Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger
  • ~ Home ~
  • ~ What I Think ~
  • ~ What I See ~
    • Events
    • Food
    • People
    • Places
  • ~ What I Make ~
  • Blog Series
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer

Out & About #939 | Cotti Coffee Again, Season 1 Finale + One More Two-Bite Brownie Trial

10/1/2023

0 Comments

 
The end of an era always brings about an indescribable sense of apprehension. It is not quite worry and uncertainty, yet also not quite excitement and anticipation. Abstract recollections solidify themselves into filmstrips, flashing through the mind in milliseconds. These memories may be filled with fondness or frustration, delight or despair. Stepping beyond them into unfamiliar territory may be uncomfortable, but remaining stationary results in a perpetually vicious cycle.

After many weeks of contemplation, realization, and acceptance, Arctic Aquarium was concluded to have run its course. The decision had not been an easy one, and spanned many strenuous days and nights. The once dire hope that the sleepy polar bear would stay by my side was replaced with an urge to do the exact opposite: only by being apart could both sides prevent further damage.
Picture
Honestly, it was as many of my longtime companions has pointed out: "You're just so different." And I couldn't agree more:
  • Where one was steadfast, the other was sluggish.
  • Where one was pragmatic, the other was sentimental.
  • Where one valued efficiency, the other valued harmony.
  • Where one was outspoken, the other was cautious.
In spite of these drastic differences, attempts were made to reach a consensus. Alas, different communication styles amounted to misunderstandings - actions executed with good intentions but yielding poor results.
Tensions amassed, and were untreated in the face of stress and withering energy levels. It was simply just too hard.

Loss of trust ensued, as did loss of joy. The situation grew unhealthy. All came crashing down with a final blow: my straightforwardness. Perhaps we may have left these issues unspoken had I not be upfront in communicating. Perhaps we may not have come to an understanding that growth would be necessary on both sides to progress. Perhaps the outcome would have proved more dramatic had it been left to brew for a longer duration. (Do you wonder, do you wonder, do you wonder like I do?)
Picture
Picture
Picture
​We held a formal discussion, probably our most mature exchange to date. The visit was accompanied by a single slice of Apple Pie and Ube Crinkle Cookies from the freezer (the longer you freeze, the less they expand). Then I retrieved my belongings, at last pointing to the enmusubi (縁結び) obtained at Japan Festival just over a month ago. "Do you know what this symbolizes?" I posed the question.
"Love?"
"No, fate."
Picture

Read More
0 Comments

Out & About #937 | Apple Pie + Pear Galettes

9/23/2023

0 Comments

 
Apple pie is a seasonal treat. No matter how controversial the declaration may be, I am convinced that apples cloaked in a warm, cinnamon-y glaze and enveloped within flaky pastries ought be reserved for the outdoors are chilly, and leaves are crunchy beneath one's feet.

For this year's attempt, I hadn't reviewed my past notes whatsoever. I merely knew my Bartlett pears had ripened rapidly in my absence and my Ginger Golds had patiently waited one whole week for any sort of attention.
Picture
Picture
Picture
At 9 AM, I got to work.

Four pie crusts would be assembled - in two batches of two to prevent wrist injury, shoulder fatigue, and spillage over the countertop. Once flattened into round discs, they were stacked and left to reside in the fridge for roughly one hour.
Picture
Given that the project would span just one day, the process would omit the step of "thawing". Flour could be sprinkled liberally over the rolling pin and disc without resulting in unwanted cracks. Two discs would be reserved for apple pie. One disc would be utilized for pear galettes. The final disc would be set aside for latter use, likely in the application of pecan pie.
Picture
Picture
Picture
In the meantime, four Ginger Golds would be retrieved from the past weekend's farm market visit. Halving the quantity used in SK's Even More Perfect Apple Pie recipe resulted in 900 g of apple - the rough equivalent of two medium-sized, one large, and one small Ginger Gold. The quad was peeled using my peeling gadget - acquired after last year's successive Apple Mania sessions - then cores removed with a melon baller. Instead of bite-sized chunks, I took to 0.5 cm slices instead.

Read More
0 Comments

Out & About #936 | Koreatown Updates Feat. Snow Day + Cotti Coffee

9/22/2023

0 Comments

 
The busiest weeks pass me by with regrettable swiftness. If the mandated - albeit loosely - two days of in-office presence wasn't enough in rendering exhaustion, three back-to-back days of travelling in and out of the city were surely sufficient.
Picture
Picture
​I readied myself for the days ahead with a "Military Latte" on Monday afternoon - a delightful combination of Momo Tea's Matsu Matcha and G7 Espresso. That evening, I reached for Sayuri, my first Hakutsuru nigori. Embracing sweet, creamy, and indulgent qualities, it was undeniably more enjoyable than the Superior Junmai Ginjo. (Lucky for me, it was also more economic.)
Picture
Picture
​Driving into the city was a pain in itself, but navigating along the endlessly construction-filled corridors of Bloor Street served as another source of torture. I had signed up for a two-day First Aid training course at least two months prior, with full knowledge of its intended location but not its painstakingly early start time.

In order to arrive at the intersection of Bathurst and Bloor, I'd either suffer a two-hour commute by public transit, or roughly 70 minutes by car. On the first day, I was granted a drop-off.
Picture
​At 8:07 AM, an introductory video had started airing. I was slightly tardy, yet not as much as the others that eventually emerged at 9 AM, and even 9:30 AM! The instructor was particular about timing, instilling guilt in nearly every one of us to maintain punctuality for breaks and start/end periods.
Picture
Picture
​The first day's topics comprised of Scene Surveys, head and spinal injuries, the recovery position, CPR compressions, operating an AED, and choking. Beyond being presented with an incredulous amount of data via slideshows and short clips, we were provided many opportunities for hands-on learning. By the end of the first day, summoning a bystander from the role as a "trained First Aider" had been repeated to the point of memorization.
Picture
Picture
Picture
​Following the session, I proceeded to update my K-town records.
Picture
Picture
Picture
First and foremost was the acquisition of physical funds, for Kevin's Taiyaki operated on a cash-only basis. Next was the perusal of new and established vendors in the area.
  • Thirstea remained
  • A new Korean Fried Chicken shop had opened
  • The former space of Put A Cone On It had become Dessert Fox
  • An uncharacteristically minimalist, alcohol-licensed café had opened
Picture
Picture

Read More
0 Comments

Out & About #935 | Dino Party, LA Fitness Woodbine + The Pho

9/17/2023

0 Comments

 
Maturing is subjective.
Aging is relative.
Age is objective.

What one party views as progression may be stagnancy for another; where one sees success may be failure to his/her neighbour. Yet, at the end of it all, life is merely a ratio of achievements vs. time.
Picture
For the first time in my life, I was invited to a children's birthday party wherein the star of the afternoon was not a member of extended family. Although my coworkers expressed surprise towards my friends already being married and establishing lives of their own, I responded with an air of blankness: "We're all approaching or achieve the age of 30 - what were you expecting?"

Naturally, I've come to associate age with lifetime achievements - myself perpetually falling behind those with professional careers and unshakable relationships. Modern society begs to differ with these traditional values, though I'd allude those opinions to unwillingness to uphold oneself to a given standard.
Picture
Picture
Picture
The journey towards Richmond Hill was not undertaken without some degree of irritation: consistently chaotic is the 404, where drivers in technology-equipped vehicles swerve into adjacent lanes without checking their surroundings (and sometimes without signalling altogether), and the Hwy 7 off-ramp, which granted me the pleasure of a van-driving, middle-aged lady diagonally drifting in front of me and crossing three lanes without any warnings whatsoever. Nothing could quite prepare me for drivers backing into oncoming traffic, or stopping mid-laneway either.
Driving in the east end of the GTA has always been unpleasant, but being subject to four different forms of driving terror within a span of thirty minutes was an utterly new experience.
Picture
Picture
The chosen location was the party room of a condominium building. Having reviewed more development applications in the past few months than my entire existence, I was already irked by the interlock corridors and one-way flow. As an experienced driver, I found the aisles sufficiently wide and signage ample and clear. For the sluggish, less skilled drivers, there was an obvious amount of incredulous confusion towards a relatively simple layout. (Clearly, the sleepy polar bear belongs elsewhere than the humble city of Sauga.)

Paved laneways aside, I managed to find the party room with minimal effort, for it was located in the lobby, just behind the security desk. Instructions provided prior to the party had also been exceptionally clear and comprehensive.
Picture
Picture
I strolled into the room to find the first few party guests, trays of food making their way towards the counter, and an extensively dinosaur-themed setting. From the photo corner to the colouring sheets to the scavenger hunt to the kids' paper cups, every element resonated with the chosen theme.

​After settling in, I slowly maneuvered to the kids table and began colouring my own smiling dinosaur. Opting to serve as the role model, I adhered to most of the instructions, covering the body with green and stomach with orange. Only the background hue was adjusted as per my preference, though I made sure to indicate the selected palette for reference. It goes without saying that I also took pride in adding my name and the date to the top of the page accordingly.
Picture
Picture
Picture
While I have no offspring of my own, the gathering was a fun and profound learning experience. Of particular interest to me were the parent-child interactions, as well as the organizational efforts of the host party. Some parents dismissed opportunities for their child to summon curiosity, while others demonstrated a lack of awareness towards current events, creating a sense of disconnection.

Read More
0 Comments

Out & About #934 | The Big'r Apple Farm, Al Ferri and Sons Country Apple Store + Gyu-Kaku

9/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Apple season has seemingly started earlier this year. In spite of the wildfire-induced temporal changes, Ontario's assortment hasn't been noticeably impacted, as far as the standout of standard consumer. Beyond Ginger Gold, a number of other varieties had already begun picking.

Mid-September was remarkably early to commence fall activities, yet it aligned well with the rest of my schedule. Taking advantage of apple availability, we ventured to the farm closest in proximity: The Big'r Apple Farm in Brampton.
The Big'r Apple Farm was, in fact, home to smaller apples than the standard grocery store selection. While I wasn't entirely surprised given my experience at Applewood last year, I wasn't impressed that $25 for 20 lbs - and paid by cash only - was the only option available to visitors. On the other hand, admission was free, which enabled large families to visit without surrendering atrocious entrance fees.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Parking was ample, adopting the same grassy surface as Dixie Orchards, albeit starkly less green and not nearly as well maintained. Given that the absence of tractor rides, visitors would be required to trek the entire distance towards the front of the farm for apple-picking needs. Other produce, such as peppers, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes, were also spotted on site, despite bearing generally poor visuals as their indicator of freshness.
Picture
Picture
​​We followed the abundance of signage with poor spelling towards the rows of apples, eager to evaluate the spread on site.

​The McIntosh selection was quite compact, leading to commentary of the fruit being "unripe" and "not ready for picking". Regardless of whether they were unripe or simply undersized, I wasn't particularly keen on committing to twenty pounds of the same five-ish species. The quantity was excessive even in consideration of o̶u̶r̶ ̶h̶o̶u̶s̶e̶h̶o̶l̶d̶'̶s̶ my atypically high consumption levels and pie-making intentions.
Picture
​We resorted to merely sightseeing and snapping a few photos by the trees. While posing with one of the branches, a lone McIntosh detached and landed in my hand. The single, ashy-hued specimen would assume our souvenir from the trip.
Picture
​Based on information acquired from reviews of Carl Laidlaw Orchards up the street - a destination home to farm animals, playground structures, and admission fees of $15 per person - we opted for a stopover at Al Ferri & Sons' Country Apple Market for our fill of produce.
Picture
Picture
Picture
The market was a wealth of apple varieties, bagged by "bushels" and "pecks", along with preserves, cheese, cider, frozen pies, and more. Prices were more than reasonable, with the smallest apple bags ranging between $6-$9.

Read More
0 Comments

Out & About #933 | More & More Two-Bite Brownies, TIFF Studio Ghibli Pop-Up + Halloween Chocolate

9/15/2023

0 Comments

 
​Days become weeks, weeks become months, and months become, well, more than one month. Restlessness has stuck with me for quite some time now, materializing in the form of nightmares and stress-induced stunted hair growth. The worst dreams of all tend to proceed an in-office day, for the obvious fear that I may miss my GO train and arrive tardy - not that I'd be forced to make up time, being liberated from the private sector.
Picture
Picture
Picture
I particularly treasure my work-from-home days now, for they bestow upon me opportunities that'd normally be revoked:
  • Weeknight beer consumption (because I can sleep in the following morning)
  • Interactions with Larry and Mr. Button throughout the day
  • Impromptu baking endeavours, should inspiration hit
  • Flexible breakfast and lunch options - the freezer is my oyster!
Also worth noting is the freedom to undertake unplanned evening gym visits.
Picture
Picture
While my check-in count has waned in the face of fatigue, I nevertheless enjoy classes when I'm physically equipped to participate.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Creations over the week(s) were characterized by follow-up attempts at two-bite brownies. Withering determination due to defeat has never been a relatable concept for me, thus I persevere, endlessly, until a conclusion can be drawn.

1) Two-Bite Brownies, as adapted from the latest Oat Fudge Bar

The formula had originated from Sunday Baking's Mochi Brownie recipe, though scaled down in terms of sugar level and halved. It was quite delectable as the middle layer of an Oat Fudge Bar, especially when retoasted later for a soft, chocolatey core, therefore I opted to further the investigation.
Picture
The process would commence by melting 100 g of chocolate couverture and 32 g of butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Next, 46 g of granulated sugar and a single egg were whisked in. Thorough aeration was the key to a crackly surface, and I was mindful to adhere to this step. Lastly, 20 g of all-purpose flour and 10 g of cocoa powder were folded within, making for a thick, yet fluid batter that evenly filled a mini muffin pan of twelve.

Exhibited in the emerging batch was the trademark crackliness observed in past brownie creations: They were gorgeous. Unfortunately, only half of the batch could be successfully retrieved from the pan. Once again, the bottoms stuck. A somewhat clean edge could be obtained, though the bits that remained were crumbly instead of chewy.

​A few days later, the brownie bites had dried out, presenting resemblance to miserable, stale cake crumbs instead of moist, chewy brownies. I deemed brown sugar to be necessary, in spite of the countless recipes gracing the Internet claiming the opposite. Even SK's recipe had shunned the need for molasses in the mix. It did, however, note a half-and-half brown sugar/white sugar rendition had been constructed for testing. I hesitated not to follow suit.
2) Two-Bite Brownies, as adapted from SK's Favo(u)rite Brownies

For my purposes, the recipe was halved, though ultimately yielded an overabundance of batter, filling my mini muffin pan beyond the brim.
Picture

Read More
0 Comments

Out & About #932 | 1MX Festival Toronto

9/10/2023

0 Comments

 
Compared to last year (and past years), my enthusiasm for concerts has been withering. Instead of burning joy and anticipation, I've instead found myself heaving dejected sighs and muttering, "I don't want to go." shrouded with fatigue. The candid truth is that: An absence of vacation days entail interminable periods of labour, while few artists warrant venturing into odd parts of the city at inconvenient times of the day.
Picture
Picture
​I had succumbed to a sense of urgency during the ticketing process for 1MX Festival: a fellow Justin Park fan had informed me of the event, leading to the highly regrettable, non-refundable purchase. Within weeks of ticket sales commencing, the price dropped by eighty dollars. Both of us sought justice: one was appeased by the offer of complimentary Will Call tickets and tier upgrades, while the other denied all alternatives and pressed for financial compensation. Clearly, the latter was me.

Complimentary tickets would be in favour of the organizer, as to fill the seats with patrons and encourage spending within the venue. Moreover, I hadn't a single person I'd thrive in bringing along for free. (The sleepy polar bear had been eliminated from the getgo, as to preserve peace in my ears and soul.)
Picture
Picture
Picture
When my fellow festival-goer informed that she'd be taking the GO train instead of driving, I learned that carpooling was out the window. However, recalling the dreadful commuting chaos of the previous year's CNE, I was adamant about taking advantage of my personal vehicle.
In order to avoid Budweiser Stage's atrocious $35 event parking, I turned towards Green P lots in Liberty Village. Amidst my research, I'd uncover an even better solution: visitor parking within the underground garage of my coworker's residence. Situated at the east end of Liberty Village, the lot was within walking distance to the district's countless eateries and, most importantly, Exhibition GO and its underpass towards the south side of the Gardiner Expressway.
Picture
Picture
​Setting foot on the interlock-filled laneways, I quickly sourced indoor plumbing facilities from Tim Hortons, then continued evaluation of my lunch options.
Picture
An Aloette Burger, pickled onions removed, was selected as the singly attractive sustenance item. After all, it was the closest choice to smash burgers when dining solo with time constraints. Within five minutes of relinquishing payment, my name was called out from the pickup window. The burger was presented in a logo-bearing paper bag, then securely wrapped within a pouch bearing the identical colour scheme and logo. The design was deserving of approval: while the exterior maintained consistent branding and visual appeal, the interior was lined with foil for insulation and leakage prevention.
Picture
Picture
Napkins were requested to facilitate on-site dining, for the bag contained neither utensils nor mouth- and finger-wiping devices. Generally speaking, the Aloette Burger was quite delectable. Sandwiched between two plush buns were ample shredded lettuce threads drizzled with a creamy dijonaise and a juicy, flavourful patty bearing mild tints of pink at its core. The inclusion of emmental cheese in its description had piqued my interest considerably, especially when noting the cheddar in other offerings. Unfortunately, this component was barely discernible: thin to an extent where it had seemed scraped off a block and allowed to settle in place on top of the patty, surface film intact.
Picture
Picture
That aside, Aloette Go had surpassed my expectations in terms of speed of delivery, ease of consumption (ie. packaging), and depth of flavour.

​​Rounding off the visit with a trip for dessert, assorted gummies were acquired from Bulk Barn. The morsels would serve snacking purposes throughout the show, and would be unlikely to pose security screening issues given their container-free storage method.
Picture
Picture
​Shortly afterwards, I found my fellow impulse ticket-purchaser, and we trekked across the now-vacant Exhibition Place parking lot towards the intersection of Lake Shore and New Brunswick. In the forecast were breezy, somewhat overcast conditions, for which I was thankful. Any dose of humidity would have rendered the short-lived trek absolutely miserable.
Picture
Picture
Picture
It had been unknown to me, until the evening prior, that doors would open at the early hour of 2 PM. Inconsistent details across Google and the official website had led me to assume a start time of 8 PM. Email notifications had rectified this presumption, leading to an exceptionally punctual arrival.
Picture
Picture
Picture

Read More
0 Comments

Out & About #930 | Long Weekend Baking: Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies, Matcha Strawberry Mousse + Mini Mocha Layered Cake

9/4/2023

0 Comments

 
Most people pack for cottage trips over Labour Day long weekend. Personally, if temperatures are anticipated to exceed twenty-seven degrees Celsius with humidity, then I'll pass and happily opt to spend my time indoors.

Moreover, there are plenty of chores to catch up with at home. The upcoming weekends are also proving quite hectic for me, so opportunities for "respite" ought be taken advantage of where possible.

As much as dance battles are liberating for SWF contestants, kitchen experiments assume my creative outlet - a results-oriented, conversion-involving process, but a creative outlet nonetheless.
Picture
Long weekend projects comprised of:

1) Marbled Banana Bread
Picture
​Marble Banana Bread was first on the agenda, for I am hardly able to declare any better usage of spotty bananas (beyond eating them as is). The bunch of five meant that I'd be one banana short for two full loaves. In this circumstance, just one loaf was compiled with my 350 grams of banana. (Technically, I was 40 g short, but proceeded as planned.)
Picture
The amount of dry ingredients were unaltered, as was the heavy-handed inclusion of spices. With fewer bananas in the batter, the loaf was already sturdier than my regular. Given that the generous dusting of cinnamon, ground ginger, pumpkin pie spice, and nutmeg hadn't varied at all from the two-loaf edition, the slices were irrefutably perfumed with coziness. Their presence was undeniable from the moment its cross-section was unveiled.
Naturally, this also meant subdued chocolate flavours, and a generally less-banana-y profile. Nevertheless, it was scrumptious; SK's Marbled Banana Bread never ceases to impress.
2) Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Picture
​Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies were also crafted out of unfulfilled cookie cravings. The dough would be derived from Sunday Baking's Levain Cookie recipe. Ingredient quantities were kept consistent, though its constituents subject to a few minor swaps:
  • 70 g of golden yellow sugar instead of 60 g of brown sugar (simply to verify whether there would be a difference, taste-wise)
  • Chopped semi-sweet chocolate couverture (Surfin) instead of chocolate chips
  • Toasted, chopped pecans instead of walnuts
Picture

Read More
0 Comments

Out & About #928 | Oat Fudge Bar (Ver. 4), Black Sesame Butter Mochi + Hazukido Again

8/25/2023

0 Comments

 
By default, the standard work week can feel rather mundane. Office duties and commuting consume majority of my waking hours, while late afternoon periods are often allotted towards exercise.

​My work-from-home days are spent in a typically, enjoyable manner. Why wouldn't they be? There is a tremendous amount of pleasure that arises from having handcrafted beverages and a slew of QC-ed baked goods readily available when the craving arises.
Picture
Picture
The remaining portion of my Ube Yema Jam was utilized in a Matcha-Ube Latte, in which Momo Tea's Matsu exuded an impeccably luscious, grassy hue. It was consumed alongside one of many Mugwort Injeolmi Crumble Cookies.
Cooler climate conditions is a welcome change I've come to experience over the past week. External conditions are breezier than within the gym.
Picture
While routing back home, I encountered a terrifying case of stunt driving along a major corridor through a residential area. A report was filed upon returning home that evening without delay.
Picture
Picture
Seeing as I still hadn't sampled Gong Cha's QQ Grape Passionfruit Iced Tea, I took matters into my own hands and constructed a blend presumably similar to the chain's recipe. Brewed genmaicha, Ribena, lemon juice, yuzu passionfruit jam, sliced green grapes, and plenty of ice landed a refreshing, tangy concoction in my hands.
Picture
Picture
Meals of the week comprised of: Steamed Pork and Pickled Radish, Baked Garlic Cabbage, Steamed Pork and Tofu, and Choy Sum over rice. Also undertaken for the first time in countless years was tamagoyaki. Its execution wasn't flawless, for it contained too heavy a sprinkling of salt; Kewpie mayo and HP sauce would assist in restoring delectability, however.
Picture
Picture
Creations of the week included:

1) Oat Fudge Bar (Ver. 5)

The number of iterations of this Starbucks copycat/upgrade has escaped me. Beyond the tattered slip of paper persistently residing on my kitchen table, I have little recollection of the exact procedures past trials had entailed. The bottom line was that none of my previous attempts had left me perfectly satisfied.​
Picture

Read More
0 Comments

Out & About #927 | Japan Festival 2023

8/19/2023

0 Comments

 
Japan Festival is a summer highlight event for the city, as well as myself personally. Besides the two years where majority of community gatherings has ceased in response to the pandemic, I proudly declare attendance in every annual occurrence.
Picture
Picture
It's been particularly pleasant to observe the advancement in scale over the years. From just one row of food vendors and a painfully scorching wait, the celebration of Japanese culture has expanded to include thrice as many retailers and two days of stage performances.

Overall organization of the event has also undoubtedly improved. Signs indicating order and pickup zones were introduced even in the early years of the event, while end-of-queue line markers - usually young volunteers - assisted in relieving confusion. However, queue lengths were noticed to diminish rather quickly (compared to past years), drawing attention to the efficient operations of the vendor team.
Picture
​The sleepy polar bear was grateful for cooler climate, as was I, for the previous year's sweltering conditions had us both irritable. Of course, being on the receiving end of hangriness and observing failure in locating parking quickly had amounted to yet another degree of annoyance. I offered to drive this time around, partially as I was running behind on errands and primarily to save my sanity.
Instead of having to grit and bear through the sluggishness of weekend drivers from the passenger seat, I merely honked when the situation deemed necessary. After all, through lanes and access corridors are meant for continued movement, not stalling while "in search of parking".
Picture
Picture
We arrived on Celebration Square grounds around 1 PM.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Nippon Express was found near the Duke of York Blvd entrance yet again. Instead of a spin-the-wheel contraption, brewed cups of green tea were being offered in exchange for social media engagement. I passed the fluid and complimentary Hi-Chew candies to the sleepy polar bear, yet voiced intent on retaining the reusable cup for in-office usage.
Picture
Alas, the cup was dragged along for most of the visit, until the sleepy polar bear sheepishly admitted that there was no fondness for the drink. "Then dump it out!" I responded, impatiently. Why wouldn't you dump it, put the cup away, and free your hands to help me with my things?!  I thought to myself in a cloud of fury.
Picture
​Many familiar vendors made an appearance, and even assumed a similar booth location to the previous year. Instax offered polaroid keepsakes, though phased out the tablet-based digital decoration option. Dixie Outlet Mall, Subaru, Canon, and Denso offered spin-the-wheel freebies, but switched up the prizes and redemption format slightly.
Picture
Picture
​Answering to the sleepy polar bear's consistently poor, hanger-induced attitude, we began to browse for sustenance. Positioned parallel to Duke of York Blvd were longtime occupants of Kinka/Guu, Kinton Ramen, Ryu's Noodle Bar, and EDO Japan. Located towards the Living Arts Drive segment of the square were newer vendors, mostly Chinese-operated offering trendy, fusion spinoffs of Japanese classics.
Picture
​Mochi French Toast caught my eye immediately. The item had made recurring appearances at the Richmond Night Market, yet hadn't exactly made its way over to the Central-East region of the nation. Leading the way, I pointed towards the menu and proposed one Sweet and one Savoury option. The minimum order was two blocks of French Toast; mix-and-match capabilities would be permitted only with orders of four pieces of more and were restricted to either Sweet or Savoury profiles.
Instead of blatant rejection, the sleepy polar bear remained silent. "Let's just get one order of Okonomiyaki?" I suggested, capitalizing on my sponsor's fondness for the grilled pancake.
"Alright." came the confirmation, as anticipated.
Picture
Picture
Following payment, we were directed to one of two lines: "Sweet" was marked with blue chalk, while "Savoury" in red. An order slip was presented to us. While I had presumed this to be our receipt for pickup, the staff member handling the transactions had failed to inform us that the slip was to be provided to a member of staff for order fulfillment.
Eventually, we caught on and informed the girl behind the "Savoury" counter of our order. Thankfully, we were the only patrons in line.
Picture
View the full album HERE !

Read More
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture

    Who Am I?

    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.



    Archives

    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013


    Categories

    All
    Ahgabond Adventures
    Ahgase
    Arctic Aquarium
    Atlantic Canada 2018
    Barrie
    Beauty
    Birthday Buddy
    Calgary 2023
    Chinese New Year
    Conquering COVID 19
    Daily Randoms
    Eyes On You World Tour 2018
    Food
    Friends
    Hallyucon
    Hamilton
    Hong Kong
    Iron Ring
    J Movie
    K Drama
    K-Drama
    Korean Beauty
    K Pop
    Los Angeles 2017
    Macau
    New York 2018
    Ottawa 2019
    Pilates
    Random Rant
    Restaurant Review
    Seoul
    Shopping
    SSMC
    Taiwan
    Vacation
    Vancouver 2013
    Vancouver 2014
    Vancouver 2015
    Vancouver 2016
    Vancouver 2020
    Vancouver 2022


    trazy.com

    RSS Feed


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.

Contact ME

​Subscribe

Join our mailing list today!
Join Now
© Quirky Aesthetics. All rights reserved. Last modified: August 10, 2015.