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Out & About #154 | Revisiting Uncle Tetsu

10/30/2015

 
After learning that Uncle Tetsu's most recent release, the Angel Hat Cake, was now in stores, I immediately set out on the next day in hopes of getting my hands on one.

My initial plan was to call beforehand to ensure that I would not be making a aimless trip to Bay and Dundas, but as management would have it, the listed telephone number was "currently not in service". Brilliant business strategy if you ask me. (Do you sense the sarcasm?)

As I made my way to the entrance, I was both surprised and impressed to find that only five people were spotted dwelling in the lineup outside. A sign, which was evidently a whiteboard decorated to resemble a ladybug, was propped up on a chair at the foot of the door ledge; it notified customers that the current wait time ranged between ten and fifteen minutes, and that today's batch of cheesecakes would be stamp-less (for whatever reason).
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As the goal of the day was not to purchase a cheesecake, I paid the sign no more attention and approached the end of the line. A member of staff was present to control the lineup; I took to asking about the remaining quantities of Cheese Zuccotto (another term for the Angel Hat Cake). She dove into the shop to check, and re-emerged some two minutes later to inform me that they were unfortunately sold out. As only forty cakes were made daily, their morning batch had already been depleted.
She suggested that I return after 3:00 PM, as that was when their second batch would be produced.

Having to follow a strict commuter schedule meant that obtaining the Angel Hat Cake was just not in the cards for that day, so I headed next door to the Matcha Cafe. There was no lineup whatsoever, so I was able to take my time and select three items to make the trip seem a little more worthy.
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A box of Green Tea Madeleines with Red Beans was purchased, along with a Matcha Soft Serve in a cup and a Matcha Latte.
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Out & About #153 | Sam James Coffee Bar

10/28/2015

 
I suppose it never occurred to me that I had been missing out entirely on the world of coffee until I began my adventures in Toronto.
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Despite the underground maze that is the PATH, I'm gradually starting to learn that the system is more beneficial to commuters than it is disadvantageous. The process does, however, require a good deal of time to become acquainted with.
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That being said, my recent journeys within the retail-filled network have led to the discovery of dentist and salon services, individual businesses, and a plethora of food options. (You'll never be out of lunch options here!)
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nvenient Rexall and Shoppers locations also serve great purpose for restocking on anti-bacterial wipes should your cubicle run out, while Carlton Cards ensures that you'll never be without a proper card for post-work events.

But back to coffee talk: I initially chanced upon Sam James Coffee Bar (SJCB) during one late afternoon venture, and had vowed to return once I had the chance to review their menu on Zomato.
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Unlike its four other locations, the SJCB inside the PATH is void of seating, making it literally nothing more than "a coffee bar". But being situated just at the top of a short flight of stairs, I suppose it wouldn't be reasonable to include furniture in the area during rush hour anyway.

Decorative elements that were used to adorn the insides of the bar area include a slinky, leafy vine (which I shall assume to be abiotic as regular plants would find it difficult to maintain such a vibrant shade of green with minimum exposure to sunlight), thin wood panels, and a black-and-white menu exhibiting their available drink options in typewriter font. Although I found these components to lack a certain sense of cohesiveness, the overall aesthetic was interesting.
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While a very appealing display of baked goods were spotted resting upon wooden serving boards within the display case, many appeared to be buttery for my stomach to handle in the morning. The intention to try one of these items still remains, but shall likely be reserved for another not-so-early occasion.
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Out & About #152 | Little Nicky's coffee

10/27/2015

 
There's just a certain something about independent coffee shops in the downtown area.
I can't quite put my finger on a defining characteristic, though I can confirm that the latte art (which I believe, after conducting a bit of research, should actually be termed "microfoam art") spotted at any of these locations surpass Starbucks by far.
 
While I generally found that it was best to rely on major, tried-and-true chains in the suburbs, I must admit that this theory applies in reverse to the general metropolitan Toronto area.
Starbucks never ceased to provide me with a sense of familiarity whenever I was travelling within North America – though please do yourself a favour and don't ever visit their Asian counterparts. However, I've found that their standard, sugar-laden options have constantly failed to impress as of late.
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Cold drinks are seasonal products here, and rarely offered during periods of chilly fall temperatures if at all. But in reality, the commuting lifestyle leaves very little iciness to be desired. When not trekking through the PATH in hopes of being able to manoeuver out safely, I've found myself longing for steaming cups of hot chocolate or mocha to spread warmth throughout my insides.

(Side note: I recently found an infographic classifying coffee drinkers by their preferences in caffeinated beverages. And with mochas being my most common choice, I'll have to grudgingly admit that the creators are, indeed, correct.)
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Little Nicky's Coffee has been on my to-go list for a short while; conveniently located behind the Gap on Queen St. W with a larger-than-life size pointing you in the direction of the otherwise hidden café, it seemed absolutely fitting to drop by one frigid early afternoon.
 
Are there customers that visit coffee shops to order drinks void of espresso and tea? Indeed, there are – you're reading a post written by one of those strange creatures.
On the morning of my first visit, I had already consumed the necessary dosage of caffeine to ease the woes of my morning struggle; thus, I opted for a tongue-scalding cider.
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​It was filled to the brim with warm, subtly sweet goodness.
 
The return trip to shelter was unbelievably windy, but the cider provided an immediate soothing sensation, making the journey much more comfortable than it initially would have been.
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Technically, the name "mocha" doesn't appear on the menu at all; I had begun to order a hot chocolate with a shot of espresso when the member of staff taking my order at the cashier corrected me. Between the two drink cup sizes available, I had the option of adding one or two shots of espresso.

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Out & About #151 | Korean Food + Hot Chocolate Yuan Yang 

10/25/2015

 
After experiencing the cycle of five consecutive days' worth of intense work life repeat itself over the past two months, there really is nothing else I look forward to over sleeping in on weekends. I can only imagine this cycle will continue to become increasingly challenging as the temperatures drop and the road conditions become trickier to manage.

Ever since a milk frother was added to our extensive kitchen equipment collection, I've found myself constantly conjuring up reasons to use it. Cravings for lattes and hot chocolate are immense these days, so it's especially unfortunate that we've currently ran out of whipped cream, and baking chocolate for that matter. A foamy mocha will temporarily act as a substitute pick-me-up in their absence.
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Another thing I've confirmed is that I largely enjoy Korean food, but only when the dishes are mild enough for my tastebuds. Despite the frequent use of hot peppers and hot pepper paste (called "gochujang"), majority of their street food items are relatively spice-free.
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​A lunch comprised of 모든 전 (Assorted Pan Fried Items), collection of marinated side dishes, and kimbap was perfect for a rainy day in; finishing it all off with freshly-made custard and red bean taiyaki was even better!
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The arrival of Sunday mornings always reminds me that I have less than 24 hours to finish the remainder of my chores/photo editing/blog work/scheduling.
But on a more positive note, it also means that I can leisurely enjoy my breakfast, and photograph it if my heart desires.
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This week's breakfast included half of a Coconut Twist Bun from furama and a Hot Chocolate Yuan Yang (all credits go to Lady and Pups for this mindblowing invention!). For directions on how to re-create my adaptation of this delightful cold weather beverage, check out the What I Make section!

Out & About #150 | Erin Mills Transitway + Exploring the PATH

10/23/2015

 
For the first time ever, I shall commence the re-telling of the day's adventures in reverse sequence. (What?!)

The completion of the Erin Mills Transitway has had a substantial impact on my academic and recreational commuting routines: several buses now make a brief stop at the recently finished station before continuing their westbound/eastbound trips. A visit to the small, bathroom-less terminal had been in my plans since Metrolinx announced its anticipated date of operation, and so it was only appropriate to include the images captured during my stay as the first section of this post.
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I arrived at the station just a few minutes after 6 pm, making sure to allocate just enough time to capture the desired amount of photos prior to boarding the bus that the schedule claimed would arrive thirteen minutes later.
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The sun was just setting around this hour, and the sight was quite extraordinary. Perhaps the only downsides was that the area was completely exposed to the harsh gusts of wind signalling the commencement of a potentially hazardous Canadian winter and the prominent lack of washrooms (an essential element for transferring commuters).
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Unfortunately, the bus was far from punctual.

Violating my standard expectations for GO Transit, it wasn't until 6:22 pm that I finally caught sight of the bus turning in. By this point in time, my fingers had almost been frozen solid.
​And yes, gloves had been donned, though it's quite difficult to shield oneself from howling winds and frigid temperatures when the heated shelter is approximately two platform stops away. As EMTW is not a main terminal, the bus would be unlikely to pause for longer than one minute before zooming off.

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Out & About #149 | SOMA chocolatemaker

10/21/2015

 
The first gustatory news item I took note of come Wednesday morning was that SOMA had claimed one Gold title in the International Chocolate Awards, in addition to placing Silver in several other categories as well.

Will the fact that the local chocolatier now possesses famed placements in "Dark chocolate bars with an infusion or flavouring" lead to booming popularity levels rivaling Bella Gelateria on the West Coast? Nothing can be said as of yet, though I'm am indeed curious to view the impacts that these awards may or may not have caused. 
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Not my first time to pass by the inconspicuous, classic wood/brick storefront, I confidently strolled into the shop, where two girls with hot drinks in their hands were casually chatting away at the bar seats located at the front window.
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The confidence pretty much ceased to prevail once inside the store, however, as the varieties of available options were vast, and my knowledge regarding their offerings meager in comparison.

After a solid five-minutes-worth of staring up and down the homey wooden shelves and peeking into the glass case in which their rotating selection of truffles resided, I swiftly asked one of the store attendants (or "sales representatives " - however you'd like to name it.) for assistance. Some sort of direction was required, even if it was as little as introducing their (already) brightly displayed drink menu, or providing a brief description of their best-selling truffle pieces.
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Their gelato flavours - all of which sounded incredible - were arranged and stored in the same manner as Kekou. As my previous posts have indicated, I retain a significant amount of displeasure towards icy products that have a tendency to deform quickly (and consequently leave a trail of stickiness behind).
​I wasn't about to make the same mistake, though I did contemplate requesting a sample to justify their value before having my eyes wander back towards the shelved items and storefront. The truffles were a tad too tempting though - I soon forgot about the remainder of their available hot beverages and cold treats.
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The staff were extremely friendly and decently knowledgeable; I particularly enjoyed the cozy interior of the shop, and that tables had been set up at both the front (access to natural lighting is always appreciated) and back (for quiet munching and earnest exchange of words between parties). In addition to creating handmade chocolates, it's apparent that the management crew also took into consideration that customers may wish to enjoy a cup of Joe (provided by Sam James Coffee Bar) while savouring decadent desserts and potentially observing the kitchen crew work away.
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Out & About #148 | Thanksgiving Pt 2: Allandale Waterfront + Markham

10/11/2015

 
After recharging from the previous day's adventures, we headed to Allandale Waterfront for a late breakfast.
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View the full Barrie album HERE !
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Our destination of choice was The Farmhouse, a family-style restaurant that served up dishes created from locally-sourced (and/or locally grown) ingredients. In addition to offering an outdoor balcony patio that provided a stunning view of Lake Simcoe, the two- (or was it three?) floor restaurant also housed a bar area located at the very back as to transform into a sports bar come nighttime.

Having yet to take one step inside, I was already considerably amazed at the dining environment and superb choice of location - this was certainly a most serene getaway from city life!
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View the full album HERE !

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Out & About #147 | Thanksgiving Pt 1: Capturing Fall Colours in Barrie

10/10/2015

 
My Thanksgiving weekend officially began at 8:00 AM.

We set off northbound to Barrie with high hopes of catching the leaves changing colours due to lower temperatures and higher altitudes.
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And our assumption was correct: the leaves had, indeed, spanned a wide range of warm reds and vibrant oranges.
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We also witnessed a truckload of carrots zoom by. (And yes, as those hailing from the city, this is an observation worth mentioning!)
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We soon arrived in Coldwater and took a quick break, at which point a lofty - and must I add very glamourous - neighbourhood tree caught my eye. I approached the tree slowly, snapping shots of both the entire tree and its leaves as I neared its roots.
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The full Barrie album can be viewed HERE !

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Out & About #146 | Toronto Things: Bake Code, L'Opera, and I-Migoo

10/6/2015

 
​My day commenced with an excursion to North York.

I arrived just a few minutes before 8 AM, and decided to wait outside Bake Code's patio area to observe the hype surrounding this recently-opened Taiwanese bakery.
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The tall glass windows enabled a girl, clad in a white uniform with bronze/orange detailing, to be seen scurrying between the cashier and the kitchen area, while a male worker donning a kitchen uniform was observed taking a stroll inside absentmindedly.
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​My watch read 8:01 AM, yet the doors still hadn't opened. Having a series of appointments lined up for the rest of my day, I couldn't afford to wait and marched up to the door. I tugged at the handles once, which was enough to alert the sloth-like staff member to inquire about the keys. During this time, I noticed that two boys in hoodies had formed a line behind me. "Are they customers as well?" I had wondered.
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​We were permitted entry at 8:03 AM; I learned that the hooded beings were tardy members of staff, and not customers at all. The only girl working the floor gave a bright smile, but also informed me that the kitchen was about half an hour behind their regular schedule, thus there were no bread varieties available for purchase as of yet. She, along with a non-uniformed man that appeared to be part of management, did gesture to a refrigerated display cabinet instead, mentioning that pastries were available for the time being. However, I'm not one to settle for small slices of cheesecakes or cream puffs that were minimum day-old products with the potential of having gathered a layer of condensation on top.
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I took to my photo-taking, earning strange glances from the same oblivious, slow-moving staff member who was now in the middle of bringing out small portions of freshly-baked (but oddly void of yeasty aroma) bread, basket by basket. Given the amount of media attention that the new bakery has been receiving over the past few weeks, it is my belief that customers snapping shots of the interior shouldn't come as a giant surprise; I must admit that my presence did not feel appreciated at that point.
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There was little action to capture, as the shelves were still relatively barren after a solid ten minutes; I then proceeded to analyze their drink options, in hopes that the Chocolate Bean Bun that I had spotted on their website the night prior would soon surface on the shelves.
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Out & About #145 | Milano Espresso Bar

10/5/2015

 
​​It's no surprise that Toronto houses an astounding number of coffee shops.

Of course, there's always Starbucks for those that enjoy their PSL and GL in the fall/winter months (or Timmy's for those who don't tend to stray too far from tradition), though it's nice to switch it up every now and then. Change is never easy, but has the potential to result in unthinkably positive outcomes.
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​I've walked by Dark Horse Espresso Bar several times at this point, and had even entered it to take photos. The intention to order had been present, until I discovered that my existence was completely ignored. Indeed, it was a coffee shop with very little light able to penetrate through the basement windows, however, this does not automatically mean that customers lacking height will automatically be ignored amongst other cafe-goers. I recall taking one long gaze at their menu, and even contemplating their Apple Cider, before striding out without a second glance.

I've since ignored the cafe, and have taken my business elsewhere. Taking a detour route one somewhat chilly afternoon led me to Milano Espresso - which is not to be confused with the Milano from Australia; this one is located on Adelaide.
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​The exterior of the cafe was rather intriguing: a short flight of narrow, steep stairs led upwards to a cafe embedded in the side of a rust-hued brick building.
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 Half expecting the inside to demonstrate as few light sources as Dark Horse, it was pleasant surprise to find that Milano was not only brightly lit from all angles, but also offered a small window to allow natural light to penetrate through and into the bar. It was a mighty fine choice of location, if you ask me.
(Side note: the Toronto Fire Department is located right next door, so there's nothing to fear even during pre-daylight hours.)
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    Formerly an avid owner of several interest-based portals, Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger presents precisely the elements expected. From experiments in the kitchen to miscellaneous musings, from IGOT7 reflections to developments in transportation infrastructure, it's all consolidated here. Welcome to the raw, unfiltered side of Quirky Aesthetics.



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WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

Quirky =  a term that commonly refers to something/someone distinctly different and unique
Aesthetics = the visual aspect of things



Together, Quirky Aesthetics refers to the things, events, and happenings seen and perceived by this blog's creator - quirky perspectives in a visual form.

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