Category: Food - Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger

Out & About #955 | Ube Pie, Butternut Squash Tri-Colour Pasta, Browniest Cookies + Michael Bublé at Eaton Centre

11/26/2023

More often than not, I am Team Donburi over Team Ramen or Team Yakiudon. However, it remains to be determined whether this inclination had stemmed from a shortage of short-grain rice at home, or pure affection.

For the past month and a bit, the pantry was restocked with Japanese short-grain rice instead of our go-to Thai Jasmine, making sticky rice is no longer a rarity.
Yet, in the meantime, I've been craving noodles. First came the classic comfort dish of udon, but reinvented in a broth-less, warmth-deprived manner.

1) Cold Soy Udon

The flour noodles were blanched then tossed in a mixture of dark and light soy sauce, mirin, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, wasabi, a handful of toasted/burnt sesame seeds, and, of course, salt and sugar. The dish had intended on mimicking yakiudon without the need for oiling a pan. The dish emanated strong izakaya vibes, bearing a hint of fieriness and an oddly viscous sauce that clung to each strand.

To ensure a well-balanced diet, the Cold Soy Udon was paired with Steamed Minced Pork, Choy Sum and a Soft-Boiled Egg with a gooey, golden centre.

Other meals of the week comprised of: Cold Soy Udon with Choy Sum and Red Sausage, Beef Shabut with Fish Balls, Gai Lan, and Napa Cabbage.

2) Ube Pie w/ Ube Whipped Cream

I suppose the inkling of a craving had surfaced last week when I laid eyes on the violently violet spread of Purple Oven Bakeshop's pop-up at The Food District. (We all know how that investment ended though.)

Resolving to construct an ube pie myself, I combined SK's extra-flaky pie crust and adapted Sunday Baking's tried and true Pumpkin Tart. Under ideal circumstances, pumpkin purée would be substituted with ube halaya in a 1:1 ratio. Alas, my previously allocated portion comprised of 113 grams - about one quarter of the amount required. (In hindsight, I hadn't anticipated the halaya to be utilized for anything beyond crinkle cookies. But life takes interesting turns sometimes.)

In true improvisational nature, I proceeded with the proposed plan, scaling and adding ingredients as seen fit. Condensed milk was reduced significantly (since halaya is sweetened to start). Next, roughly 2/3 can of coconut milk was used to thicken the mixture, while three eggs were used for stability (as opposed to the specified two). None of these swaps were scaled for precision, for there wasn't a point of reference to start.

Out & About 954 | Eaton Pre-Black Friday Shopping + The Distillery Winter Village 2023

11/21/2023

I was originally under the impression that this year's Distillery Winter Village would be entirely ticketed. This meant that the "free slots" of the previous years had been eliminated entirely, which wouldn't surprise me in the slightest given the recent expense surge across all industries. The website steered visitors towards the admission options, though it was later discovered that off-peak periods still remained admission-free:

Monday to Thursday before December 17th
Friday to Sunday before 4 PM, until December 17th
Monday to Thursday before 4 PM, after December 17th

Actively avoiding the chaos of last year's Tree Lighting Ceremony, I proposed venturing towards the cobblestone corridors following one of my in-office days.

I slept fitfully, lying conscious in bed for at least two hours before falling and out of restless slumber and awaking nearly once every hour. A somber, all-black ensemble would depict my internal state, while a cozy Christmas vest assuaged feelings of sleep-deprived irritation.

There is also an indescribable influence induced by twinkly holiday décor. Union Station's York Concourse was embellished lavishly with sparkly LED pillars and wreaths nestled between the train departure boards. Meanwhile, Nathan Phillips Square was also observed to be testing their b̶u̶d̶g̶e̶t̶ illuminations in preparation for the Calcavade of Lights.

Upon arriving at the office, my coworker, a fellow baking enthusiast, entrusted me with a mini loaf of Pumpkin Bread. Her beaming expression told all: the exclusive portion was moist, flavourful, and bore the crunchiest turbinado topping to ever grace mankind. It was unthinkable that she had utilized the exact recipe as before, yet results proved dramatically different with just a few minor adjustments.

I was informed that the pumpkin purée had been cooked with crushed cardamom this time (as opposed to keeping the spices whole), that the topping eliminated cinnamon and swapped out granulated sugar for turbinado, and that the cake had rested at room temperature for one day being before wrapped and delivered to my desk in a ribbon-secured parchment package.

A few slices were devoured on the first day, with the remainder rapidly vanishing with the next thirty-six hours.

Lunchtime saw continued exploration of office buildings in the vicinity. More sparkly orbs, wreaths, and artificial pines were spotted while en route to the Eaton Centre via the PATH.

Having usually taken to outdoor navigation, there was little familiarity with navigating through Hudson Bay and Pusateri's. Nevertheless, I found my way by adhering signage and taking note of festive installations along the way.

The sighting of my colourful dog print tote bag from Thornbury had me bewildered. Staff from the BIA boutique had marketed the bag as a rare item, however the quantity and design varieties adorning the shelf before me spoke otherwise. Admittedly, I was slightly disappointed at the absence of a price tag for comparison.

Eventually, the overpass to the Eaton Centre was located on the second floor, connecting Saks Fifth Avenue and the Queen Street exit.

Out & About #953 | Holiday Smile Cookie, Festive Décor + Earl Grey Madeleines with Orange White Chocolate Coating

11/19/2023

Tim Hortons' peculiarly-timed introduction of the Smile Cookie back into its lineup caught many Canadians by surprise. Previously a September exclusive, a holiday-themed version was advertised leading up to its one-week sale period.

Source: Tim Hortons (November 2023)

The festive rendition features white chocolate chips and red and green sprinkles in a classic cookie base brimming with notes of vanilla, unlike the soft chocolate chunk cookie familiar to us. Swapped out were the pastel pink and baby blue for a sturdy, starkly white icing. Its consistency evoked the essence of gingerbread house adhesive, and was likely just as sugary. The cookie itself was also noticeably thicker, thus more gratifying.

As a consequence of the upgraded icing, runny Joker-esque smiles were kept at bay. These cookies actually smiled!

Each cookie retails at $1.50, of which all proceeds would be donated to local charities.

Following our dining experience at Gol's Lanzhou Noodle, I couldn't help but contemplate the contentment bestowed upon me by a similar noodle in broth dish.

It should come as no surprise that Pho Big Bowl has assumed position of our pho favourite as of late. Besides our go-to picks of No. 18 Well-Done Brisket Pho Noodle Soup and No. 82 Pad Thai Style Stir Fried Noodle w/ Egg, Shrimp, and Chicken, we also explored other aspects of their menu with an order of No. 43 Vermicelli with BBQ Pork.

The small Pho was requested without onions and hot sauce; the restaurant honoured the first ask, though still included a small container of hoisin-sriracha. Whether a result of the omission of onions or not, my container had been filled with a greater amount of brisket than usual.
Meanwhile, the Pad Thai was requested mild, but emerged lacking in flavour and filled with undercooked onions and red peppers rings. I was insistent in compensating for this loss with a homemade condiment: peanut butter, rice wine vinegar, mirin, turmeric, and trace amounts of salt and sugar were vigorously stirred to form a golden curry-toned paste. Despite being reminiscent of Thai flavours, the formula hadn't exactly succeeded in resembling the pad thai seasoning used.

The Vermicelli with BBQ Pork came accompanied with a handful of crunchy, pickled veggies and occupied by a generous portion of (regrettably dry) protein.

Other meals of the week included: Tomato Pork + Choy Sum over Short Grain Rice, Minced Pork, Tomato Pork + Choy Sum over Short Grain Rice, and Purple Rice Coconut Dessert Soup.

Watermain construction persists in our neighbourhood, but has now transitioned to the area immediately beyond my window. Rudely awakened by the sound of asphalt removal, I commenced my work-from-home routine slightly earlier than normal, in a noticeably irritable fashion.

Unthinkable it was to experience just a mere snapshot of the lane reductions and sidewalk chaos endured by residents of the Yonge-Eg area for the past decade and more.

Seeing as LCBO permitted returns within 30 days, I set out to complete the task before the inevitable arrival of rush hour. While the liquor giant was unable to process the transaction as a refund, I was granted in-store credit for same-day usage.

Out & About #952 | North York Update Feat. Gol's Lanzhou Noodle + Don't Yell At Me

11/11/2023

A dental appointment brought me back to familiar stomping grounds of Summer 2018. Over the years, the Keele and Wilson area hasn't evolved drastically, though has also been seen sporadic surges of development in the realms of residential mid-/high-rises buildings and transit line extensions.

When the gum-scraping ordeal was done (and my dentist had walked in on my hallway practice of MANIAC), we made our way over to North York for lunch.

The partial intersection closure at Yonge and Bishop had terminated, permitting vehicular movements in all directions. A part of the commuter lot had been fenced off to allow for Black & McDonald equipment and trailer to remain, prompting me to park closer to the east limit of the Hendon Park Trail for safer pedestrian access through the parking lot.

Braving the ruthless winds and single-digit temperatures, we arrived at Gol's Lanzhou Noodle in about ten minutes. The visit had stemmed from a curiosity towards the specialized noodle cuisine and limited locations within the GTA - just three outposts existed in Markham, North York, and Waterloo (of all places).

Greeted by the cashier upon entry, our party of two was seated almost immediately. We resided in the waiting area for no more than thirty seconds, barely enough time to observe the process of noodle preparation or assess high-level functionality of the food delivery pickup area.
A single hardcover menu had already been placed on the table before we were gestured over. Drink orders were also taken in advance, allowing cups of warm water to be delivered within minutes of settling in.

The seating floor was rather compact, occupying a little less than half of their total floor space. Most diners had arrived in small groups of three or four, with even a few dining solo. Seated along the perimeter of the restaurant, we found our table cramped and chair unsuitable for hanging jackets. Any bags in tow would be placed on the windowsill, scarcely avoiding the sauce splatters on the wall, while jackets donned for the entirety of the meal, for the almost back-less chairs would cause sleeves to sweep the ground.

All the waitresses appeared to be in a hurry. At least four were spotted dashing left and right about the facility, seating customers or cleaning tables. Two of these four neared our table on three occasions to confirm our orders. Despite being first-time patrons, we weren't spared the leniency for numerous inquiries. Both of them spoke in pressing tones, with one expressing absolute exasperation towards being asked questions at all. Needless to say, the experience felt very rushed.

When we finally agreed upon sharing a Regular-sized bowl of Traditional Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Beef Noodle with a Tea Egg and side of Sweet & Sour Fries, the waitress pointed out the existence of a combo option. The signature bowl could be paired with choice of Spicy Cucumber Salad, Edamame with Preserved Vegetables, or Sweet & Sour Mini Fries plus a Tea Egg, with Regular and Large bowls priced $19.49 and $21.49 respectively. It was an excellent deal, given that the side dishes rang in at $5.99 individually.

Arriving in less than five minutes was the Sweet & Sour Mini Fries. The portion was notably smaller than we had expected, constituting a small plate of thin potato strands, red onion slivers, cilantro, and peanuts. The accompanying aromatics weren't memorable; furthermore, the peanuts should have been toasted and roughly chopped for better textural contrast instead of folded in whole. Its dressing was a light drizzle of sweet vinegar, which gave the dish its "Sweet & Sour" name. The uniform thickness and length of the stands led me to believe that the segments were obtained frozen and merely deep fried to order. They also reminded me of Hickory Sticks, except thicker, less wispy, and coated with tanginess.

Our bowl of Traditional Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Beef Noodle with Sanxi (三細) noodles was to be shared. Two small plastic bowls and a pair of scissors were provided to assist the consumption process.
Adorning the surface were a few thin slices of Chinese Daikon, followed by a heavy handful of chopped cilantro, scallions, and about seven pieces of beef. The addition of fresh herbs had been a well-informed decision, for they accentuated the broth in ways black pepper and copious amounts of monosodium glutamate could never. They were unmistakably fragrant, encouraging us to fold our frigid fingers along the circumference of the bowl and attempt our first bite.

The radish slices retained a faint crunch, while the beef slices were tender, adequately fatty, and delectable. Cooked beyond my liking, the Tea Egg was acceptable but otherwise bland and starchy. Being renowned for Lanzhou-style noodles, Gol's Sanxi was found to be dense and satiating, dissimilar to the springy texture of bouncy wonton mien.

Out & About #951 | Canadian Chroma at Eaton Centre + Mugwort Chiffon Cake with Cardamom Cream

11/10/2023

Recovery from the previous week's chaos is still well underway. But, in-office attendance is, well, regrettably obligatory.

Pumpkin Snacking Cake with Faux Cream Cheese Frosting was transported downtown accordingly for distribution.

Over lunch, I would explore the Canadian Chroma exhibit at the Eaton Centre - the very spectacle I had accidentally walked into during the setup stages and gotten scolded by security.

The colourful modules were interesting, but featured repulsively filthy touchscreens.

On one hand, the varied displays and interactive attractions were amusing; on the other hand, they weren't particularly educational, nor did they incorporate innovative technological elements to elevate the user-guided experience.

There was greater joy to be found elsewhere along my mall trek, namely in the fluffy yarn zip-ups at Uniqlo and bearded Christmas plushies at Indigo.

It is also worth noting the prominence of fraudulent Wi-Fi networks in the wild. While perusing the grounds, I absent-mindedly connected to a network believed to be provided by Indigo, only to later realize the typo and absent browser verification prompt. After being the victim of a compromised credit card, alertness levels ought be improved for greater awareness.

Taking advantage of Cotti Coffee's $2.50 in-app promotion before year-end, I routed to the Bay and Gerrard location just before heading back.

Out & About #950 | Pumpkin Snacking Cake + Matcha Butter Mochi Bites

11/5/2023

One evening, when I was returning my baking tools to their rightful positions in a somewhat tipsy state, I spotted my copy of Smitten Kitchen Keepers. It was next to the Halloween chocolate and DIY vanilla extract bottles, partially covered in dust. Frankly, I wasn't surprised I had forgotten its existence - after all, my dire desire to move and reading hardly went hand in hand.

Flipping through the semi-matte pages, recipes of deep dish quiche, strawberry cake, and more were discovered. "I should really start trying these!" I thought to myself. And for my next impromptu baking session, I did.

1) Pumpkin Snacking Cake

Inspired by my coworker's pumpkin bread, I yearned for a second sampling of the seasonal creation. Instead of re-producing the exact specimen, I curiously took to the cookbook in question. Lo and behold, there was a pumpkin snacking cake! The only caveat was the word "vegan" in its introduction.

Admittedly, I had my reservations towards the formula. A cake stripped of butter and eggs screamed dismal to me. However, I followed the recipe accordingly, trusting SK in her choice of including the recipe as a trustworthy "keeper".
Its conceptualization had apparently originated from needing to construct a treat for a vegan diner. As such, oil - specifically coconut - was used in place of butter and chemical leaveners in place of aerated eggs.

In my own rendition, coconut oil was substituted for canola and canned pumpkin puree for partially mashed butternut squash. That said, I adhered to the remainder of the ingredient list, proceeding with the specified quantity of coconut milk and even white vinegar, which I presumed was needed to interact with baking soda for maximum rise. Sprinkled on top was a generous handful of turbinado sugar to finish.

Generally speaking, the cake wasn't bad. But it wasn't great either. Despite moist and springy, it was largely devoid of ̶p̶u̶m̶p̶k̶i̶n̶ squash (similar to the Pumpkin Bread) and essentially tasted just of the spices used. With each successive bite came disappointment, and a stark longing for the aromas of butter and airiness of eggs. Some parts were also noticeably bitter, a potential result of incomplete reaction of baking soda.

Out & About #949 | Next Stop: Japan (Day 2) + Union Station Bus Terminal

11/2/2023

Absolutely elated to display my newly-acquired UNIQLO cooler bag, I headed into the office the following day feeling a tad lightheaded - can you blame me? - yet nonetheless eager to share slices of Houjicha Tiramisu Cake.

The bag would maintain an impressive coolness throughout the entire day, even without transferring the ice pack to a chilled environment.

I was not alone in my sharing of homemade baked goods, for my coworker, another fellow baking enthusiast, had compiled a fresh loaf SK's Pumpkin Bread.

Sprinkled with a cinnamon-sugar topping ensured a light crunchiness, while the body of the cake airy and crumb moist. The essence of pumpkin - or, butternut squash, rather - was muted in comparison to the included spice blend. That said, I enjoyed its fragrant, fluffy qualities alongside my morning java, and another in afternoon. Suffice to say, I couldn't resist taking three more pieces home for later munching.

As promised, I returned to Union Station for the second day of Next Stop: Japan.

The primary purpose of the visit was to replenish my stash of Matsu Matcha, though I didn't hesitate to roam the grounds once more for any new vendors of interest. Gushi made a one-day appearance in the stall occupied by Zen previously. Meanwhile, my cooler bag was noted vanished from the UNIQLO merchandise table.

Out & About #948 | Downtown Exploration + Next Stop: Japan (Day 1)

11/1/2023

My mid-week in-office day started off frigid, as if the conclusion of Halloween and entry into November signified the immediate arrival of winter. I had braced myself accordingly with a scarf and beanie, just as Mr. Buttons does year-round.

The floor was relatively peaceful for the first hour, then noise levels steadily surged, eventually to the extent where I could no longer hear my own thoughts. Shortly after 9 AM, a passive-aggressive altercation would ensue, provoked by the trivial topic of desk bookings. Wednesday was an evidently challenging day to fulfill attendance requirements.

Lunchtime would see a leisurely stroll towards Michaels - the only one in the downtown core, shockingly - for Halloween clearance items. Alas, beyond drab decorative installations, there was little else of interest.

The Christmas cookie cutters/stamps positioned by the entrance were of distinctly more intriguing, though far pricier than their eBay counterparts (with questionable durability).

At John and Adelaide, I spotted a new coffee shop by the name of Columbus Café. Its storefront had been integrated nicely into the brick exterior of the condo building, with a large grizzly affixed to each of its street-facing window panes.

Continuing southbound with vigor, I inched closer towards the West Wing of Union Station. The main attraction of the day would be Next Stop: Japan.

Despite having familiarized myself with the vendor lineup well in advance of the four-day event, I was nonetheless excited to partake personally, especially given that I had missed out on free scallops!

A number of booths had taken over the waiting area connecting 97 Front Street and the Great Hall, with a stage situated at the west end. An information desk and photobooth area could be found at the entrance, while a variety of vendors lined the perimeter:

Japan Store by Amazon and JETRO presented a range of Japanese houseware and wellness products, including a headless furry fixture
The Japanese Paper Place offered stationery, origami paper of various sizes, and crafting materials; by following the business' social media account, one would receive a free pin and card paper bearing an oriental design.

Out & About #948 | Ronin Izakaya + KAWS: FAMILY

11/1/2023

Read Part 1 HERE !

Rounding onto Baldwin Street in advance of sundown, our footsteps would pass the storefronts of Butter & Blue, Hattendo (former Kekou), and Light Café.

Ronin Izakaya had secured a spot on my to-go list from the moment I learned of their extensive Hitachino Nest lineup. Beyond the crowd favourite of White Ale, they also carried rarer varieties such as the Lager and Saison du Japon!

The sharing of sustenance and drawn-out conversations are customary of izakaya setups. That said, my dining partner asserted opposing desires when she alluded to the restaurant's ambience being unfavourable for photo-taking and resorted to ordering a single entrée without alcohol pairing. I silently argued that dim lighting was an intentional choice to create a comfortable gathering environment, while communal dining was to promote interactions within the party in a casual manner.

Ronin Izakaya had presented the noteworthy promotional offer of a one-dollar food item with purchase of two cocktails or one premium bottle drink (ABV>10%, excluding beer). There were also cocktail and Asahi deals priced at $7 and $10 respectively. Yet, in spite of these varied promotions, it was quickly deduced that the stance of my dining partner would not be altered by any form of persuasive marketing. Her earlier review of Sayuri merely "tasting like alcohol" was also coherent of this unenthusiastic response.

Of course, my determination did not waver. Initially debating Hitachino and the extremely exclusive Kuronama Black Lager savoured at Japan Festival, I ultimately decided on the latter on the basis of - you guessed it - exclusivity.

Delicious and refreshing, just as it had been three months prior in the summer heat, it paired splendidly with my picks of the evening.

Out & About #947 | Chocolate Layer Cake, Houjicha Tiramisu Cake + Hotpot

10/31/2023

My three-week baking streak has lodged me into the category of a weekend baker, or a "Sunday Baker" (I kid) given the regular production rate for the past fourteen days.

Weekends at home have comprised of chores, general housekeeping (both digital and physical), and an undeniable sense of peace - the much-needed "me time" I had endeavoured to muster since the start of the year.

Past the espresso tonic concocted and Okunomatsu Junmai Daiginjo Sparkling Sake sampled (Mio is better, for the record), I delved into yet another round of creations after finally publishing last year's Vancity recap.

1) Chocolate Ganache Montée

The cake filling/frosting was adapted from Sunday Baking's Best Pistachio Cake Recipe with a 1:2 ratio of chocolate (144 g of Surfin) to heavy cream (288 g).

Chilled, before whipping

After whipping

Slight separation was observed the following day, after over 24 hours of refrigeration. Whipping enabled the return of a uniform consistency and a thick but spreadable filling with the essence of chocolate pudding - just much, much better than the box mixes.

2) Two-Bite Brownies (again and again)

Having seen some degree of success with my "control", I revised the recipe to utilize two egg yolks as opposed to one whole egg. The intent was to increase the "fudgy" factor, however ultimately resulted in rough-edged discs that were highly friable. There was minimal rise (a good thing, in the case) and also no issues removing the pieces from the pan. That said, the formula tasted far more cloying than the last few batches, with the exception of Kitchen Conundrums' edition, despite maintaining a consistent quantity of sugar.

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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