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Out & About #1054 | Errands + Potluck Prep Feat. Peppermint Brownies + Black Sesame Pound Cake with Matcha Glaze

11/23/2024

With the annual office potluck is just over one week away, I deemed the weekend an appropriate period for testing out potential options. Technically, I could have skipped the experimentation altogether, for I realized afterwards that my creations would be enjoyed by members of the team regardless of how the products fared on my own rating scale.

14 eggs (or was it 15?), 4 hours of active labour, and 2 hours of dishwashing later, the day's mission was complete.

1) Coffee Cupcakes

The recently uploaded Easy Chocolate Cupcake recipe had me lusting for the airiness of the Halloween Chocolate Cupcakes, a seven-year old formula that succeeded in inducing a wow factor even seven years later. Instead of chocolate though, I hankered for the toasty bitterness of coffee, concurrently seeking to deplete the remainder of my Nescafe Gold Espresso.

Conceptually, the swap should have been as easy as the elimination of cocoa powder and dissolution of espresso powder into the specified quantity of hot water. Fuming due to familial dysfunction, I had forgotten to measure the precise amount of instant coffee used. Amidst my hot-headed state, I had likely also forgotten to compensate removal of cocoa powder with additional AP flour.

The modified ingredient list was as follows:

̶1̶2̶0̶ g → 170 g AP flour
̶5̶0̶ ̶g̶ ̶c̶o̶c̶o̶a̶ ̶p̶o̶w̶d̶e̶r̶
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
100 g granulated sugar
120 g hot water
̶1̶/̶2̶ → 3 tsp espresso powder
120 g milk
50 g oil * I used canola
1 egg

Yield: 9 standard muffins

Sunday's recipe would supposedly produce 25 mini cupcakes. Adapting the formula for a standard-sized muffin tin, I achieved a total of nine cupcakes. These would baked at 375 F for 9 mins, then 350 F for 6 mins.

The absence of cocoa powder had initially spurred some reservations, for I was unsure whether the baking soda would have sufficient acid to aid in the leavening reaction. Then, in recalling that coffee is also acidic, these worries were buried promptly. The final products did not emerge alkalinic either - I was safe.

A handful of the cupcakes featured pointy peaks beyond just the typical dome. These had likely been over-filled, causing raw batter to surge from the centre while baking.
The base of the cupcakes retained noticeable dampness even after baking and cooling, making the liners difficult to remove. In reviewing the cross-section, I'd observe the peculiar travel of air bubbles: the configuration was almost akin to the interior of Vietnamese honeycomb cake, being somewhat stringy instead of circular.

There was no hiding it: Coffee was lacking - nonexistent even. While the hue was appropriately brown, the profile was distinctly devoid of aroma. As anticipated, the cupcake itself was quite light, enabling elevation via addition of frosting (buttercream of ganache) or being maintained as a simple tea cake.
Excess matcha glaze did not overwhelm the creation, but nor did it create a cohesive profile. It merely flowed over the Halloween-themed liner, adhering to the exterior and shattering in any and all attempts to remove the inedible piece.

As far as production quality, I can confidently declare proper techniques and, consequently, proper visuals. Derelict is merely the presence of coffee - back to Sunday's roster it is.

2) Peppermint Swirl Brownies

Variations of peppermint brownies is often a holiday favourite. Milder than candy cane-containing renditions, I set out to craft a two-toned specimen that could possibly constitute a candidate for the upcoming potluck.

Frankly, Sunday Baking's Mochi Brownie recipe is too sweet for my liking. However, olive oil or neutral oil containing renditions aren't that much better. Having seen success in a swirled creation previously, I decided to formulate a Peppermint Swirl Brownie using Sunday's recipe as a guideline.

Using two eggs, the ingredient list was easy to halve. That said, results are never guaranteed when introducing modifications.

Sunday's original ingredient list is as follows:

2 eggs
110 g granulated sugar
170 g dark chocolate (58%)
65 g unsalted butter
20 g cornstarch
10 g cocoa powder

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Out & About #1037 | IKEA Hej Days, Red Sail Boat Bakery + Pacific Mall

9/22/2024

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Even before embarking on the day, I knew a strenuous schedule lay in store for me.

Adorning ahga-attire was mandatory. Of my many merchandise tees on hand, I sought out comfort in my thoroughly worn Eyes on You t-shirt, pairing jeans and sneakers to account for the round of errands that would precede the concert. BamBam's AREA 52 cap, the beaded Jinyoung bracelet from my coworker, and asymmetrical feather earrings would seal the look. I was now ready.

The Thai ahgase and I had agreed on a 12 PM meet-up at Yorkdale.

While I departed late but arrived sooner than expected, she was not only late but further requested stopping for Starbucks before continuing. Despite my ceaseless concerns of the kiosk being amongst the slowest of all locations, she insisted on coffee. Meanwhile, my plans for us to collectively obtain coffee from IKEA would be delayed/dismissed. Lo and behold: the Starbucks app estimate was wrong and we hovered about the kiosk for an additional seven minutes before gradually descending back to the parking garage

When the drink was finally delivered, I asked the barista for an empty cup, causing him to glance over at the Thai ahgase's drink, thinking that we'd be sharing the drink. He warily handed me a Tall cup, to which I grimaced but did not pry further on the basis of time. Frankly, the size assumption was not appreciated; other locations would hand you a Grande cup in the case of water requests or ask whether a preferred cup size exists.

Yorkdale was a driving monstrosity for those that do not frequent the area. Departing the garage, I realized that the 401 on ramps had changed location. Detouring about Dufferin, I eventually found my way towards Sheppard and continued to IKEA on local roads.

September 22nd, which coincided with Jinyoung's birthday, would mark the third and final instance of the Swedish homeware store's Hej Days promotions.

Truth be told: I was none too keen about back-to-back weekend visits. However, I was irritated that the items I had just purchased had gone on sale! Hej Days was, in essence, both an instigator and act of redemption for more Rykta bins.

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Out & About #1037 | BamBam BAMESIS Showcase Tour in Toronto

9/22/2024

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Read Part 1 HERE !

A schedule had been released ahead of time, though, given the organizer's treacherous lack of planning to date, we had reservations towards whether events were to follow through as planned.

Lineup for entry was slated to take place as early as 5:30 PM. By the time we pulled into the asphalt lot of Global Kingdom Ministries around 5:50 PM, a decent-sized crowd had clustered about the entrance. There were well over 50 people, we noted, which meant that those huddled up front consisted not only of SVIP attendees. As predicted, most were dressed in black and red, as to maintain consistency with the album colours of BamBam's latest album.

There was an abundance of parking and, of course, no need to pay. I pulled into one of many spots in the lot while the Thai ahgase continuously expressed her anxieties. Suggesting that she determine the answers to her ceaseless inquiries about tier categorization and queuing, I'd hover near my trunk to source the Pineapple BBQ Pork Bun from Red Sail Boat Bakery. The sweet-savoury parcel would constitute my (exceptionally early) supper.

I quickly wolfed down the bun before 6 PM, then joined the lineup. The round was, peculiarly, still warm, despite being contained in my cooler bag for a few hours. Perhaps it was hunger, but the bun was perceived as quite the delicious bite. Plenty of cha siu was found within the specimen, then laced with a delightful cookie crust. Featuring a surface sturdier than Akko, I needed not worry if I'd lose the topping while eating on the go; the bun was similarly sturdy, yet far from dense. We had a winner!

The schedule had noted an entry time of 6 PM. But, as expected, we weren't ushered inside until at least 6:10 PM. SVIP ticket QR codes would be verified at the door; meanwhile, proof of VIP tickets would be dismissed.
Moving single-file between the double doors to the reception desk, we were provided red wristbands, BAMESIS lanyards with SVIP designations, a tour poster, and BamBam photocard of choice. Being amongst last ones in the queue, our choice of photocards was limited to two. That said, my complaints are few, for the quality of the bonus items was of a good caliber.

VRS Production was unapologetically Filipino in every way possible, with not a single team member not displaying the signature cheesy tendencies. Photographers and videographers would capture the entry process of the fans, as well as the transition to the upper level for the fansign event.
It was with much relief that I found clean, brightly-lit corridors and bathrooms on the both the upper and lower levels of the building. I had envisioned a layout to be akin to Notre-Dame, wherein the seats were uncomfortable wooden benches and indoor plumbing facilities were nowhere in sight. The Thai ahgase scoffed, clarifying that Notre-Dame was a cathedral and that churches indeed possess bathrooms.

The location for the SVIP Fansign was a space no larger than the standard classroom. A table and tour poster were set up at the front of the room, lights positioned on either side. Fabric-lined chairs would be arranged some distance away from the table, in five rows of ten chairs each. After all, the SVIP upgrade was limited to just 50 VIP ticketholders.
We found ourselves filing into the last row, eyes glazing over a tour poster with sticky note instead of the BAMESIS albums we were promised. The team had apparently "ran out" of albums, thus supplemented the last two rows with "partial albums" and tour posters. The "partial" albums involved "sharing" a single album between two people, in which the CD could be signed by one and the photobook by another. Needless to say, this sent the last twenty unlucky fans into an uproar. The SVIP upgrade had promised a benefit of two albums, leading most, if not all, fans to refrain from brining their own copy from home.

These obvious frustrations prompted an interim resolution: Somehow from somewhere, more albums would emerge. Each SVIP ticketholder would be compensated with one full album; the second album would supposedly be shipped out after the show, though further details were not provided.

Pens and sharpies would circulate the room to allow fans to write down their name for the fansign. We were informed that BamBam would copy the name - and/or message - on the sticky note onto the chosen page for signing. Also discussed was the procedure: Each SVIP ticketholder would be entitled to one minute of interactions with BamBam. Upon nearing the end of the time slot, a "15 seconds left" sign would be raised. This sign would then be flipped to reveal "Times Up" at the end of the sixty-second period.

"Wow!" I turned to the Thai ahgase with shock, "A whole minute!!"

Shortly after settling our album concerns, BamBam strode into the room without warning. By this point, it was 6:30 PM.

Each row would be summoned in sequence and instructed to queue along the side of the room. Then, one by one, the fans would be gestured towards the table and the timer would be started. Members of staff and local security hovered about the perimeter of the room, yet none invaded into the signing zone. In stark contrast to previously attended events, staff did not situate themselves between the artist and fans, nor did they touch/push/shove aggressively. One member of staff hovered next to BamBam, but the scene was otherwise very intimate and exclusive.

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Vancouver Ventures | DAY 4: Mango Cream Cake, Parker Place + BGM K-Pop Class

6/5/2024

Constructing celebration-worthy cakes while in vacationing has emerged as a priority over the recent years. Striving to craft a better product than my Layered Birthday Cake of instant coffee-infused sponge and Swiss meringue-stabilized whipped cream two years ago, I brought along a spatula and scraper.

Approximately thirty minutes would pass before I had assembled all the tools in the kitchen. From the mini rechargeable scale to Pyrex mixing bowls to cooling rack, not a single item had evaded being wrapped in a plastic bag or plastic wrap - or both!
Already accessible was the hand mixer I had procured during the last trip. The rest of the starting procedures merely involved readying my workstation - a step entirely omitted back home due to regular instances of baking.

The aim was to outdo La Patisserie's airy mango cream cake using the tried-and-true formulas and techniques established since its sampling.

The base would be none other than the "Perfect Chiffon Cake" from Sheldo's Kitchen. Tested throughout the years for layering and snacking purposes, it established its position in a recent execution of Mango Cream Cake that earned extravagant praise far and wide.

A straightforward Chantilly cream, stabilized with just enough roux (read: an unmeasured amount likely averaging a tablespoon), would serve to frost the insides as well as the exterior.

Surprisingly enough, preparing the mangoes constituted the most challenging segment. Three ripe mangoes were peeled, diced, and shaved in advance of assembly. While this would often require no more than five minutes in my own kitchen, the roster of tools available to me were not suited towards heavy handling of produce. I would find myself switching between two dull peelers, a spreading knife and pointed paring knife duo, and a mini cutting board while fumbling with loose working gloves acquired from OOMOMO.

The mangoes were discovered on the tart side of the spectrum, thus were soaked in a sugar syrup while other components were underway. Due to the length of the mangoes, two layers of shavings would be summoned to cover the entire cake. Exposed areas at the bottom were left as is, though later investigation informed me of the bakery tactics used to camouflage the gaps, namely piping cream along the circumference in the form of star-tipped trails.

Cake scraps and leftover mango pieces were formed into scoop-able "sidekick" cakes. The sponge layers would be dressed with the simple syrup used for soaking, which had become mango-infused in the process. These containers would chill for significantly less time than the main cake, and were ready for consumption within the hour.

Most of the day had been spent baking, with only an intermission of frozen pizza for lunch.

Out & About #1007 | P1Harmony [P1ustage H: UTOP1A] Tour in Toronto

5/24/2024

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My younger self would have scoffed at having to debate whether one should attend a concert or not - the answer was "obviously" yes.
But present-day me can no longer echo the strong opinion. I'm tired, derelict of rest, and burdened with far too many tasks to tackle in a humanly possible time frame. For every concert I'd choose to skip, I'd be conserving funds, relieving myself of the treacherous commute, and restoring time for completing chores and errands. And, as an added perk of declining GA shows, I'd no longer suffer from feet, shoulder, and back pain afterwards.

I won't lie: Leading up to the day of P1Harmony's UTOP1A tour stop in Toronto, I found myself dreading yet another commute downtown, instead of anticipating with enthusiasm. The sheer existence of the event had actually escaped me entirely; had it not been for my fellow concert-goer, I would have forgotten until reviewing my list of never-ending calendar appointments.

Just as I had planned to start preparing for the drive to the GO station, a phone call caused the process to come to a grinding halt. My attention was urgently needed to facilitate home happenings. Naturally, this delayed my departure by at least forty minutes.

Horrendous rush hour traffic posed another hurdle. With a high likelihood of missing the train, I opted to swerve into the closest plaza for an early dinner (and indoor plumbing facilities instead).

Located within the plaza was Tim Hortons, Rexall, Dollarama, cannabis shop, and gas station. At its southeast corner was the quietest of Subway locations. I entered to find empty tables, forceful gusts of air conditioning, and just two customers requesting takeout.

My pick would adopt a 6" Chimichurri Steak Sub utilizing a toasted Multigrain bun, melted cheese, pickled, tomatoes, black olives, and, of course, chimichurri sauce. The wrapped package would be presented to me in a matter of minutes, unsurprising given the nonexistent customer volumes.

The meal was tasty, but nothing to write home about. Rather, I was more impressed with the washroom stalls. My observations could be biased given that the staff had just finished cleaning, but spotless, queue-free stalls were a much-appreciated feature, for I knew concert venues would not offer the same.

Crossing my way over to Clarkson, I learned of an intersection collision that had spurred chaos earlier. A tow truck was now on site. It seemed that a vehicle had attempted to turn left into oncoming traffic instead of working its way around a signalized intersection.

My arrival at Exhibition GO was not all lonely, for fellow K-Pop fans followed closely behind.

Coca-Cola Coliseum was a brief walk from the transit stop - and covered for the most part. Much to my relief, temperatures had returned to seasonal conditions: high teens with plenty of sun and breeze. Nevertheless, my concert attire would comprise of full-length pants (for I am neither a fan of rashes nor fellow transit riders brushing against bare knees) and a fleece-lined hoodie to combat venue and GO train A/C.

Entry into the facility was far swifter than I could have ever imagined! The entrance was fully staffed, yet not particularly menacing. After verifying my digital ticket, I was waved through security, skipping the bag check entirely. The security gate persisted with green lights, allowing me to bypass the inspection altogether. I needed not fret over my "oversized" choice of bag, nor whether I'd be given a hard time for the point-and-shoot nestled within it

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Out & About #988 | Oomomo Don Mills, Dal Pilates Session #4 + Pizza Maru

3/24/2024

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Alternating at-home recovery and errand-running has proven somewhat sustainable for my Sunday schedule, particularly since sleeping early always seems ̶o̶u̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶q̶u̶e̶s̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ to be denied.

The first half of the weekend had been allocated towards chores, including cleaning until nearly midnight. Perpetually perplexing to me is how even the grandest efforts appear to bring about few physical improvements to the area, but I digress!

My forever helper is not attuned to operating on EST, which usually results in delayed arrivals, and further delays due to my lack of punctuality.

Shops at Don Mills had been designated as the first destination on the itinerary. We arrived at the asphalt lot just before 2:30 PM, at which point I exited from the vehicle to find surprisingly mild conditions and close to no residual ice masses after the previous day's heavy snowfall.

The two objectives of the visit had been The Body Shop's liquidation sale and Hazukido x Daan Go's collaboration space. When the fair trade beauty giant was discovered shuttered and vacated, we ventured along the other corridors within the retail plaza, noting new openings and persistent presences.

Hazukido and Daan Go's collaboration space was discovered far more compact than envisioned. The location was supposedly a dedicated facility for workshops and special events, though the limited number of tables, stacks of boxes along the perimeter of the seating area, and nonexistent selection of exclusive items deterred from a longer stay.

With little else of interest, we continued on our way following use of their indoor plumbing services.

Although a logistically odd choice, the Barber Greene Plaza had intentionally been planned as the second stop, in fear that my browsing partner would exceed my anticipated browsing period.

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Out & About #961 | Non-Olive Oil Brownies, BamBam AREA 52 Tour Merch + GOT7 Lightstick Ver. 3

12/16/2023

Curiosity is often the culprit to precipitous endeavours in the kitchen. It starts with unexpected success, luring the mind to contemplate boundless customization options in the world.

I had been quick to run out of olive oil after delving into SK's latest brownie recipe, prompting me to append the item to the grocery list. Alas, the market value of olive oil was shocking: $17.99 for a bottle just $6.99 at the start of 2020! The newly-discovered information caused me to execute a second batch with vegetable oil swapped for olive, less for flavour but purely on the bases of economics and convenience.

Previously, 105 g of granulated sugar and 125 g of golden yellow sugar had been used in place of the specified 345 g granulated. In this round, I would resort to 100 g of granulated, 180 g of golden yellow, a heavy pinch of salt, and an even heavier handful of smoked flaky salt to finish. The intent was to compensate depth with sweet and savoury notes, since the distinctive notes of olive oil would be removed.

Again, the square emerged with an interesting texture: a very chewy top with a moist centre. As expected, the batch was not nearly as fragrant without the olive oil, and its profile not nearly as refined. The additional sprinkling of salt rendered the creation closer to a salted brownie without the exquisite depth, leading me to conclude that even a basic bottle of olive oil would be preferable to regular cooking oil.
Nevertheless, one cannot deny the moistness that comes with oil-based brownies - they are soft and enjoyable for days after (and even gooey past the third day!), unlike the dry, cakey specimens of butter-based formulas. There are, regrettably, some repercussions of satiation, however, for, while oil improves tenderness, it does not keep fullness at bay.

Though I'm unlikely to attend more than one showing of BamBam's AREA 52 World Tour, the Thai ahgase did not refrain from reminding me of her dire need for tour merch before the New York leg. Shortly after she had secured her tickets for south of the border, my package arrived!

Along with a AREA 52 t-shirt and cap was the GOT7 Lightstick Version 3, more commonly (and lovingly) referred to as the Ahgabong.

Out & About #906 | Eaton Update, Hawaiian Butter Mochi + Exploring Platinum Drive

6/18/2023

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Heading into the office on a rainy Monday morning was blissful:
Traffic was smooth.
The PATH was quiet.
The office was peaceful.

Without external interferences, I entered focus mode immediately. Exploring the vast array of resources made known to us, I came across the availability of Microsoft 365, currently restricted to the web version only.

Against my better judgement, I opted to move the entirety of my working files to OneDrive, in hopes that it would serve to provide more stable backup. Alas, seconds after verifying the files' existence, the cloud folder emptied itself. My files were gone.

Reaching out to IT in a frenzy, I stated my dilemma with urgency, then began evaluating my options for tomorrow's review deadline. The moral of story: Always make copies to be conservative, rather than using the "cut" function at every available opportunity. My attempt to be efficient and prevent unnecessary duplication actually hindered productivity instead of enhancing it.

Dreary skies and persistent precipitation continued into the early afternoon hours. As opposed to my usual outdoor trek, I crossed over to the Eaton Centre to explore the indoor facility, while simultaneously completing errands.

Despite its awkward, non-looping layout and homeless-heavy population, Eaton remains a top spot for tourists visiting the City, though the association may have resulted from its proximity to City Hall and the photo-ready "Toronto" sign.

For the average GTA resident, it is rarely the shopping centre of choice given more convenient, parking-equipped options elsewhere. However, seeing as the trip would mark my first foray in recall-able history since 2018, it was only reasonable to sync updates from the past five years.

The most obvious change was the commencement of Ontario Line construction, which had taken over the centremost section of the mall, where the gargantuan Christmas Tree had once stood for past Tree Lighting ceremonies.

Läderach unveiled its doors to the downtown public in 2019. While it isn't, by any means, considered "new" to locals, the name was definitely foreign to me. Like Lindt, it branded itself as a Swiss chocolatier. Instead of individually wrapped truffles with various fillings, their signature offerings spanned chocolate bark, truffle gift boxes, and chocolate-covered popcorn. The latter was of primary interest to me, though I simply couldn't justify the seventeen-dollar price tag for the teensy pouch.

Benkei Hime had made waves last year with its "integrated lifestyle" concept. Boasting a faux Kawara roof and flashy orange interior fitted with a multitude of LED lights, the store was an odd mishmash of overpriced bubble tea and uncategorizable merchandise.

The overall design appeared gaudy and excessive, and not very reminiscent of a café or typical bubble tea dine-in establishment.

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Out & About #887 | Pistachio Cake + Cycle Class

4/9/2023

BamBam has been everywhere lately, jumping between music broadcast shows, BamJip, as well as various YouTube channels to promote Sour & Sweet, his first full-length album. As an ahgase, I revel in the deluge of fresh content surging my way. But beyond squealing in excitement and laughing hysterically at his witty remarks, I've come to learn of the artist's impressive growth, as well as identify with a number of his struggles.

His love for beer and the colour purple were new discoveries to me, as was his tremendous struggle to continue life as an idol, artist, and entertainer. Dissimilar to those who base their decisions firstly off emotions, BamBam's greatest struggle was not in regards to producing art synonymous with his inner world. Rather, it was failing to achieve the desired results despite the amount of effort invested. Another aspect to the equation was the importance of being authentic, yet still respectful and considerate.

Some declarations seemed to be no-brainers to him:

Facing problems head-on instead of escaping from reality to avoid stress
Having confidence and being self-aware nixes the need to be jealous or wary of a significant other's social circle, or worse, projecting one's insecurities on another person
The lack of value of learning something if it would unlikely pose a drastic change to one's life, and further entails no benefit nor loss
The significance of taking care of oneself via the latte joys in life, even if the reward is as simple as a can of cold beer after a long day
Embracing the joys associated with interactions of "my people" rather than new faces
Accepting that not every situation can be changed, and learning to be alright with the discomfort
Taking opportunities at one's most dire and taking a leap of faith in response to others' sincerity
Trusting the results of one's own hard work, despite lacking trust in oneself as a person

I identified with more than just a handful of his comments, especially those spoken in the realms of rationality. That said, I find greater moderation in Bam's thoughts and actions than in myself: Self-indulgence, while playing a relatively minor part in his daily routine, never goes untended. Maturity has developed from his extensive experience in the entertainment industry, from which has given way to a more sustainable mindset and more balanced regime. Observing him throughout this process has been a gift to me, both as an ahgase and a mere speck of matter in space.

Pasta salad cravings have perdured since the previous week, with all hints for tri-colour fusilli mixed with peppers and olives dismissed - or temporarily forgotten - by the sleepy polar bear.

When readymade renditions could not be located at Loblaws, matters were, naturally, taken into my own hands. My request for dry pasta was met with a box of De Cecco fusilli instead of the standard Unico packages, much to my surprise. The premium-looking box and "Product of Italy" label raised eyebrows, for it shouted "Alert: Expensive!" from all angles.
In reality, the item was on clearance, thus cheaper than our typical budget pick, but superior in quality. Cooked in salted water to a consistency between al dente and soft HK Café spaghetti, the beautiful, swirled specimens retained their shape throughout the mixing and tossing process that would await them.

Mayonnaise - Miracle Whip, really - is the customary condiment choice in our household. Often is it blended with wasabi, ketchup, and/or Dijon mustard for varying takes on potato salad. For fusilli though, I looked towards an oil-based dressing, which is seldom my go-to. Olive oil, rice wine vinegar, coarse salt, and a sprinkle of sugar formed the base, while two cloves of black garlic were meticulously broken down by hand and smothered into the pasta's ridges. At first, the salad seemed lacking with just sweet bell peppers (an orange and red each) and half a deseeded cucumber; black olives were pivotal in my view. However, once the flavours had an opportunity to permeate, the result was phenomenal: harmonious, textured, yet light on the stomach, as a pasta salad ought be.

Other meals/snacks of the week included: Peanut Butter on Toast, Loblaws Potato Salad, Chiang Mai Trail Mix from Basil Box, Minced Pork with Eggplant, Udon, Miso Soup with withering, week-old scallions, and Sirloin Oscar leftovers from The Keg.

Out & About #875 | Jinyoung - Chapter 0: WITH, Bluberry Crumble Cake + Torta Caprese

2/2/2023

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No other work week feels as short as one before a trip, especially with a rush of month-end wrap-up tasks, unexpected spectacle complications, and unfavourable commuting conditions.

When my carpooling partner warned of an earlier departure time, I grimaced. Joint trips often commence early, but terminate far later than desired. To peel myself away from an area of respite even sooner than 6 AM did not align with personal productivity-promoting protocols. I resolved to undertake the grueling drive downtown by myself.

Monday morning traffic was surprisingly light, but any prospect of arriving early (and leaving early) would be eradicated upon coming face to face with an unexpected TTC delay. Thankfully, the "broken train" issue spanned just a total of twelve minutes. I succeeded in making my arrival at 7:55 AM; the office, much to my relief, was relatively vacant with the exception of two large meetings, one in each boardroom.

Originally, I had planned to visit the optometrist's office first thing. Delaying the trip to the following day eventually emerged as the better decision, for the lens of one pair popped out while in the office. The remainder of the day was spent working without the assistance of screen spectacles. But, in the very least, I'd be able to service all three pairs in one trip.

Lunchtime proved surprisingly warm. My westbound trek was accompanied by a picturesque scene of slow-falling snowflakes. Though, "picturesque" may be a debatable term, for construction and precipitation often make for muddy ground conditions and splatters on pants.

On the bright side, many of the construction fences had been removed with the completion of cycle track paving and interlock work. This enabled smoother flow of foot traffic, in spite of snow piled about the curb.

At spotting "Mont Blanc" adorning the online menu of Isle of Coffee, I opted to venture out for a second visit. The cafe's madeleines had been disappointing overall, but the Fig and Caramel Scone had left its mark.

Obtained in addition to the scone were a small Houjicha Latte and Mont Blanc. While the drink was being prepared, I treaded down a flight of narrow, rickety wooden stairs to the basement. Amidst the dim ambiance were a handful of tables, two incredibly focused ladies seated at those tables, working away on their laptops, and an old movie - complete with subtitles - being projected on an empty wall. Left of the stairwell was a door that read "Employees only", but beyond the limited seating was a second door - the washroom!
The single stall was fairly clean, equipped with a swing top garbage bin, one backup toilet paper roll under the sink, and a toilet with competent flushing capabilities.

Awaiting my return to ground level were my treats were perched on the counter, neatly placed in a brown paper bag. The Mont Blanc resided in a paper box at the bottom, while the Fig and Caramel Scone rested on top in a white paper bag.

The cashier-barista added the finishing touches on my Houjicha Latte and handed the cup to me with grace. The beverage was toasty and positively nutty: warm enough to unleash distinctly houjicha aromas, but not scalding to the point of tongue-incinerating (Looking at you, Starbucks).

I took a few sips of the latte before reaching over to the condiment station for an emerald green lid. Impeccably luscious and downright flavourful, Isle of Coffee had succeeded in satisfying the void that The Social Blend had failed to in their absence of houjicha.