​Has half the month passed already? (My exam date is looming. Oh dear me.)

1) Onnuri
With the name change also came an updated menu. Thankfully, prices remained the same; the selection was similar, though the new focus seemed to lie with hot stone dishes (instead of solely on gamjatang).

​2) At-Home Visuals Feat. Mixed Berry Jam Grilled Cheese
3) Cereal for the iron-deficient
4) My first cup of Mango Green Tea w/ Lychee Jelly since 2015, courtesy of a friendly former co-worker

5) Tip of the day: Wear long sleeves and trim your nails short prior to climbing.

​I rolled into a peaceful Saturday morning with "Morning Flower" reverberating throughout my room. Still dazed from returning late the previous evening, I grudgingly peeled away the covers and swiped the alarm. It was time to get dressed for my first Zumba class.

Stenoodie and I had actually planned the date two weeks prior, and despite my initial concerns about a double cardio hit on the same day, I was excited. Of course, the eastbound trip was not without obstacles. I zipped along the 401 with ease - a rare situation to even fathom - but then got caught behind sluggish muttonheads on the 404. Ah, weekend drivers.
​
The morning dance class was held in the gym of the St. George Antioch Orthodox Church Centre, instead of a standalone plaza as I had expected. I sped past the entranceway, then was forced to loop around the residential areas until a path to Bayview could be found. A separate event was being held at the venue at the same time, thus locating parking was another nightmare. It also did not help that many drivers had decided to take up two spaces instead of their allocated one. By the time I entered, twenty minutes of the class had already passed.

​I joined the ahjummas (and a lone ahjussi) for the remainder of the class, then attempted to render myself presentable using the extremely limited space that a team of high school volleyball players had spared for me in the bathroom. Exiting the premises, I caught sight of the substance inexperienced drivers feared the most: snow.

Frankly speaking, a light dusting of flakiness never hurt anyone. However, automobile operators on the east end tend to fear all weather conditions, and this particular case was an obstruction by means of reduced speed limits. Advancing past the scaredy-cats, I pulled into the 16th and Wilmot plaza, snagging the first available spot in the strip. Our brunch destination of choice was already brimming with customers.

​I had slotted Elephant Grind Coffee onto my list of unbounded to-go spots after receiving positive feedback from ochungg. The scene that lay before my eyes was not so different from Alchemy: snowy external conditions, a bustling interior, and an unbelievably dreadful lineup. Having called in advance, I was informed that the wait would average 15-20 minutes for a party of two. This seemed reasonable, but dismaying information was provided upon my arrival; estimated wait times had surged to 30-45 minutes.

Ravenous at this point, I suggested to partake in a meal at any of the other nearby establishments. The plea was refuted by my dining partner, who dove inside to keep an ear out should our names be called. I remained outside, for feelings of claustrophobia were aggravated at the mere sight of the closely-packed diners assimilated about the doorway.
True to their word, our names - or rather, mine - was called at the thirty-minute mark. A sigh of relief sweft over me: Elephant Grind was already proving different from Alchemy, where I had waited well upwards of their thirty-five minute estimation before obtaining a stool.

​Sustenance orders were placed and paid for at the front counter, though table service was in effect for the rest of the meal. The menu was quite vast, and diverse given Markham's regular selection of offers. I took to the Elephant Grind Sandwich - a conservative bet since the cafe had embedded their name on the very item - along with an Iced Coffee. The drink menu spanned flat whites, Nutella lattes, hot chocolate, and steamy cups of Sloane tea, yet there was not a Cold Brew option in sight. This was odd to me, given that Hatch, their roaster of choice, had attained fame for this specific beverage.

Nevertheless, my Iced Coffee was refreshing with a only a subtly acidic starting note.

​Every so often, I make a Markham run. Approximately forty to fifty minutes of a drive, one would consider it within fairly acceptable travel distance as the journey downtown is already an hour and a half via local and regional public transit. That said, not everyone enjoys the 120-kilometre round trip, especially when gas prices have risen so recently.

It's crucial to make the most of a trip, including tending to errands along the way and trying out new establishments in the vicinity.

​Eggette Hut is a destination I've been meaning to revisit, but on a relatively empty stomach. Cheese Explosion had proved insanely satiating in spite of its delectability. Ordering the Coconut Eggette, I had hoped for an afternoon snack that provided just the adequate amount of satisfaction. Truthfully, it was much sweeter than I would have liked. Opting out of the two-dollar milk tea pairing had been an informed decision on my behalf. The chewy consistency of dessicated coconut flakes was present, along with pockets of soft, stretchy mochi in each bubble. One side of the waffle was crisp and uniformly golden brown, but the other (the "flip side") was soft - mushy even - with an overall patchy appearance.

Although not entirely unpleasant, I am unsure whether I'd return for a third trial. The flavours, though pronounced, are quite excessive, overpowering the delicate properties of its foundation - the plain egg waffles and its sheer texture profile. Should you contemplate attempting Eggette Hut, it is highly recommended to have a few friends in tow. Sharing the waffles is less likely to result in sugar/sodium overdose, all while lowering the cost per unit of the pricey little fragments.

I went on to spend a relaxing half hour of reading at Chapters - one of the exceptionally few GTA locations which hasn't been renamed as "Indigo", then engaging in rapid research for nearby dinner options.

​Mi-Ne was close by, and its reviews told a solid story. We set out for the Japanese restaurant.
Locating its coordinates was a simple task: being at the corner of the plaza ensured that patrons traversing north along Woodbine would spot it with ease. I pulled into the utterly horrendous parking lot, immediately furrowing my brows at the wretched scene that lay before me.
For a private lot, one would have assumed the owner(s) to have invested in maintenance procedures in the name of continued business. Sadly, this was not the case; potholes, large, ponding cracks, sporadically depressed sections were dispersed throughout. The sudden jumps in grade were annoying not only to drivers, but created nasty trip hazards to pedestrians as well.

​The restaurant itself did not earn such scorn. Mi-Ne had been thoroughly decorated with various Japanese ornaments, leaving no shred of its predecessor behind. In fact, the interior had been altered in such a manner that it hadn't even occurred to me that this was the exact location where a personal tragedy had taken place nearly six years prior.

​The service staff consisted of young Koreans, which I presumed none to exceed the age of twenty-five. A petite hostess seated us at one of the many partitioned wooden booths. Teetering between each was an array of empty alcohol bottles. The assortment spanned sake, soju, as well as several other unfamiliar names, seemingly aspired to bridge the gap between family diner and izakaya.

​To encourage drinking, they even presented a menu of mix-and-match izakaya combos. At a mere nineteen dollars, patrons had the option of pairing a single appetizer-sized platter with either 16 oz. of draft beer ir 200 ml of sake. Amongst these small servings were deep-fried oysters, salmon sashimi, BBQ unagi, and more.
Rolls and makis were found on a separate, double-sided laminated menu; even more options were nestled within a tattered hardcover menu.

After a lengthy discussion and much contemplation, we settled on one set from the izakaya menu and a Chirashi from the regular menu. Ponzu/soy-dressed side salads and miso soups arrived soon after orders were placed. Green tea brewed with rice grains had been placed before us before that.

All dishes were delivered rapidly, albeit their presentation being a bit lacking. Salad dressing was spotted dribbling off one of the bowls, while the shallow Chirashi bowl featured greasy smears and fingerprints.
​That is not to say that they were dismal orders of sustenance, however they didn't succeed in leaving a strong impression either. The starters were straightforward and very, very typical.

< Pictured above and below: Asahi, Fried Oysters, Chirashi >

​It's accurate to say that new years bring about changes. A conspicuous observation amongst my inner circle would be the gradual shift from ceaseless food adventures to hangout sessions fusing physical activity followed by rewarding munches.

Another fellow food enthusiast recently returned from her travels. And while a planned visit to TORA was in the works, an above-seasonal Sunday afternoon was not the time for that. I voted against the chaos of Yorkdale and proposed staying local instead.
The suggestion of partaking in a drop-in dance class was rejected in favour of checking out the city's newest indoor climbing facility, Hub.

​Our date of visit happened to coincide with the second and final day of their Grand Opening party. Existing members from the club's Markham location were able to bring two guests with them for free, causing the facility to swell with climbers of all experience levels. The staff kept busy by tending to the requests of attendees and ensuring that waivers had been filled for each and every participant.
We didn't arrive until early afternoon, after crowds had long arrived and settled in. However, there was still a delay due to the limited number of computers (for signing waivers) and obtaining the correct size for our rental shoes.

A complimentary yoga session happened to be taking place around this time, so we headed towards the second floor to join. As neither of us had prepared our own mats, we simply unravelled the chalk-covered ones available. They definitely weren't the cleanest, nor did they smell all that great. Each Downward Dog was rewarded with a rancid whiff of sweat. Stench aside, the one-hour class was enjoyable and succeeded in stretching out our bodies' tightest areas prior to engaging in more intense physical activity.

​The second floor was extremely minimal: mostly concrete with no decorative elements whatsoever. With that said, it provided a quiet area to rest one's mind, away from the clamour of the climbing walls. It was also here that one could grasp a full view of the numerous attractions and exercise areas. In the far corner was a compact gym in the making, while bouldering walls of varying difficulty levels surrounded the perimeter. At its centre was a lofty structure intended for intermediate level belay and top rope climbing.
In a less crowded area was a party room - likely instated for the birthday party needs of children - and a Learner's Area where our auto-belay safety orientation would take place.

With the conclusion of our calming yoga session, we retreated back to the ground floor to request harnesses and more fitted pairs of climbing shoes. This type of footwear was primarily structure-less, with a flexible yet rigid toe piece and soft sides all around. Good news for those with flat feet (such as myself) is that you can easily upgrade to a half size larger to accomodate for the insertion of orthotics.
We then underwent brief training for the auto-belay system (an automated pulley system that would lower climbers down slowly) and were made aware of safe falling methods for bouldering.

Afterwards, we went on to spend a large chunk of our time in the Learner's Area, challenging ourselves with different routes. Hub utilized a number-based difficulty system; for example, a route with a rating of 5.3 was far less straining than that with rating 5.9. Most of the courses in the Learner's Area were relatively free of contours, however, there were a handful that incorporated concavity and protrusions.

​As we eased into the evening hours, we decided to attempt the trickier routes in the main climbing area. My partner-in-crime was first to hook herself onto the belay system. Sprawling upwards with the fluidity of a long-legged spider, she reached the top in under two minutes! I, on the other hand, am not quite so lanky. The course was a grueling expedition for me. Breathing a bit faster than normal, I did not succeed in touching the top stone until almost five minutes later.

​Orangecane had been right about the aftereffects: my hands felt "raw", exposure to warm water was torture, and driving was excruciating. I had rewarded with agonizing calluses on the underside of hand, specifically at the point where the palm meets the ends of the fingers and the hand bends

"So much for being open on public holidays."
I had suggested sushi for my long overdue meetup with ochungg, namely Japan Eats located on the ground floor of Yonge and Sheppard's predominantly Chinese condo building. Alas, we arrived to find both front and back entrances locked and the interior was empty. Despite my prior research, the information on their social media page had proved inaccurate.

​With one of us craving sashimi and the other in favour of Korean, we settled on MeNami. Reservations hadn't been made in advance, but, thankfully, we were seated without a wait. Those arriving closer to 1 PM were spotted standing by the entrance for short periods of time.

As a familiar choice for both of us, narrowing down our selection was a fairly uncomplicated task. ochungg opted for the Salmon Cream Sauce Udon, while I pointed towards the Fresh Salmon Don without a shred of hesitation. Fresh greens and sashimi were precisely the two elements I had been searching for.
Other additions to the menu included an eighty-dollar Family Day Special, which showcased a few of their signature dishes, and a new series of cocktails (that were arguably less appealing than their initial lineup).

We had also agreed on requesting a Fresh Fried Ika to share. Regrettably, the portion was much smaller - and greasier! than past visits.

​Trying the Fresh Salmon Don was a first for me. Comprising various components and an extravagant presentation, it was managed to fill the sashimi void without leaving behind feelings of satiation. The dish was served with a choice of sweet soy sauce or a spicy, tangy gochujang-based dressing; being concerned over the degree of spiciness, I requested that the sauces be served on the side. Our server, who was all grins and expertly blended eyeshadow, obliged with a smile.

The main was a medley of mixed greens, pickled peppers and cucumbers, tenkasu, and chunks of salmon sashimi.
A bowl of warm, steamed white rice and clear dashi-like broth accompanied the ceramic platter. The rice grew mushy quite quickly - it was either not of a short-grain variety, or had been cooked with an excessive amount of water. The soup acted as a palate cleanser between bites of pickled vegetables and onion.

​With the exception of a bone amidst the sashimi chunks, I was quite fond of the don overall. In comparison to the restaurant's other dishes, it possessed a more subtle profile, yet did not skimp on flavour nor texture. 

​Atmospheric conditions were milder than predicted, so we trekked down to Hey Sugar afterwards.

​The first day of the month hit me with a wake-up call, in the most literal sense thinkable.
Whatever poor feasting decisions I've committed in the past cannot continue. I am no longer a young soul, thus my actions are tied to specific consequences. Taking note of others' unhealthy habits is something I do frequently and naturally. It's high time to commence the process of rectifying my own.

​Let the journey to health begin!!
Or, as I'd like to rephrase it: The 豬年唔再做豬大作戦.

​1) Congee to soothe an enervated digestive system
2) A Matcha Almond Milk Shake (made disppointing as a result of low-grade matcha)
3) Offsetting winter blues with a colourful lunch bowl

4) Honey Butter Chips - the "Winter Warmers" Edition
Sadly, the Caramel Almond flavour falls short of both the Original and Maple editions.

​5) White Cake with Peaches
The consequence of utilizing all the yolks in the fridge for custard, and then overheating said custard to a runny disaster, is a White Cake. In other words, it is a cake constructed with egg whites and devoid of yolks.

​A tad stiffer than a traditional cake, it is important to glaze the surface with sugar syrup and pair it with a fat-heavy counterpart to supplement moisture and flavour. (Mind you that I had combined the ingredients in the incorrect order, causing large, non-uniform air bubbles to appear in the batter.)

Seeing as this was not a successful cake execution, the recipe shall not be making its way over to What I Make until perfected and finalized.

​6) Gifts from Korea from a fangirl that knows my inner desires all too well

For every mood, mindset, and budget, there's a sushi place.
​
From budget-friendly finds like Banzai (on the West Coast) to semi-annual splurge spots like JaBistro, there is bound to be at least one in the five-kilometre radius fitting of your requirements. (This shall always hold true in urban and suburban communities, unless, of course, you're not fond of raw fish to begin with.)

The newest venture of the Aburi family, led by none other than the team behind Miku, officially landed in Yorkdale not too long ago. First sighted in late August, the two-story eatery officially commenced operations last month. Alongside their classic selection of torched oshizushi, TORA aimed to introduce EdoPrime nigiri while incorporating a tablet-style ordering system and small-scale monorail delivery.

​Positioned near the top of my North York to-go list was TORA, together with more economic Yonge/Finch finds such as Sang-Ji Fried Bao (they were closed during my last attempt) and Eat BKK. The three restaurants were proposed to my dining partner, and the new sushi destination triumphed over all.

​Complying to a first come, first serve basis, it was in our best interest to arrive early - aka at the opening time of 11:30 AM. I pulled into the parking lot on the Dufferin St. entrance, then swiftly made my way past RH Courtyard towards the entrance. The host greeted me immediately, whilst assuring my anxious demeanour that there was no wait at this early hour.

An "Escort Bill" stating the check-in time and party size was printed on the spot. From this point, I was gestured towards a dimly lit corridor which led to a series of elevators, one of which for patron use. TORA's dining area was located on the second floor; it encompassed a large quantity of booth seating in an ambient setting as well as a few stool-equipped tables by the window. Before the booths were two levels of monorail tracks, aimed to transport orders directly from the kitchen once ready. Those that opted for a view of the outside world would be exempt from the monorail experience, though had the advantage of dining in a well-illuminated environment.

I took note of my surroundings while my dining partner was mid-transport. Situated on the table were a drink menu, soy sauce bottle, several soy sauce dishes, condiment cases, and, of course, the ordering tablet. Unlike Miku, there was only one form of soy sauce; Tamari and Shoyu had been replaced with the all-too-familiar commercial-grade dipping sauce. Wasabi and ginger were found in packets, instead of being freshly ground or obtained from the kitchen. Both were of mediocre quality: the pungent horseradish was nowhere as powerful as it should have been, while the yellow ginger scraps were sweet upon first bite but fiery after a few chews. Another interesting element to note was the contrast of thick, monogrammed napkins versus disposable wooden chopsticks. Navy or deep indigo would have suited the overall palette of the decor much better.
With that said, I will admit that I enjoyed having wet napkins within reach. Also appreciated was the grime-free (read: devoid of fingerprints) status of the ordering tablet. Too common is it that the serving staff neglect hygiene levels of such devices.

On that note, I would like to commend the waitstaff during my visit. Despite hovering about for over twenty minutes while waiting, I was not rushed to make an order. Hot water was served (and refilled!), inquiries were answered, and recommendations were given. Several members of the team had served the table; all were extremely amiable, but one in particular was especially so - Hi Linda!!

View the full album HERE !

​Our orders included picks from the Aburi and Nigiri categories, in addition to the exclusive EdoPrime menu.

​There comes a time where one must engage in a trade off between efficiency and sanity. While meticulously packing up my study setup is more than just time-consuming, the need to present myself as a proper human being to the rest of the world surfaces on occasion.

In a world where working acquaintances are widespread and unemployed vehicle-equipped companions are few, making last-minute plans almost never follow through. This wasn't a huge deal to me, since I had a few solo activities to accomplish and was more than ready to engross myself with. (Amongst these was the latest episode of Real Thai, which had aired several days prior. Of course, it had taken a considerable amount of willpower to filtrate out the spoiler screencaps.)

​Few spots in Markham are open before noon on weekends. Thankfully, Platform happens to fall within the sector of early openers.

​​I made my way over around the 9:40 AM mark, then proceeded to ease myself into one of the two small booths situated towards the back of the café. This area was not only dimmer than the table I had selected previously, but also much chillier. As these tables were camouflaged from sight from the bar area, bells had been provided to alert the counter staff of any requests.
Seeing as I had just set down my belongings, I strode up to the barista to inquire about the possibility of turning down the A/C in the back. She seemed troubled by this request.
"You can just ring the bell." came her blunt response. "I don't think so but I can ask the owner."

​By this point in time, many would have resumed their regular workflow for the new year. This is the case for most of my dining pals, but, for me, it's been a period of recapping Atlantic adventures from last fall, as well as the continued job hunt.

A limited budget equates to investing more time at home and deploying coupons whenever possible. Of course, standardized bubble tea sessions cannot be forgoed though.

1) CoCo's Brown Sugar Milk with Pearls 
Despite having landed in BC since the summer months, the highly raved-about concoction didn't arrive in the province until January 15th.

​Points could not be redeemed for this promotional item, nor could ice and sugar levels (or size!) be adjusted.

Truthfully, I am far from being brown sugar's greatest supporter. I kept an open mind towards CoCo's rendition, though the absence of tea in only exaggerated the sweetness of the beverage; it was simply too sugary to be consumed in a Large size. There remains the possibility of deliciousness within a hot variation of the drink, however I honestly can't say I'm itching for another cup.

2) A Big Mac with Fries for only two dollars plus tax? Don't mind if I do!

3) Shuyi Tealicious
​New to ever-expanding roster of bubble tea franchises in the GTA is Shuyi Tealicious. Its discovery was actually a pleasant mistake: I had been researching a different establishment when its name surfaced in the sidebar.
The chain hails from China and currently has three locations in Ontario: conspicuous coordinates in Agincourt (Scarborough), a shop on Spadina in Toronto's bustling Chinatown, and a Mississauga outpost in a plaza that also houses a former pet store and tutoring facility. Needless to say, it was most convenient to venture over to the last location.

​The interior was quite spacious and mostly free of stickiness. Girls behind the counter understood the fundamentals of the English language, but had difficulty with communicating anything beyond that level.

I took to a Signature Grass Jelly Milk Tea along with a Mango Pomelo Meet Grass Jelly. Neither permitted ice/sugar adjustments; in addition, the latter was only available in a Regular size.

​Having requested a hot beverage, I anticipated a toasty cup of milk tea to emerge in one of their insulated paper cups. Instead appeared a lukewarm formula sealed in a narrow plastic cup. Grass Jelly floated at its surface, while specks of unidentified toppings had sunk to the bottom. Given its name, I hadn't expected any other toppings besides grass jelly. Moreover, I had also found it odd that the girl behind the cashier hadn't inquired about any possible allergies: the additional toppings consisted of cubed coconut jelly, peanuts, red bean, and a few indiscernible others.

​And with the New Year resumed the pre-arranged catch-up sessions. Three continuous days of toiling away at a major, soon-to-be released project had resulted in the over-exertion of wrist and ocular muscles. A breath of fresh air was needed before one could summon up the strength to proceed with the lengthy assignment.

I first stopped at Chinatown, a district that has never witnessed a shortage of bubble tea joints. Arriving after 3 PM meant the availability of Cactus Tapioca, so I headed to the spot that I hadn't frequented for quite some time. (Of course, I had to have forgotten my stamp cards at home...)

​With utmost confidence, I can now proclaim that One Zo has officially gone down the drain.
The pricing system and loyalty program have been altered such that customers are paying even more than before, but with fewer rewards even swearing loyalty. What's more is that drink quality has plummeted significantly - terrible to the point where nausea and stomach sickness were experienced after only one-third of the cup had been consumed.

​Purchasing a large-sized Caramel Oolong Latte had been an awfully uninformed decision, and I ultimately tossed the seven-dollar atrocity into the trash to prevent further unpleasantness.

To atone the lingering slickness of One Zo, I made a brief stop at Juicy Dumpling at Dragon City Centre. It was appropriately named after their signature $2.99 Steamed Soup Pork Dumpling - also known as Xiao Long Bao (小籠包/XLB), though the menu also comprised of savoury pancakes and other carby delights.

​At a measly $3.14 after tax, one could not go wrong with the eatery's namesake S1 order. The bite-sized dumplings were positively delicious with an insanely reasonable price. Moreover, seating was plenty and service was friendly and efficient. Several diners took their orders to go, but many also stayed to enjoy some chitchat time with their fellow feasters.

I met up with feedthebear shortly afterwards, at which point we leisurely made our way over to our chosen dinner destination in the Entertainment District.

​Fune was located in close proximity to Roy Thomson and the largely familiar King/John intersection, yet I had never batted an eyelash while striding past in the past (unintentional homograph usage).