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Out & About #1103 | Cube Challenges + Backyard Celebration

7/12/2025

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July Baby Celebrations has been my idea for several years now. We even added one more to the list last year!
Members of this year's edition had all met the screening criteria, for my browsing partner, the "honourary" July baby was not in attendance.

The day would involve a stopover at HERO Tea followed by the newly opened Cube Challenge, eventually terminating with a dinner of sushi and pizza in my backyard. It hadn't dawned on me in the moment that I had suggested the agenda that, by inviting others, I would effectively adopt the "hostess" title. Yet, as much as I disliked hosting events and all the cleanup that materialized with it, it sufficed to say that my 1.5 L bottle of 2009 Vidal Riesling and 750 ml of Sparkling Choya would not drink themselves. And so, hosting it would be.

Logistics and activity planning can be considered my forte, but being able to render a space guest-ready - not so much. Leading up to the day, I procured additional lawn chairs, disposable utensils and tablecloth, and even decorations to theme. Single-handedly preparing balloons was a first for me, and I likely wouldn't have bothered for any regular occurrence.

On the morning of, one of the July babies would meet at my house, witnessing the tail end of my last-minute cleaning operations. We'd later join the others at HERO Tea.
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As part of their Pawsitivity Event, the bubble tea chain was giving away one dachshund keychain, one Chestnut Milk Tea, and a newspaper-style photo sheet per customer between the hours of 12 PM and 2 PM. My Birthday Buddy queued around the 11:30 AM mark, eventually receiving her share of freebies one hour later. I was keen on neither the drink nor the dog, so waiting for extended periods of time in the sweltering heat seemed unjustified. When I arrived on scene and joined the line around the 1:45 PM mark though, the wait was approximated to be no more than twenty minutes. We somehow became the second-last customers of the day to receive the benefits. My satisfaction originated from the photo printouts, and I gladly handed over my drink ticket to other members of the party.

​​The ordeal concluded somewhat sooner than envisioned, so we parted ways for bathroom usage/errands before re-convening at Cube Challenge.
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​Despite its peculiar location, the games facility was notably busy during our visit. The format operated similar to Activate in that visitors would form teams and play physically and/or mentally challenging games to earn points. Complimentary, passcode-secured lockers were available on site, as were revolting bathrooms.
After obtaining Rec Room-style fabric wristbands, all members of the team were required to register at the kiosk at the same time before starting. This approach differed from Activate, as players could register individually based on their arrival time. This approach wasn't unreasonable, as points were accumulated on a team basis, as opposed to individual basis with level designations. We were informed that points redemption for prizes is not available at this time; there is also no option to carry over one's status to a future date. For some, this may reduce potential for repeat visits significantly, but I personally found the format to be ideal for collaboration, as it shifted the focus away from competition. Team photos would also be taken during registration and would appear with each tab of the wristband.
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Prior to entering the rooms, our direction would be gestured towards an animated instruction video. The snippet provided a brief description of the room types and noted forbidden items such as phones and food/drink. Safety hazards were not discussed explicitly in the video, though we collectively felt as they should have included a section beyond the availability of an in-room "Panic Button". In departing the facility, I have discovered cuts and scrapes from rough, wooden edges and a bruise from sliding from a slippery pedestal. My Birthday Buddy expressed her distaste for un-sanded "plywood" fixtures and insufficient fall protection ("one layer was not enough"). Although the venue appears to cater towards adults, safety warnings should never be optional. Cube Challenge definitely requires their liability waiver for protection.
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​The rooms were slotted into three categories: "Physical", "Brain", and "Skill", with a different colour representing each category. "Physical" was as intuitive as could be, housing games that involved running, monkey bars, tire climbing, soccer, hoops, swinging ropes, and more. The obstacle course-type games were particularly interesting, as each team member would need to finish the course and tap their wristband at the end to secure success. "Brain" and "Skill" were less distinguishable from each other, but varied between problem-solving (finish the math equation!), unscrambling puzzles, trivia, and mind-eye coordination - think Speed of Light or pressing coloured buttons in a given order.
The rooms were arranged in a U-shaped corridor, with Physical rooms grouped together around the midway point and "Skill" towards the end. The shuffling of game types was great as it enabled brief periods of recovery time.
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Out & About #1101 | HOB NOB Restaurant + NOTL

7/10/2025

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One ought to think that, after the exhaustive round of errands executed on the previous day, I'd be looking forward to sleeping in and investing in recovery.
Well I was. But I also wasn't about the spend my well-deserved time off without doing anything remarkable.

​The day should have started at 10:15 AM, though we ultimately departed with a twenty-minute delay at 10:35 AM. A trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake was in store.
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Given my previous experience attending the Downtown Niagara Santa Claus Parade, I had anticipated the worst of traffic conditions, estimating 2h each way. Thankfully, congestion levels were forgiving. Within 80 minutes, we were well on our way to the scenic district.

Along the path of travel was signage that read "Cherries" in all caps. Having removed cherry picking from the original itinerary, I was intrigued by the opportunity to procure without perspiration.
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Werner Fruit Farm was one of the many farms located in this strip of St. Catharines. It wasn't the sole destination retailing fresh produce, but happened to be the first one in sight that facilitated a right turn onto the gravel lot.
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​Stepping foot onto the rocky, dusty grounds, we made our way towards the  wooden kiosk. Constituting the assortment were cherries, apricots, strawberries, rhubarb, garlic, and a handful of potted plants.
Although the detour had been included on the basis of a cherry hunt, I found the on-site spread to be awfully teensy and a bit soft. Being overly ripe would render them unfit for baking; their small size would also entail greater efforts in pitting. The adjacent apricots were an interesting sight, as the season for stone fruit has yet to arrive. These specimens were decidedly firm and similarly compact. Strawberries were available in both quarts and flats, but far too ripe for non-eating applications. Peak harvest had passed after all.
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After some deliberation, the decision lay with:
  • 2 cloves of stemmed garlic, at $2 each
  • 1 bunch of rhubarb, at $5
  • 1 potted mint plant, at $5

I reckoned that the purchase would be a splendid opportunity to familiarize myself with rhubarb. Mint was chosen over basil for its versatility, while the garlic exhibited odours too fresh to resist!

Thankful was I to have packed my money pouch, for the stall operated on a cash only basis.
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​After arranging the findings in my cooler, we continued on our way. The remaining 13 minutes of travel was as smooth as could be!
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​Visitors to the lovely Niagara-on-the-Lake district had options of paid street parking or, where applicable, private lots for customer use. The latter was the general case for hotel establishments.
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​Our lunch destination of HOB NOB restaurant was housed within The Charles Inn, alternatively known as The Charles Hotel.
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​With the veranda mostly vacant and the dining room empty, we had the choice of choosing whichever table best suited our preference. A well-illuminated two-seater by the window was selected for the afternoon stay.

​Perched atop each table was a delightfully rosy carnation. Shiny glasses and cutlery over pristine, crisp tablecloths further incited visual appeal.
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Drink orders were taken first. Besides requests for room temperature water, I was also curious about the wine varieties available. After all, Niagara was infamous for its winery estate tours and impressive selection. Our waitress patiently described the white wines on the menu, then gratuitously offered sampler sizes such that I could confirm my desired profile. A quad of oaked Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanch, and unoaked Chardonnay were distributed across four small, fluted glasses for tasting - at no extra charge whatsoever!
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Out & About #1100 | Never-ending Work Stresses + Suburban Errands

7/9/2025

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A few weeks ago, I sat on the floor, tears pouring out uncontrollably. Hindsight truly is 20/20: This new job had perturbed my life in ways expected and unexpected. The rhythm of my personal life was overthrown, replaced by tremendous stress and constant anxieties, eventually resulting in sleepless nights, irritated evenings, and using weekends to recover rest wherever possible.

Once again, I found myself trapped and helpless in the corporate world I thought to have escaped by shifting away from consulting. But workplace environments are seldom strictly dictated by the industry and sector; if anyone is to fault, it is the manager.
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"Did you tell your manager about your situation?" Many friends and coworkers had prompted.
Indeed, I had. "Of course I did!" I responded, absolutely frustrated. "It goes in one ear and out the other and I receive MORE work on shorter notice."
Beyond repulsively poor communication and the ridiculous absence of organized resources for learning, planning is nonexistent. Weeks ago, I had noted the limited period between Canada Day long weekend and my own three-day holiday request. Despite providing frequent reminders of my upcoming schedule and taking the initiate to align workload and prioritize tasks, I was baffled to receive last-minute work assignments wholly dismissing previous discussions and contradicting the corporate Disconnect from Work policy.

Just because one person does not value their personal life does not automatically mean I should be forced to relinquish mine.

But worst of all is turning a blind eye to all these matters, forcibly sweeping them under the rug to mask incompetency and rectify areas requiring improvement. As far as I am aware, management will be the cause of failure, as well as my eventual departure to regain freedom and respect.
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Extra food from celebrations is offered to the general masses, along with freebies intended for sharing. Though my cider was transferred to the fridge and promptly forgotten, it hadn't deterred others from contributing perishable items to the office.

It was as a fellow colleague had declared: "It's not common, but you've started the trend. You are changing the environment!"
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​And perhaps I was, since I've successfully managed to befriend others who have sampled my creations and reported back with smiles. Naturally, I don't shy away from free food either.
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​While majority of the team ventured off-site for a barbecue lunch, I was confined to my cubicle as a consequence of unrealistic deadlines. That said, mall walks were not omitted; I was entitled to my one-hour unpaid lunch and would proceed as usual.
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​A notable observation was the stark slashing of credits required at The Rec Room. Where Pump It Up! was normally 8 credits and Grand Piano Keys 6 credits, nearly all games had been reduced to be 4 credits per play. In conjunction with lower visitor volumes in the earlier half of the week, gameplay had become, admittedly, economic.
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Out & About #1099 | Reinventing Leftovers + Summer Errands

7/6/2025

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​Leftovers are inevitable in the days following intense periods of creation.

​The last of my strawberry jam was repurposed in the form of a latte.
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Meanwhile, pancakes - both frozen and fresh - were reheated then served with melty pads of margarine and golden syrup. Baking at 375 F for 6 minutes was the preferred approach over microwaving.
The heat wave prompted frequent intake of icy treats, amongst them ice cream, Melona bars, and the supposedly rare sighting of a pupil-less SpongeBob SquarePants popsicle.
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On the first day back, a snack table was arranged for sharing extras from Canada Day celebrations. My assortment spanned cider from Downey's, homemade focaccia (complete with an olive oil-balsamic vinegar emulsion for dipping!), and not-so-pretty, syrup-less pancakes. The spread was later joined by assorted baklava and cherries from a neighbourhood's backyard.
At first, I was excited. But, within a matter of minutes, my cider was transferred to the fridge for storage instead.
To my dismay, majority of the allotment remained even at the end of the day. Even the cherries persisted in place after two days. Such travesties would never take place in Toronto!
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​Over lunch, I set out to claim birthday freebies at the mall. Sephora permitted pickup any time during the month, but other businesses restricted redemption to the day of. Chick-fil-A was learned to offer a complimentary cookie with presentation of ID, as the mobile app was not available in Canada.
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A 20% off coupon led me towards Indigo; despite debating procurement of Claire Saffitz's cookbook, I ultimately departed empty-handed.
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The same situation would arise at Uniqlo, where a $10 off $75 offer drew me into the store. Torn between the sights of new arrivals and purchasing sale items online, my footsteps ultimately led me back into the mall corridors out of in-the-moment indecisiveness.
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​Alas, the staggeringly expensive Matcha Creamy Chill was merely sweetener and brain freeze without any shred of grassiness. A Small set me back $6.20 after tax; at that price, I may as well have lugged myself to an independent café.
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​After conducting a series of mall errands, a second attempt was made to obtain CoCo.
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Out & About #1098 | Canada Day Creations

7/1/2025

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Happy Canada Day!
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​My long weekend was hectic, but being relieved of the madness of the Stray Kids' concert (at a $160 loss!!) at Rogers Stadium meant that energy could be preserved for other endeavours - mainly kitchen experiments.
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1) Canada Day Focaccia
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​Focaccia wasn't in my original Canada Day plans. But the itch to test my new oven's Proof function was too tremendous to resist.

A no-knead formula was ideal for evaluating the function without involving much active labour. Therefore, I turned to focaccia.
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Ingredients:
  • 520 g AP flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp instant yeast
  • 500 ml lukewarm water
  • 4 tbsp olive oil (3 tbsp for pan + 1 tbsp for brushing on top)
  • Flaky salt
  • 2 red bell peppers, cut into strips and chunks
  • Cherry tomatoes, halved and quartered
​Yield: 1 half-sheet pan, measuring 13 in x 18 in
SK's recipe used a whopping 520 g of AP flour, but little else beyond water, yeast, and salt. The dough was wet and loose, as she had predicted.
After 1.5h at 100 F, the dough had doubled. It persisted somewhat structureless, though revealed distinctive air pockets synonymous with proper fermentation.
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As per SK's directions, the dough would be stretched across a half sheet pan with olive oil brushed underneath. I took extra care in ensuring all edges were coated with oil, for I'd neither be lining with parchment nor flouring the edges.
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​Rosemary is a common focaccia topping, but, in adhering to my theme, I omitted the herb in favour of using chunks of red bell peppers and halved/quartered cherry tomatoes to mimic the shape of the Canadian flag. After all, it was Canada Day!
A liberal sprinkle of smoked Maldon and the pan would be slid into my new oven.
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Out & About #1096 | Heat Wave, McDonald's Menu Heist + Square One Happenings

6/27/2025

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My heat tolerance has plummeted sharply in the recent few years. Where I'd normally brave the humidity, these days I tend to burn or suffer recurring rashes and general discomfort.
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​Because the desire to incorporate movement into my daily routine does not wither though, dreadfully sticky days are compensated by remaining indoors, blasting the A/C, and enclosing a firm grip on whatever handheld ventilation device my hands are capable of reaching. With time, these inclinations have led to general dehydration of the skin, face, and body. Most obvious symptoms are dryness in my hands, a parched throat, and awaking to nosebleeds from a fan blowing in my direction all night.

​Truthfully, there is no winning against 40-degree days plus humidity.
Monday's teasing of the McDonald's Menu Heist was successful in summoning me from the inside of my cool, comfortable house into the treacherous steamy outdoors. After completion of errands, I joined the Drive-Thru lineup for about thirteen minutes to pick up my order.
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At first, I had been presented with the wrong order. Neither I nor the attendant realized this error, until I was handed a tall soft drink - an item that hadn't assumed a part of my order. The standard paper bag and Sundae packaging were otherwise too similar to be differentiated.
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​The five-piece set of McPizza Bites rang in at an atrocious $4.49 plus tax. Criminally small with a pasty exterior and synthetic, commercial pizza filling, I grimaced at the specimen. Simply purchasing a box of frozen pizza pockets would have been the better decision.
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​On the other hand, the $8.19 Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich thoroughly exceeded expectations! For starters, the chicken patty was substantial and thicker than the bun. Garlicy mayo and sweet Teriyaki sauce was an innovative sauce pairing, albeit not for those averse to the sweet x savoury combo. The natural omission of onions was regarded with fondness; one could also add crunchy, shredded lettuce at no charge if desired - and so I did. The bun was plush and, thankfully, devoid of the nasty oil spread in which Chick-fil-A prides themselves.

All factors considered, the concoction was tasty yet did not justify the steep price tag.
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Out & About #1095 | A Series of Strawberry Creations

6/22/2025

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Half of the 6L basket acquired from Downey's was mine. As we all know, freshly picked farm produce requires immediate handling and utilization. Berries are already ripe when picked and thus imposes a shelf life that rapidly plummets from the very minute one departs the farm.
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The quality of my haul was assessed later that evening, revealing seed-speckled bulbs that were juicy, yet not overly sweet nor fragrant. They fit snugly in the palm of my hand, exuding a textbook-like visual with uniformity in redness and soft, leafy crown - or "calyx", to be specific in terminology. The "receptacle" was fleshy but fragile, unable to withstand external pressure; at this stage, the strawberries were ideal for eating out of hand, but required strategic treatment for incorporation into baking projects. At room temperature, they could be maintained for up to three days, and up to six days when transferred to the fridge. Neither case would be satisfactory for decorating the top of a whipped cream cake though, due to inadequate rigidity.
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Anatomy of Strawberry | Source: ResearchGate - Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 2024
Regardless, I was pleased overall, since discard was minimal (no white parts near the stem!) and the strawberries weren't criminally tiny, watery, and bland like Andrew's Scenic Acres (908). Downey's was a solid runner-up to Whittamore's, which unfortunately closed permanently a few years ago.

Determining Value

A 6L basket had set us back $48. Assuming that I had halved the quantity perfectly, this equated an effective take-home amount of 3L for $24, or 1 L for $8. Out of curiosity, I decided to weigh my portion of the haul to compare against grocery store prices:

3L ~= 1926 g (stem on, unwashed)
1926 g / $24 = $0.012/g OR 80 g/$
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  • Loblaws Price: $5.00/454 g = $0.011/g
  • Food Basics Price: $5.98/454 g = $0.013/g
  • Walmart Price: $1.94/454 g = $0.004/g
Note: Grocery store prices are generated in June 2025, with possible variance in terms of strawberry origin and brand (Driscoll's, FOXY, or other).
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​My conclusions about strawberry picking can be found below:
​Pros:
  • Allows one to acquire large quantities of strawberries at once (ie. not limited to purchasing in pre-determined packages)
  • Supports local farms and agriculture industry
  • Constitutes both a fun, outdoor activity and learning experience
  • Includes admission cost (usually)
  • Less waste/discard due to entire bulb/receptable being uniform (ie. no white part)
Cons:
  • Lengthier time investment to acquire ingredients
  • Not cheaper than purchasing directly from a grocery store
  • Shorter shelf life, thus requires immediate treatment
  • Fruit not suitable for all uses

Creations resulting from the trip included:

1) Strawberry Jam

At long last, I have updated my tried-and-true recipe to include metric measurements! Due to the tragic demise of my bread maker, I've been taking to crafting the concoction on the stovetop as of late. With this in mind, it is likely that I'll revise to include a V3 edition, compiled manually.
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Ingredients:
  • 2 cups / 516 g fresh strawberries, hulled
  • 1 cup / 180 g granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 1.5 tbsp / 15 g gelatin

It should also be noted that the bread maker recipes use frozen strawberries, therefore does not allow for a 1:1 swap by mass, since more water = more weight.
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​Directions
  1. Add strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice to a medium saucepot. Bring to a boil and simmer until all sugar dissolves and strawberries are softened.
  2. Add gelatin to cold water, then gently heat in a microwave for 10 seconds or less. Once fully dissolved, add into saucepot and stir until slightly thickened. There should be minimal liquid at the bottom of the saucepot at this point.
  3. Transfer to an airtight jar and cool for at least 8 hours, or ideally overnight.
  4. Serve and enjoy!
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 2) Tanghulu (Failed)

The abundance of strawberries and their uniformity prompted me to undertake a tanghulu project out of curiosity. Having tried the skewers in Myeongdong, my aim was to prepare a version that did not possess an extra-thick sugar coating capable of piercing the insides of one's mouth upon puncture.
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Due to its popularity as a fad food, videos surrounding the street snack are prevalent, but proper recipes are next to none. After skimming the results, I determined the formula to be a 2:1 ratio of sugar to water. The components would be dissolved in a saucepot (no stirring!) and ready for use after reaching 300 F.
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"Tempering" sugar is nothing new to me, for the technique has been used in Dalgona and Swiss/Italian meringues. Of course, there is a learning curve required to determine indicators of readiness. I was prepared to fail, but reality often presents itself in unexpected ways.
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​Although my sugar syrup had been prepared properly, my skewers of strawberries were ultimately too soft for the job. They refused to rotate when dunked into the sugar syrup, eventually dislodging from the wooden apparatus altogether, scorching in the syrup, and interfering with the overall water-to-sugar ratio.
The result was a vibrant red hard candy, as well as the unexpected formation of basi (拔絲), fine strands of sugar popularized by Culinary Class Wars. ​

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Out & About #1094 | Strawberry Picking at Downey's Farm

6/21/2025

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Having been unsuccessful at raspberry picking last year, I was determined to succeed. In order to guarantee achievement of the goal, it was imperative that my browsing partner be omitted from the plans, as deviation and schedule delays would be inevitable otherwise.

My former coworker responded positively to my proposal, and soon we set the June date. Thunderstorms had been predicted early in the week, but eventually shifted to yield only a few afternoon drizzles.
As a consequence, we were able to depart around 11 AM instead of the original plan of 10 AM. Admittedly, both of us were running late anyway.

We resolved to carpool, meeting at my humble abode before heading out. The first stop was Indigo, for it featured bathrooms and an opportunity to check out the newly launched, in-store exclusive Jellycat.
I did not see the maple leaf plushie in the store, thus took my inquiries to the cashier. Apparently, the collectible had been extremely sought after, conjuring a lineup of lawn chairs well before the store opened. Stock was then supposedly depleted within the subsequent thirty minutes - a truly shocking revelation for me.
The plushie sold for just $40 before tax though, which was quite affordable for the renowned toy enterprise.
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We then set our for Downey's Strawberry and Apple Farm around 11:30 AM. The fields were located across from Downey's Farm Market, allowing for delineation between the retail component of the business and children's play areas
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There were a decent number of visitors on site, though locating parking was not an issue.
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A series of fare gates were situated between the sod-gravel lot and picking fields. Queuing in the shorter lineup, we reviewed our basket options:
  • 2L for $16
  • 4L for $32
  • 6L for $48

The unit rate was consistent across the three options, though the farm imposed a minimum purchase of 1L per person. That said, the basket prices included admission fees - unlike the audacious Albion Orchards!
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Both of us were seeking a sizable amount for baking (me, of course) and sharing with members of the household, thus the 8L option was chosen.
"We'd like to split the 8L between the two of us." I relayed to the girl inside the wooden booth.
She acknowledged my request gladly and swiftly split the bill on the machine. I hadn't expected card payments to be accepted, nor that bills could be split in such a manner. The cash that had been withdrawn for the event would remain unused.
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Entry into the strawberry fields was provided via a tractor. Several tractors traversed between the entry point and strawberry fields, keeping wait times at a minimum.
We hopped on the next tractor to arrive, received a safety briefing from a member of staff ("Please do not stand up while the tractor is in operation!"), and were then on our way.
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​For any outdoor activity, I am often dressed to prioritize comfort and mobility. As such, it is always remarkable to witness those that embark on outdoor adventures in long, flowy dresses and strappy sandals that do not provide protection from the elements. Sunscreen and bug spray, gloves, hat, waterproof clothing, and closed-toed waterproof footwear were all critical elements in my books.
​The sole item I wish to have brought along was a mask, for movement of the tractor gave rise to tremendous dust clouds, all of which would be inhaled by its riders.
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The strawberry fields were located past the rows upon rows of unripe apple trees. Adopting the format of stout bushes, picking involved squatting and careful navigation between the bushes. In observing red splotches on the underlying patches of hay, it was apparent that some fruit had already been subject to accidental damage.
I did appreciate the cautionary warnings of mothers nearby though: A group with four young children were instructed to tread carefully as opposed to rampaging through the aisles. "Only step on the dry parts! Don't hurt the strawberries!! Don't hurt them!!"
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Out & About #1092 | Jay B - TAPE: RELOAD in Toronto

6/15/2025

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These days, I've found myself being less and less inclined to leave the house. If not for errands and mandatory office days, departing from my comfortable, air-conditioned - not to mention, expensive - abode emerges as being utterly unappealing. For starters, it requires an investment of time, especially when joined by the presence of others - for everyone moves ever so slowly. Secondly, any period away equates to a loss of functional time for chores and readying oneself, both physically and mentally, for the incoming stresses of work.

This mindset has, unfortunately, extended to attendance at concerts as well, for all-day activities that were once sources of enjoyment have now amounted to additional stressors: physical weariness prompting vacation requests, rescheduling of chores and duties, meal and logistics planning to curb expenses, and more.
Despite being acquainted with ticketing, navigating the venue and organizer tendencies never gets easier.
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​Digital tickets for Jay B's TAPE: RELOAD tour in Toronto were not circulated until one week before the show. Meanwhile, the schedule was distributed 2 days prior and final reminder the day before. The VVVIP agenda was utterly beyond my expectations, with badge distribution commencing at the ungodly hour of 2 PM and the final Q&A event at 11 PM. To make matters worse, neither food nor beverage was permitted on site. Being held on Exhibition Places grounds on a Sunday before CNE meant majority of the buildings were closed, making public bathrooms were impossible to find.
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With my priority being adhering to budget, the undertaking would involve parking in Liberty Village then taking BikeShare towards Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
In the early afternoon hours, many of the stations had been vacated. It hadn't helped my case that weather was glorious either. I ventured a bit further to find a series of Classic bikes, proceeding to adjust the seat while a couple hastily shoved their bikes into the dock. The incessant beeping somehow hadn't prompted them to remove the bike and try again, but continuously shove without altering the approach. Both quickly ran out of patience and departed, leaving the dock beeping loudly. This was a prime example of why public infrastructure in North America is so poorly maintained and dirty compared to the likes of Korea: No one cares to be disciplined and respectful of shared facilities.
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​I hopped onto my bike and began pedalling away. The feeling was familiar, despite my seasonal absence. I traversed along Lynn Williams, connected to East Liberty Street, then turned south onto Strachan. The immediate ascent caught me off guard. An e-bike user swerved around me, allowing me to continue my struggle, undisturbed.

The plan was to turn west onto Manitoba and dock near the Exhibition streetcar loop. Besides the lack of signage within the internal road network of Exhibition Place grounds, the sole empty dock was out of service. I was running short on time by this point and quickly hopped back on to locate the nearest station.
One wrong turn and I somehow looped around the venue. There was still no docking station in sight. In the end, the closest station involved crossing Lake Shore Blvd.
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While I had reckoned that it wouldn't be too treacherous to walk back, it only dawned on me after docking that the pedestrian crossing had been removed due to Ontario Place construction. Pedestrians and cyclists were forced to continue along the south side of Lake Shore until the next signalized intersection at New Brunswick Street. Let it be known that I was positively perspiring by this point and very, very uncomfortable.

​The Thai ahgase had messaged me countless times and even called me during this period, providing a sense of urgency but no help otherwise. I had informed her that my arrival would be delayed. It was unfortunate that VVVIP badge pick-up relied on ID checks, though there was little I could do with navigation technical difficulties.


Trekking back also became more arduous with each step. The blazing sun, in conjunction with a dire need for the bathroom, made for maximum discomfort. Access to Enercare Centre was restricted due to a Valorant event; meanwhile, pre-CNE Sundays meant that adjacent buildings were also closed to the public.
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I resolved to grudgingly make my way towards Queen Elizabeth Theatre. In chancing by a free art gallery, I was saved. The facilities of the Withrow Common Gallery were clean and spacious, and  most importantly, did not require access permissions.
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In spite the Thai ahgase's frequent check-ins, VVVIP entry had been delayed - which was to be expected. Disorganization was a commonality of practically all North American concerts.
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But the most shocking information was the removal of coat check due to the summer season. With my backpack and bike helmet in tow, this was tragic news, and totally inconsistent with the FAQ section posted on the venue website. My meticulous planning have been overruled by a simple "We don't have one." that seemingly did not require any apology to concertgoers that had bothered to familiarize themselves with the available information.

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Out & About #1091 | Matcha Ganache Truffle, LAC Training Day + Halal Food Festival

6/14/2025

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It wouldn't even be a lie to say that the mere thought of returning to the office on Monday caused anxiety. Besides being subject to work-related nightmares, in which I was evidently uncomfortable, uneasy slumber and heart palpitations were leading up to the start of the work week weren't uncommon either.

The transition from a supportive, nurturing team to a frustration- and anxiety-inducing team and department was a drastic one that caused a sharp decline in physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. In spite of the substantially shorter commute and a handful of kind souls in the vicinity, I now dreaded going to work. The duties themselves appeared to lack real-life purpose, while those that worked in the group appeared disconnected with reality, utterly unaware of one's surroundings and unmotivated to make correlations to real-world impacts and implications.
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My weekends provided brief durations of respite, however they were predominantly spent at home catching up on chores and the like. Discovering a tasty variation of coconut water and indulging in PB&B Toast with Vegemite Caramel in the absence of my browsing partner made constituted the attainable small wins amidst a sea of despair.
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​Against the wishes of my family doctor, alcoholic beverages emerged on the regular, if not daily, for there are few things able to  ̶n̶u̶m̶b̶ appease the mind to the same efficacy. I devoured the last of my Läderach haul in parallel, then set out to forage for more snacks. Consistent with the preferences of the Korean palate, the second-last pack of HBAF almonds was an obnoxiously sweet Garlic Bread Almond with mini croutons coated in granulated sugar.
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​Evenings before regrettably mandatory office days were spent rushing laundry and readying my roster of morning and mid-day rations.
Matcha Ganache Truffles

Similar to my agonizing, soul-less days in consulting, I took to the world of YouTube to purge daily sufferings with joyous sights of GOT7, baking, and music/dance performances. Sunday Baking's latest live stream and recipe release served as gentle encouragement to continue furthering my passion for baking.
The Strawberry and Lime Bonbon had been teased in her live stream segment, making me more keen than ever to review the crafting procedure. It is worth noting that, while I'm not the fondest of tempering, the concept has always impressed me.
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​After painstakingly long periods of trial and repetitive failures, I had practically thrown in the towel. For the longest time, I was hesitant towards trying tempering again. But Sunday's tempering tutorial gave me the confidence to try again.

​I saw initial success, but results weren't consistent. But with each subsequent attempt, I began to collect observations. Gradually, I began to recognize the change in fluidity when the chocolate reached the correct temperature. Predicting the amount of seeding chocolate and heat exposure required became easier, and the tempering process was made swifter.
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And so, inspired by the Bonbon video, I decided to attempt my own. Having neither strawberry nor lime on hand though, I worked to replicate the O-Sulloc Jeju Green Tea Chocolate Bar combination instead: an outer casing of semisweet chocolate with a matcha interior.

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    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.



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WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

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



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

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