​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).

​Just as countless others are reminiscing about their accomplishments within the past twelve months, I am subconsciously acting likewise. I've arrived at the conclusion that the latter half of the year progressed speedily without any signs of halting, whlie the first two quarters were sluggish and largely uninteresting - except for Kipling and graduation of course!

The Year of the Dog was a pivotal period in my life, overloaded with emotions and brimming with extreme ups and downs. I was periodically rewarded with several GOT7 sightings and a DAY6 World Tour, yet also flung into an unknowingly toxic work environment. New friendships were made, while old ones were strengthened (or withered, for whatever reason).

​2019 lies not far away, and I anticipate its many offerings. As someone who believes strongly in the concept of fate, there is not much else to kick back, observe the flow of the year's happenings, and react accordingly. (AND hopefully continue the Maritimes Madness series.)

Many would have assumed this roundup to consist mainly of meal snippets. And I have no reason to deny this hypothesis, for it is completely accurate.

​1) Experimental Pound Cake (as led by Cooking Tree)
​2) The inescapable CoCo runs

3) GOT7 - Present: You & Me
Despite my initial reluctance to purchase yet another repackage, the availability of a locally-organized G.O. (as well as Jinyoung's all-too-persuasive teaser images) convinced me otherwise.
That said, this may be my last time joining a group order, for I always seem to have better bias luck with sealed orders.

​4) More CoCo!
5) A late lunch of mild Chipotle at Mississauga's busiest shopping centre

The very notion that a separate entity on this planet is capable of sharing similar interests with you is wonderful in itself. Being able to further identify with that interest to a likewise degree of dedication is just incredible. This realization first hit me whilst engaging in late-night spam sessions with a certain potato across the border about our shared affection for GOT7. The second was when I came across a written piece that I could not have agreed more about.

Even prior to our somewhat substantially-sized paintball gathering, stenoodie and I had been planning a catch-up session for some time now. Once the details had been ironed out, we set out for downtown - her heading from the east, and me heading from the west.

​I was first to arrive at Cafe Cancan, where I learned that those without nimble fingers would have to resort to bar seating on a first-come-first-serve basis. The entirety of the seven tables available had been reserved in advance, likely via OpenTable.
Space was scarce inside the dainty-looking French bistro, so reservations were of great significance. I was made aware of this in an adequately friendly manner: it was evident that the restaurant looked towards serving patrons that understood the value of their dishes as opposed to garnering hype and lineups as a fad eatery.

​Dining on high stools was not the issue for me, nor was the empty promise of a brunch menu. (Apparently, the brunch menus were rotated only on weekends.) Rather, it was the lack of space for my weighty backpack. Those that entered the premises donned posh getups, ranging from sleek over-the-knee boots to fitted knit dresses, so this was less of a problem for the majority of diners. As a commuter with many-a-task to complete, the bulky bag could not be eradicated.

A coat rack was positioned next to the bar area, while hooks had been installed underneath (as I later discovered). This definitely provided more room for movement, despite not being the most comfortable of arrangements.

​Stenoodie joined me shortly after my arrival, at which point we evaluated the menu. Shortly afterwards, we were informed that a reservation had been cancelled, permitting a shift from the bar to a table. What luck!
I dove for the booth seat, as I could rest my backpack without bothering other patrons. Admittedly, the adjacent tables were seated quite closely, but not to an unbearable extent.

As a matter of fact, it was the music blaring overhead that proved bothersome. Over the course of the meal, it became increasingly difficult to converse in peace. Noise levels had surged in order to be heard over the escalating jazzy tunes.

I requested a Mimosa to start, in spite of the absence of a brunch menu. Following our meticulous review of the available selections, we opted to share a 2-Course and 3-Course Prixe Fixe meal. The former enabled the user to choose any two dishes from the Hors D'Oeuvres, Entrées, and Dessert sections, while the latter one from each. In fine print was a more flexible - yet much extravagant - à la carte alternative for specific items.

​The table setting comprised of a delicate centrepiece of dried yellow buds, utensil sets encased within stark white cloth napkins, and shiny blush glasses - very reminiscent of Planta's slightly taller cups but tinted dusty pink to match the decor of the cozy eatery. Other noteworthy details included: subtle leopard print tiling on the ceiling, fans operated via a pulley system (versus the typically concealed electric source), stout cylindrical lampshades, and bar stools whose back designs matched the cushions at the tables. Marble tabletops were witnessed at every dining surface. All design elements contributed a strong sense of cohesiveness, ensuring that classy, cultured vibes resonated throughout the space.

Of particular interest to me were the light fixtures, for I had not laid eyes on such a style in my previous eating endeavours. Moreover, I appreciated that the intensity of illumination could be adjusted (diffused) to suit both daytime and evening hour ambiances.

View the full album HERE !

​The Mimosa arrived first - without a single garnish, if I may add. The glass had been filled below the commonly accepted line and the insides were a tad foggy, as if its contents had been swirled around several times before making its way to our table. At a mere ten dollars, it definitely wasn't the priciest cocktail I've seen in the city. That said, its profile was rather lacking; while refreshing, fizziness was scarce. Over the course of the meal, the denser Prosecco seemed to have settled to bottom third of the glass, resulting in sweet sips of orange juice followed by an astringent buzz. Uniformity would have been preferred.

​At times where one craves spectacular sushi, rest assured that Hub will never fail in meeting those expectations.

​I had been yearning for the Unagi Kimchi Donburi for the past little while, and even more intensely after my tastebuds came in contact with Nichiban's dreadful, shabby-grade eel. Once again, the stone pot dish hit adequately hit all the right notes.

​A Chirashi Lunch was also requested to share. Sashimi cuts were fresh and delectable, boasting the supple attributes that all fishy specimens should uphold. The furikake-topped rice was an element we didn't pay much attention to, for the Unagi Kimchi Donburi was plenty in terms of satisfying our carb quota.

Hub has since re-organized their seating arrangements to accommodate a handful of large parties instead of several small ones. The dilapidated seats that were once parallel to the window pane are now perpendicular, making it a tad awkward to slide into the space (read: cramped with the potential of uncleaned corners).

Regardless, we enjoyed our meals, despite the middle-aged lady tending to the floor being less attentive than the younger staff members I had seen on previous visits.
​
​Next up was Chi Patisserie. Having been added to the itinerary on the bases that a private parking lot was present and neither of us had visited previously, expectations were on the higher end of the spectrum.

​The interior was cozy, with soft, hazy lighting encased in geometric light fixtures setting the ambience. Generally minimal with a few festive decorations here and there, the dessert shop was instantly deemed a suitable destination for comfortably catching up.

Pastries and beverages were ordered at the counter, though customers had the option of paying at the conclusion of their stay. Shared between us were the Oolong Peach and Rice Wine, along with an Iced Grapefruit Green Tea for myself. For patrons wishing to opt out of purchasing a drink, a water station with Stainless steel cups was situated near the cashier for their convenience.

​When a Scarborough native reached out to inform me of her sojourn in Sauga, I jumped at the opportunity to suggest bingsoo.

​Given that her schedule had cleared up significantly earlier than expected, we ended up grabbing lunch first. It was none other than my all-time round-the-corner fave, Wonton Chai.

​The parking lot was utter chaos, but we were seated quickly once inside the restaurant. Meals were also delivered at an alarmingly swift rate.

​​​We headed over to the K-Town of the west end shortly after.

For my third visit to Snowies, I was keen on trying the Matcha and Grape bingsoo flavours. We shared a Small bowls of each, along with a nutty sencha by the name of Movie Night.

​​The Matcha Bingsu was absolutely adorable with two almond slivers secured to the top of the ice cream scoop, mimicking ears. Underneath was a firmly pressed portion of red bean paste - the same formula I had adored on the Injeolmi last time. More almond slivers and handmade mochi bits were scattered along the surface, and between each layer of flaky ice was discernible matcha powder. Chewy mochi isn't the standard topping for matcha bingsoo, though its nuttiness and engaging consistency complemented the specimen well.

​A flavour I hadn't expected to enjoy a great deal was the Grape Bingsu; pairing green grapes and mango syrup sounded peculiar. But the reality was quite different than I imagined. While The Cups' fall exclusive fell short of expectations, Snowies' proved far superior in terms of execution.
Despite being a tad too sugary for my liking, the overall combination was intriguing and tasting. Halving the grapes also eased the consumption procedure.

Brunch?
The clock read 10 AM, and by the time we would reach Toronto, it'd unquestionably be past noon.
"Let's do it". I succumbed to the convenience of a combined mid-day meal and began to scroll through options in our area of interest.

​The skies were dull and dreary, camouflaging the fact that the drive had been lengthier than normal for an off-peak weekday slot. It neared 12:40 PM by the time we pulled into the municipal parking lot just north of Dundas on Claremont.

​Relatively easy to spot from a distance, we made our way across the street to Saving Grace - a restaurant catering specifically to brunch-goers. Nearing the entrance, I caught sight of a small group reviewing the menu. Upon closer inspection, I spotted a pair of all-too-familiar platform sneakers - it was orangecane (& co.)!
I had attempted to call the establishment earlier in the day, though no one had picked up. Now being faced with a compact restaurant brimming with boisterous diners,  we came to the realization that there would a wait after all.

​Peeling away the red cloth curtains behind the doors, we made our presence known to one of the servers. She proceeded to gesture towards a clipboard fastened by the door: "Write your name down."
"Do you know how long the wait will be?" I inquired earnestly.
"About 20-30 minutes." She responded blankly (and admittedly a little hesitantly).

Orangecane and her party were seated shortly, followed by two other small groups. Our names were called at 1:30 PM - just as the server had predicted - and we were ushered inside to a cramped yet well-illuminated corner spot by the window. I had silently been wishing to be seated here, for other tables were either shrouded in complete darkness or glazed with grim, dingy lighting.

​The double-sided laminated menus had been reviewed while waiting outside the premises, so we had a vague idea of our options. As first-timers though, we requested additional details. A different member of waitstaff strode over for assistance. We were made aware of the rotating selection of pancakes and waffles, in addition to their best-selling sweet and savoury dishes.

Heeding her advice, we took to a half order of the Carrot Cake Waffles with Honey Cream Cheese, Cornmeal Pancakes with Lemon and Blueberry, and Savoury Waffle with Fried Eggs, Swiss Cheese, Avocado, Pickled Jalapenos, and Blueberry Chutney. In addition, a Vietnamese Iced Coffee and Espressado were ordered to start.

View the full album HERE !

​Drinks arrived with maximum swiftness, and were followed shortly by the "main" courses. With stout glasses, utensil sets, and a cap-less jug of water on the table, we were required to juggle our table space in order to commence the consumption process comfortably.

​I originally had my doubts about the Vietnamese Iced Coffee, fearing that authenticity may not be guaranteed. However, I am glad to report that beverage quality was superb and succeeded in providing the copacetic dose of caffeine. While the glass could have easily done without copious amounts of ice and condensed milk, it was nonetheless enjoyable.

Espressado was apparently a Saving Grace signature; crafted from a bewildering combination of espresso and avocado, one may be led to picture a pulpy amalgamation reminiscent of superfood smoothie fads, though reality was distinctly different. The mixture was aromatic, buttery, and entirely smooth - as if the normally nasty aftertaste of avocado had been chemically extracted to yield a creamy, stimulating pick-me-up. In short, it was tastier than either of us could have imagined.

Diana's Oyster Bar was a distant (and not particularly pleasant) memory for me. I hadn't bothered with the various varieties of oysters at the time, nor had the open bar piqued my interest. Besides the immensely delicious crabcakes, it was the sole instance where I had met someone adopting both the entities of a food enthusiast and makeup/style fiend

​A few years (and two cases of plan fall-out) passed before we finally agreed on meeting up again.
Said social media user is based in Markham, and having put Pacific Mall errands on the back burner for some time now, it was essentially killing two birds with one stone.

​I pulled into the parking lot a few minutes past noon, then swiftly met up with her to discuss the plan. The initial route consisted of restocking my K-Beauty inventory, next lunch, and lastly churros for dessert.
Alas, our appetites trounced the desire to shop; we retreated back to the car, then made the painstaking drive to Nichiban Sushi 4 U, our pre-determined (read: pre-researched) midday meal of choice.

Being the impatient one of the two, I committed the terrible mistake of U-turning into the adjacent gas station, nearly annihilating a cyclist in the process. Upon discovering that the asphalt lots did not connect, there was no other option than to turn back onto Kennedy and loop into the correct plaza.
One ought to note the narrowness of the Nichiban plaza, for it only capable of one-way traffic when the compact lot hit capacity. It was thankful that loading time has passed, and that no trucks were parked in the main passageway during our visit.

​Nichiban was a sliver of a casual Japanese restaurant, and apparently geared more towards takeout orders than dine-in. Though, it also appeared to be popular amongst those that worked in the vicinity.

My friend - a seasoned feaster in the Milliken Heights area - did not hesitate to suggest the 888 Combo to share. The twenty-four-dollar platter had been named appropriately: it included eight slices of sashimi, eight specialty rolls, eight pieces of nigiri, along with the standard offerings of miso soup and side salad.

​Both starters were mediocre. Adding to the fact that traffic volumes were on the low end, it seemed odd - and slightly stingy - to me that we were not offered a starter set each. Such small details go a long way in leaving a lasting impression.

The nigiri and sashimi specimens were determined by the chef, but we were given the option to choose our preferred style of specialty roll. Black Dragon was my pick, on the basis that marinated eel has been included on the list of constituents.

​How could one possibly go wrong with tempura and unagi, right? WRONG.
In hindsight, it probably wouldn't have mattered which specialty roll was chosen. Quality was consistently terrible throughout.

It all started with a set of paintball passes that were set to expire within a span of four weeks. The group was formed relatively smoothly, with only a small setback that increased the participant count from seven to eight.

Paintball Nation Mississauga was the chosen venue, for it offered an indoor playing field, availability of a private parking lot, and was located within acceptable distance to eateries of interest. Moreover, it was the more accessible in comparison to the franchise's other outposts in Brampton and Burlington.
Planning the event was straightforward, as majority of the details had either been laid out with clarity on their website or communicated via phone. The process of finding the establishment was a separate matter.

Adjoined to the Dixie Flea Market, its entrance on Aimco wasn't particularly easy to spot when traversing on the arterials. The parking lot was packed and, honestly speaking, quite chaotic with drop-offs taking place in every other laneway. I figured that valuables were best carried on oneself than left in my vehicle for all passersby to peer.

The discount pass supplied each participant with park entry, a paintball gun and mask, and an air tank with a minimum purchase of 50 paintballs, which equated to exactly ten dollars after tax. Air tanks could be refilled at the front desk at no extra charge. Disposable coveralls involved an additional $6.50 plus tax, so I heeded all attendees to bring a change of clothing and footwear instead.

Masks and guns equipped with air tanks were provided once the entire party had gathered and waivers were submitted. One member of staff - the referee - then took us aside for a brief safety orientation and review of the rules. He noted the importance of maintaining a secured mask on the playing field, the safety lock on the gun, adequate air tank pressure (2000 psi or above), and safe shooting distances. With that said, we were then escorted onto the field to begin our series of matches.

Shooting with low-impact paintballs meant "reduced" speeds and less painful encounters with bullets. Though, the range of the paintballs' projectile was very impressive. Without the presence of a pressured air tank, many of the tiny, coloured spheres would have failed to even travel half the playing field.
For the first game, many of us took to hiding behind barriers to prevent being taken out. It was during this period that I discovered the perils of remaining still: being promptly shot in the behind by a more senior player.

The consequent games were increasingly aggressive, with players running left and right in an attempt to annihilate their enemy. It ought to be noted that ammo can be drained rather quickly, so one must choose his or her shots wisely before opening fire. (Alternatively, there is the less economic strategy of purchasing paintballs in bulk to fire away at one's desire.)

Sandy shoes and mirror-less bathrooms aside, I greatly enjoyed the entire experience and would happily go again. (Be mindful that sporting a garbage bag and sanitary gloves will simultaneously aid in the laundering process while rendering you a rustling target.)

Once cleaned up, we headed over to Snowies for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. Or, in some of the guys' perspective, a sugar-laden "pre-dinner".

I had been meaning to revisit the quaint dessert parlour since my initial drop-in. With a larger group in tow, we had the consumption capacity to pluck several items off the menu to share, concurrently lowering their individual costs.

Between the group, we ordered three Regular-sized bingsoo: Injeolmi, Oreo, and Strawberry Cheesecake. My suggestion for tea pots was also accepted without dispute.

Injeolmi was easily the crowd favourite. The soybean flour was nutty and fragrant, and had been layered generously between the fluffy shards of snow ice. Housemade mochi bits, sweetened condensed milk, almond slivers, vanilla ice cream, and a dollop of red bean paste adorned the surface. Personally known to steer clear of chunky red bean paste whenever possible, Snowies' version of the condiment took me by complete surprise: it was smooth as could be and devoid of overpowering slickness.
A few expressed their loyalty towards The Cups, though both are exceptional in my eyes.

Oreo was the winner of the afternoon for me. Bold, chocolately flavour radiated with each spoonful; not only had Oreo dust been distributed evenly between the layers, noticeably chunks of Oreo Things were also observed within the dessert and affixed to its peak, Mickey Mouse-style.

View the full album HERE !

It's that time of the month again. (Please excuse the not-so-obvious fact that I've also lumped a few November extras into this post.)

​1) Butter Baker

As if the Tiramisu slice and Matcha Cookie hadn't been enough to deter me from a second visit to overpriced bakery, I decided to give the prime location patisserie the benefit of the doubt and try a Matcha Latte. Of course, this was largely due to the facts that cravings had crept up before Tsujiri's slated opening time of 11 AM and Starbucks' lineup was too lengthy.

Quite possibly one of the ickiest green tea lattes I've tasted to date, Butter Baker's costly variation was gritty and bitter - devoid of the fragrant grassiness found in other specialty shops. While the distinct microfoam heart earned vast visual appeal, the overall value of the product was shockingly low. It was on par with The Library's equally disappointing version, actually.

2) CoCo has always been known to be extra-festive during this time of year
3) Redeeming Monopoly rewards as post-OT dinner
4) McDonald's $1 Premium Roast Coffee is too fabulous of a deal to pass up, especially when a Muffin Pairing only tacks on an additional one dollar and thirty cents.

5) Homemade Matcha Lattes (Feat. Momo Tea's Matsu) remain the best.
6) And now, we bid farewell (and good riddance!)
7) Cuppa Tea has unfortunately banished their convenient glass milk tea jars due to extreme temperature variances in the wintertime.

​December 10th marks the end of a truly backbreaking era.
While neither as prolonged nor physically draining as my days in a (lower-than-) minimum wage position devoid of health and safety practices, I shan't hesitate to declare this short-lived occupation as the worst job I've encountered to date. Amidst a society flooded with technological advances and the drive to constantly improve oneself, there lies a community of tight-knit, good-for-nothing tattlers that thrive off taxpaper funding. And where one cannot assimilate, he or she shall be exiled for their nonconformities.

​My final mid-day meal in the vicinity comprised of sushi. Yet, it wasn't just any old regular grab-and-go joint. Spring Sushi was located on the top floor of 10 Dundas East, next to the VIP Cineplex entrance and overlooking the bustle of Toronto's busiest pedestrian crossing.

​The interior was quite grand, featuring a street art-esque mural along the ceiling of the dining area. Staff were aplenty, but many failed to immediately acknowledge our presence in spite of the nonexistent lineup at the reception desk.
Order placement had shifted from interaction with physical bodies to being completely electronic. An iPad was placed at the end of our table, where diners could select All-You-Can-Eat or à la carte items. For the most part, Spring operated in a manner similar to Hana, just simply without the small-scale monorail.

< Pictured above and below: Diamond Sushi, Crystal Sashimi, Chashu Miso Ramen >

Sashimi cuts were average at best, as was the presentation of our orders. Stray sesame seeds and random squirts of mayonnaise were not appreciated. The provided starter salad and miso soup were decent, though the rice proved tremendously dry.
Ginger slices and wasabi were also of mediocre quality: the former hadn't undergone sufficient pickling, while the latter was mushy and lacked pungency.

​The highlight of the meal was the Chashu Miso Ramen, strangely enough. In spite of the spurious noodles (wavy ones reminiscent of the instant variety), its overall composition was far tastier than Chef Papa's custom creation.

Washrooms were not visited on this occasion, and therefore no comments can be made in that regard.

​Bidding farewell to an environment of utmost toxicity meant indulging on two of my all-time favourite activities: karaoke and grabbing bubble tea - specifically CoCo.

​Customer service has seen a steep plummet since our last visit: no longer was the friendly elder working the counter, but a bitter middle-aged man instead. Prices have seemingly also undergone inflation, though this has yet to be confirmed since we had upgraded to a large room from our regular small one.