More Cowbell Pie, St. Lucia Pie (Light Cheese), and Nutty Pie >

Out & About #461 | Spencer's at the Waterfront

6/17/2018

Spencer's is one of those places that our family has visited to such a frequency that our seasonal/annual trips are no longer deemed foreign.
Little did I know that relevant recounts of these excursions had not been previously documented on this space.

Adopting the format of a 3-in-1 celebration - with one of them being Father's Day, of course - we set off early the next day for brunch.

View the full album HERE !

Spencer's had apparently undergone renovations some one or two years ago. Tables had been rearranged to allow for roomier, comfier seating, while the buffet layout had also been modified to include a more expansive selection of items. Access paths were also made wider in order to accommodate higher volumes of traffic.

Personal favourites were the cheese board (unlimited Brie!!), waffle and crêpe station, and perfectly proportioned mimosas.
Grapefruit juice, orange juice, and iced tea were available at the self-serve section of the bar, but alcoholic beverages such as mimosas and champagne involved a call to the table's respective member of waitstaff.

Quite frankly, I've never departed Spencer's disappointed. There are undeniably some offering that are less suitable for my palate - namely perogies, spicy dishes, shellfish, macarons, and the like - yet opting to steer clear of these picks is due to varying preferences, and not as a consequence of inadequate quality.

Out & About #460 | Downtown Shenanigans + Eric Nam Honestly Tour

6/16/2018

After heavily packed Friday, I awoke dazed and anxious to commence the sorting process for the images captured on the previous day. Unfortunately, not much progress was made when my favourite fangirl reminded me that we were due to head downtown shortly.

Over two months prior, we had cheerfully purchased Balcony tickets to Eric Nam's second Toronto show. Today was the day to exhaust those sold out second-floor access passes.

First up was a stop at Uniqlo - a retail spot that I had suggested for the purpose of obtaining a tank top in contempt of my poor clothing choices, yet ultimately departed with a pair of reduced terry lounge shorts instead.

Second was One Zo Tapioca's first Toronto location in Chinatown.
A three-day limited BOGO offer for "World Cup Tapioca" was taking place, and I wasn't about to miss out on the marble-like, tri-colour creation.

The interior was obnoxiously stuffy, much to our annoyance. It was apparent that we weren't the only ones bothered by the lack of A/C: many customers took their drinks to go instead of resting within the store, while the girl behind the cashier expressed maximum discontent towards her current whereabouts.
Faulty communication caused a delay in our ordering process, eventually resulting in a Rice Sencha Latte with World Cup Tapioca and a Nature Melon Lemon with Mango Tapioca instead of our original picks of Sesame Rice Latte and OneZo Tapioca Milk Tea.

Frankly speaking, the inner quadrants had been too hot to prompt a second glance at the drink label. Although I wondered why sesame was not making a prominent appearance in my drink, it wasn't until much, much later that my receipt informed me of the reason. The World Cup Tapioca was, undoubtedly, interesting; layers of Matcha, Charcoal, and Coconut flavour had been compressed into tiny, chewy spheres of starch. Little of the matcha and charcoal accents could be perceived during consumption. It was rather the Coconut that tasted most obvious.

The day had caught up with us rapidly, so late afternoon hours had hit by the time we began making our way eastward.

The day had caught up with us rapidly, so late afternoon hours had hit by the time we began making our way eastward.

Cabbagetown is home to a number of popular independent eateries, but the one that caught my attention was Kingyo.
Its exact coordinates are easy to miss when mindlessly travelling up and down Parliament. Located on a side street just a few minutes north of the Carlton-Parliament intersection is a dimly-lilt izakaya bearing the title of "Goldfish" in Japanese.

Seating is abundant, with angular booth seating along one edge of the restaurant's perimeter, bar stools towards the back, and individual tables in another section. The hostess gestured us towards one of the booths after confirming that we would comply with the two-hour dining limit. Supposedly, majority of tables had been reserved beforehand.

Illumination is extremely minimal, only attained via several street-facing windows. That said, the ambiance was quite lovely for casual conversation, albeit a bit loud when drinking games were progressing at another end.

Several menus were placed before us: individual sheets listed specials, while a black-covered book informed of fixed options like house rolls and appetizers.

Being indecisive after a late bubble tea splurge, we opted for the Kingyo's Appetizer Makunouchi, a bento box containing nine of the chef's selection of appetizers. My favourite fangirl also chose a cocktail to warm up the evening.

Priced at a whopping thirty dollars, I was astonished but not blown away by the large, nine-compartment tray that arrived shortly after. The male member of staff showed utmost enthusiasm at depicting each and every dish for us, in spite of his inept pronunciation.

< Pictured above and below: Milky Grapefruit, Kingyo's Appetizer Makunouchi, Spicy Choppped Tuna Battera, Frozen Matcha Crème Brûlée, and Two Colour Almond Tofu >

The Makunouchi, in no particular ranking, consisted of: Chicken Karaage, Ebi Mayo, Pork Belly, Marinated Cucumber, Black Cod, Scallop Strips, Pork Katsu, Salmon and Yellowtail Sashimi, and one wakame-based dish that I cannot recall the name of.

Out & About #459 | Part 2: Casalinga Ristorante

6/15/2018

Read Part 1 HERE !

Dinner reservations had been secured for Casalinga several days in advance. The Italian restaurant was located just off Southdown and Royal Windsor/Lakeshore, a mere minute from Clarkson GO station.

Seemingly a family-operated establishment, space was scarce and seating was quite meager. Along the perimeter of the restaurant were tables placed within extremely close proximity of one another; the lack of room was further emphasized during peak supper hours, especially when large parties comprising of children were seated nearby.

Our party wasn't particularly large, though the corner spot we were offered was possibly the dimmest and most cramped area to reside for the hour-long celebratory meal.

The menu was very straightforward - just like Enzo's, it listed offerings in simple black text on an off-white background, devoid of images and special embellishments. A dessert menu in the form of a chalkboard was suspended on one the walls bordering our table.

< Pictured above and below: Linguine di Mare, Penne al Ragu di Coltello, Spaghettini Salsicce, Pollo Piccate, Fettine ai Ferri >

Once orders were placed, a platter of white bread and heterogeneous solution of olive oil-balsamic vinegar were delivered. The bread slice count totalled the number of patrons at the table. It was observed that while the pairing is highly similar to Lake House's bread roll starters, its presentation varied vastly. The absence of a bread basket and napkin meant staleness was not far away, while the omission of a dressing bottle prevented customers from adjusting the oil-to-vinegar ratio as desired.

My original intention was to indulge in lengthy noodles in a creamy, cheesy coating, yet many pasta dishes were discovered to employ an oil-based sauce with only bits of cheese as flavour accents.
Amongst the entrées chosen, three were pasta-based, one was protein-heavy, and one a mix of both.

View the full album HERE !

Out & About #459 | Part 1: Convocation + Barangas On The Beach

6/15/2018

It's officially time to bid farewell to the campus life! Well, not like I missed it anyway (haha).

By the third year mark, I had wished that I could just wrap up courses and enter the workforce. Endless possibilities of post-graduation life awaited me. The world was changing, yet I would be returning to a bubble that didn't extend beyond countless assignments and grueling group projects.

Time continued to pass, but students remained bound within a realm of academic responsibility. There was no possible way to contribute back to society, in spite of being bestowed with the sufficient knowledge and tools and commence a fresh journey.

Unemployment is tragic and tear-inducing. However, all is better than continuing to study with reluctance.
Personally, grad studies is sheer tomfoolery.

We were swiftly ushered out of the venue within an hour of the ceremony's conclusion. Countless photos and a mini reunion with a fellow late graduate later, the day veered into the early afternoon hours. The party was ready for sustenance.

Known for having an abundance of free parking Downtown Hamilton is not. Thus, we headed a bit further away from the bustle of the Main and King Streets, towards the industrial section of the city for a late lunch.

Barangas On The Beach possessed an extremely tropical vibe - aligning perfectly with its coordinates by the water and overall vibe of the interior. Ceilings are high (with straw sightings), walls and pillars are a polished white, the entrance is grand.

Formerly a beach school for over half a decade, some of the institution's original elements remain - such as the community pool-esque bathroom stalls and ancient toilets. For the most part though, the outer components have been transformed entirely to include two rows of patio seating (with gigantic umbrellas to protect against harsh UV rays), an outdoor lounge area, and covered yet not enclosed quarters. Tables featuring AC were also ample, meaning that there is guaranteed to be a spot in the restaurant fitting one's preferences.

"Would you like to be seated outside or inside?" was amongst the first few phrases uttered by the hostess.
"We'd like to sit inside close to the outside." came the group reply.

Of course, there were also options of sitting outside close to the inside, completely outside, or completely inside.

Comprehensively speaking, the vibe was refined, yet relaxed at the same time. When menus with laminated sheets featuring classic Greek casual fare came around, I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow; Barangas had created an uncommon liaison between its visual and gustatory components.

Patio-appropriate appetizers like bruschetta, nachos, and fish & chips were made available for sharing, while customary Greek and Mediterranean mains formed the foundation of the entrée selection.

Drink requests were taken first. Iced Tea and Ginger Ale were priced steeply at $3.25 and $2.95 respectively. On the flip side, the housemade Sparkling Water was a mere two dollars per bottle. Each beautiful blue bottle contained enough liquid to fill our stout glasses at least four times.

View the full album HERE !

< Pictured above and below: Iced Tea, House Sparkling Water, Ginger Ale, Bruschetta, Grecian Shrimp, Chicken Pita Lunch Special, Souvlaki Combo >

Perhaps majority of us were too famished to employ wandering eyes: instead of picking at appetizers in addition to our own meals, I found myself immediately diving into the Chicken Souvlaki Pita and Beet Salad placed before me.

<<Previous

Out & About #467 | Collective June Visuals

Out & About #466 | North York Trip

Out & About #465 | Wedding Reception at The Doctor's House

Out & About #464 | Breath of Barrie Day 3: Gravenhurst + Revisiting Chelsea Chocolates

Out & About #463 | Breath of Barrie Day 2: The Narrows + Webers

Out & About #462 | Breath of Barrie Day 1: Pie Wood (Barrie South End)

Out & About #461 | Spencer's at the Waterfront

Out & About #460 | Downtown Shenanigans + Eric Nam Honestly Tour

Out & About #459 | Part 2: Casalinga Ristorante

Out & About #459 | Part 1: Convocation + Barangas On The Beach

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