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Out & About #567 | Weekly Roundup: Afternoon Snacking + Night It Up! 2019

7/13/2019

The humidity has officially hit.
Personal catch-up time has suffered a dramatic drop.
Weekly visuals shall proceed until further notice.

1) The Vancouver haul Feat. Daiso and Nature Republic

2) The Seunie Bingsu from Snowies

The GOT7-themed bingsoo series continues! Following BamBam's Thai Milk Tea was Jackson's Hong Kong Milk Tea, which, in comparison to the first item of the collection, exhibited more prominent flavour. The limited edition selection was served in a similar fashion: curated toppings and condensed milk on the side, and an absence of layering.
Tapioca pearls made another appearance, but instead of grass jelly was an oddly orange egg pudding. It had been set directly and served in a ramekin - a sharp contrast to the abstract shards of yellow utilized by most bubble tea vendors. Its consistency was also a tad more rigid, indicating either a higher percentage of stabilizer, whether it be egg yolk, gelatin, or some derivative of starch. A pizelle cookie - broken and inserted in the shape of wings? - was intended to add crunch, though I cannot produce any comments towards this addition. Admittedly, it is not my fondest type of cracker, so I did steer clear of it.

Sampling the bingsoo on its own, familiar notes of Hong Kong milk tea were made discernible. Frankly, it lacked the astringency and 金味 (an attribute I can only depict as a distinctly unique lingering aftertaste) associated with the tea blend, however its profile remained recognizable. I was informed that the first few batches of the dessert had proved "far too bitter", thus the formula was altered to fit the dessert niche.

Egg pudding, tapioca, and a condensed milk drizzle with the consistency of evaporated milk enabled greater enjoyment of the bowl's contents, albeit resulting in a somewhat messy eating experience. As mentioned previously (561), Snowies' ice flakes have been observed to contain the lowest moisture levels by far; a direct runoff of loosened condensed milk was owed to this precise property. On that note, it is worth mentioning that the taste of tea diminished with the subsequent addition of toppings.

We also took the opportunity to try the Honey Butter Toast, a seemingly new addition to their menu, along with the Black Sesame Bingsu. The item arrived looking near identical to the Injeolmi Toast, and it was only afterwards that I learned honey butter had been incorporated into the soybean-centric creation. It was not an entirely different entity after all. A poor pick on my part, it was far too sugary in the absence of java; the mochi bits were tasty as always, though the combination of sticky slickness and friable injeolmi powder made for a throat-clogging occurrence.

The striking gold knives are a wonderful touch, might I say.

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Out & About #565 | Canada Day BBQ + Collective June Visuals

7/1/2019

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We've steered ourselves into the third quarter of the year: the midpoint of summer holidays and peak of construction activities. An extremely fruitful month for those in the heavy civil sector, I'd like to officially announce my upcoming reduction in leisure time. And not to be exempt from announcements of any sort, below is my usual recount of short-lived excursions, errand runs, and recent items of fondness.

1) Polishing off the remnants of Cafe Seoulista's Korean Fermented Grapefruit Tea with a splash of sparkling water
2) An expectedly chilly morning calls for a Matcha Latte.

3) A sweltering morning in Milton was succeeded by a brief visit to the Toronto Premium Outlets.

It was here that Cacao 70 had opened up shop and introduced a three-dollar seasonal promotion.

Having only ever tried the chain's savoury crepes and marshmallow pizza, dipped ice cream cones were a new discovery for me. The lady behind the cashier was blunt - and outright rude, might I say - though the man executing the dipping procedure was exceptionally friendly.

The concept in place was not so different than La Diperie, where the soft serve flavour was kept a constant vanilla and the only customization options resided with the chocolate dip. We took to the Coffee and Black Sesame cones - both ginormous portions at the exchange of mere pocket change.

In contrast to the Trinity Bellwoods spot, the vanilla soft serve underneath remained intact, instead of imploding into an annoyingly sticky mess. The waffle cone wasn't half bad either. It were the chocolate shells that disappointed: excessively sweet and exhibiting minimal sturdiness, the supposedly carefully tempered coating induced feelings of sluggishness - something far from commendable amidst the humid external conditions.

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Out & About #558 | COWS NOTL + Niagara Drive

6/16/2019

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Waffle cones and ice cream are the representative summer treat, especially when accompanied by the sticky scent of sugariness and a waterfront walk.

Father's Day was quite the low-key celebration this year - no Diana's, no buffet brunch, but oysters present nonetheless.
Upon waking, climate conditions were observed to have deviated from the predicted periodic showers to generally grey skies and a light drizzle here and there. As such, we set out for the west just after lunchtime. The ultimate destination was COWS, though a few detours were also made.

Navigation tools had guided me along Niagara Stone Road, a section of the region known as the "Winery Route". Perched at each and every corner was a different name - all wineries of varying magnitudes. With arguably the grandest presentation in sight, the Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery & Distillery drew us in for our first detour.

The spot was an unsurprising tourist spot for both locals and vacationers alike. Guided tours, wine and whiskey tastings, and private gatherings were not uncommon at this irrefutably Canadian establishment.

Beyond the vineyard and all-too-frequent "99" inserts were several patio and lounge areas, a gift shop retailing monogrammed household items, and a separate gift shop specializing in beer and consumer-level brewing equipment. Even the father of Wayne Gretzky himself had appeared on the property, gladly posing for photos with those that took advantage of the opportunity.

We paused for a moment to roam, then resumed the drive without further interruption.

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Out & About #557 | Weekly Roundup: A Week of Feasting

6/15/2019

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Another week concluded is yet another burst of sporadic sun/rainfall segments.
On days representative of June temperatures, the bike was brought out; others witnessed heavy reliance on umbrellas, enclosed vehicles (read: windows up), and indoor parking buildings.

1) Sikgaek

My default destination for Korean food in the city has recently revamped their menu. Back on offer is Spicy Squid - which I wasn't quite bold enough to try this time around - and some minor cost adjustments. Majority of the items remained unchanged in presentation and price, with the exception of a dollar added to both Samgyetang styles.

Nonetheless, all items were absolutely scrumptious! The Hot Stone Beef Bulgogi Dupbap was a new foray for us, and yielded ultimate satisfaction. Cheese GyeRanMale featured an impeccable combination of textures: encased within silky smooth layers of egg were bite-sized chunks of melted stringy cheese. Contrasting nicely was the coarse exterior of the roll. My sole suggestion would be to lighten the portion of ketchup-and-mayo-decked cabbage slaw on the surface, since it did become a tad overbearing.

< Pictured above and below:

Hot Stone Beef Bulgogi Dupbap (돌솥불고기덮밥)
Egg Soup (Mini) (계란탕)
Cheese GyeRanMale (치즈계란말이)
Makgulli (막걸리) >

2) Tim Hortons has taken Starbucks' lead: bottled Iced Capps can now be located at your local grocer.

3) Biking in balmy yet breezy weather
4) A snippet of my Journey to Health: Fibre-heavy All Bran, Corn Flakes, a dash of strawberry jam, and a handful of roasted pumpkin seeds
5) Breakfast consisting of an Iced Latte and Toast à la orangecane/thekitchn

6) Why hello again, old friend.
7) Some all-too-familiar commuting visuals
8) Mos Mos' Fitness Cookie was the next best thing to a steamy bowl of hearty oatmeal first thing in the morning.

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Out & About #556 | Hub Markham Feat. Oomomo + Gyugyuya

6/13/2019

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It's been a while since I've started climbing, albeit not complying with a regular schedule. Admittedly, this could be owed to a lack of climbing buddies - a crew willing to commit to the sport and meet up regularly as a form of social and physical activity. A handful of friends have been persuaded to come with, but single day pass and rental fees are far from a bargain.

About three months into dabbling - or rather, dangling - in the sport, a climbing date was finally arranged with orangecane. Well-versed in the ways of personal protection in bouldering, she accepted my proposal; the condition was that it take place at a facility within closer proximity.

A total of sixty-five minutes on the highway later, I arrived in the northeast end of the GTA, damp and not particularly pleased at my 401 travels. After a brief exchange of morning happenings, we set off to our scheduled first stop: Oomomo.

The First Markham Place location was newer and supposedly larger than the franchise's first foray into the province. Commonly compared to Daiso, the Japanese dollar store retailed a similar array of household items, along with several pieces from its competitor - is this purely an Ontario concept?
Product quality was on par with Miniso, while price points were a bit lower. Similar to Daiso at Aberdeen, majority of the items on the shelves could be obtained at a sheer toonie, and those that failed to fall within this range would be marked otherwise with a sticker.

On a personal preference, I'd take Daiso over Oomomo any day given its current performance. Our journey did not commence easily, as parking is known to be scarce in the FMP plaza to start. Aisles were narrow and bore absolutely no labels whatsoever, making it a challenge to maneuver between the middle-aged aunties and elderly locals while in search of specific items.
Staff members on the floor were friendly and helpful, though the checkout line was absolutely chaotic. Oomomo operated on one story, with only two members of staff situated behind the cashier. A seemingly more senior attendant assisted here and there, but took no steps to provide relief to the lineup by opening his own register.

Another aspect I cannot ever grow accustomed to is the additional charge for plastic bags. (Perhaps even Daiso in Vancouver has implemented this change, however five to twenty-five cents for a flimsy carrying device can never be warranted in my books.)

Several pairs of slippers, two canvas pouches, and a few other knickknacks later, we returned to the car, meticulously dodging puddles in the pavement on our way back.

Hub Markham opened at noon - a whopping three hours before the Mississauga location. While I was in favour of this earlier operating time, I could only frown at the parking situation before me. The gym was situated in a commercial area and shared its lot with a handful of other businesses during work hours, which limited the total number of spots to forty or less. Trudging along the perimeter of the building in search of its only access in heavy downpour was far from enjoyable either.

Once inside, it was immediately obvious that the original outpost was bouldering-centric. Routes were interesting, well distributed throughout the facility, and, most importantly, diverse in nature. On an overall note, there was more padding underneath the routes, eliminating the fear of falling and rolling onto the concrete floor.

In contrast, the belay section was incredibly small, assuming just under 25% of the wall space. It consisted of twenty auto-belay sections and only five toprope routes, which were slated to be removed and replaced wit auto-belays shortly. The walls were essentially the same height as the Learner's Area back home, with majority of the routes extending past the pulley at their peak. Triangular volumes were added in an attempt to create grading along the wall, as inward/outward sloping was very minimal. With the exception of the "racing route", an average of two courses were arranged beneath each pulley.

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Out & About #550 | K-Town, Kinton + ThirsTEA Revisited

5/16/2019

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This weekday trip spurred from simple fangirl desires. There was one - and only one - motive behind this trip: to see NCT 127 before they hit the streets of Toronto.

A Thai ahgase - who is no longer an unfamiliar name on this space - and I had been monitoring our feeds all morning, hoping to catch glimpses of the members departing LAX so we could make the necessary arrangements for the remainder of the day.
By the time the necessary information had been acquired, we were already easing into the latter half of the day. As opposed to meeting up at the airport, then continue east for Korean BBQ near Christie, the plan was altered drastically.

I headed to Koreatown first. A last-minute hair appointment had been made while en route.
Having arrived earlier than the scheduled slot, my first order of business resided with Hodo Kwaja: a five-pack of brown sugar hoddeok was purchased to go, along with a tasty afternoon snack of walnut cakes and iced coffee. The family-operated establishment offered an expectedly potent three-dollar variation of the caffeinated beverage; four large chunks of ice assisted in maintaining its frosty temperature.

Ms. Faith was till a bit behind schedule, so I settled for exploring the area (yet again). In doing so, I discovered that Mississauga's ThirsTEA was soon to launch immediately next to CoCo. Meanwhile, I also caught sight of a limited edition Hello Kitty x h.naoto notepad that I had purchased some ten years ago in Harajuku.

Restricted in terms of time (and anxious over the reliability of public transit systems during rush hour), I set out to Kinton first to secure a table. Less than thirty minutes remained for feasting, rendering ramen a more suitable alternative to meat grilling.

< Pictured above and below: Burnt Kogashi Shoyu Ramen, Pork Miso Ramen with Thick Noodles, Hot Yuzu Sake >

Come to think of it, I don't think I've stepped foot into Kinton since my less-than-spectacular experience at the chain's original Baldwin Village spot. The Koreatown outpost carried an exclusive Cabbage Miso Ramen as well as a monthly special of Burnt Kogashi Shoyu Ramen.
The former was informed to be a somewhat spicy concoction, which ultimately led to swapping for the Pork Miso Ramen. Comprising of soybean paste, torched pork slices, corn kernels, scallions, and few dollops of garlic oil, my fellow idol-chaser devoured this in a matter of minutes. (We were on a time crunch after all.)

The Burnt Kogashi Shoyu Ramen boasted a far richer broth - evident in its darker hue and thicker consistency. A heavy handful of bean sprouts, two wide strips of torched pork belly, and a soft-boiled egg were substantial elements of the bowl. A dusting of charred seasoning - type unspecified - added depth and nuttiness, reducing feelings of satiation from the rich broth.

Both of these options paired well with the Hot Yuzu Sake, a warm glass of sweet citrus. It arrived in a stout glass, with bits of sugary yuzu jam lining the bottom. A single lemon slice drifted afloat.
Several rounds of prodding were required to obtain the precise species of house sake utilized in the drink. I rephrased my question three different ways before finally hearing the response I was searching for: Hot Yuzu Sake contained 5 oz. of Sho Chiki Bai.

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Out & About #548 | Partial May Visuals

5/14/2019

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Summer construction season is in full swing, yet it seems that neither Mother Nature - nor the spirits of employment - got the memo. The search for a position providing societal benefit ensues, as do sporadic periods of frigidity and heavy downpours.
As one jacket is returned to the closet, another must be summoned to accommodate the ever-indecisive climatic conditions.

1) Kung Fu Tea opened at Pacific Mall, and on the counter was a fake Brown.

2) The prominent sakura theme resurfaces every spring.
3) Dak Lak is a necessary (caffeinated) evil during P-Mall runs

4) Katsuya
It's been a "hot minute" since my last visit, for the post-paintball excursion in December is recalled with winter coats in tow.

Since then, the Brick Cheese Katsu - a fusion formula employing a thick, stringy slab of mozzarella - had been added to the roster of non-spicy katsu dishes. A Rosé Katsu is also anticipated in the upcoming months.

The restaurant's policies have seemingly also undergone some changes: unlimited rice refills no longer exist, and 5% discounts are now offered with cash payments.

View the full album HERE !

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Out & About #544 | BLACKPINK 2019 World Tour in Hamilton

4/27/2019

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Who would have predicted the day that global K-Pop acts would choose Hamilton as their performance location of choice?
Not me, that's for sure.

Of all the neighbourhoods within the GTHA, downtown Hamilton does not rank high in terms of (my own list of) explore-able neighbourhoods. Campus life had been quite mundane a few years back, though I do admit that quite a handful of coffee shops have emerged since my era.

The Thai ahgase and I arrived at the early hour of noon, which coincided with the commencement of concert merch sales. Grey skies above our heads, we proceeded to affix ourselves to the winding lineup, jittering for the entire duration. Amidst this wait, we observed the Sound Check ticketholders: they were arranged about the venue a similar fashion, patiently awaiting their turn to file into the exclusive event. A few even had blankets wrapped about their bodies.

Each squeaky pink hammer lightstick rang in at a whopping sixty dollars, and yet, somehow, the bulk of the attendees had no issues mindlessly relinquishing this amount. This statement may come across a tad hypocritical, given its origin from one of the most dedicated Canadian ahgases, but I've never been to drop hard-earned funds before window shopping elsewhere.

Once the ordeal had finished, we sauntered over to the Hamilton Farmer's Market for lunch. Majority of the vendors remained familiar to me - an indication that they had survived the test of evolving demand. pokeh had shifted to a larger location (for reasons beyond me), and the ramen bar had acquired the adjacent next stall in its expansion.

We first took to Thai Tea from Nam Nom. The plastic cups contained less than the standard 12 oz./16 oz. serving, but the orange beverages could be depicted as nothing less than exquisite. Common gripes of the variations found throughout Toronto included heavy quantities of ice, excessive sugariness, lack of authenticity, and disproportionate milkiness. The undernotes of Nam Nom's version were unmistakably legitimate - not far from the result of brewing my own blend at home. Moreover, the slickness wasn't overpowering.

Hamilton isn't known for competitive prices, though I'd proclaim four dollars to be a fair deal.

The Slow-Cooked Pulled Chicken sandwich, on the other hand, did not deserve the same amount of commendation. At $8.50, the modern banh mi-style sub was not only pricier than Subway around the corner, but also far more compact in comparison. Personally, the combination of pickled veggies, crisp baguette, and fresh herbs never fail to impress. That said, large chunks of scallions, minimal dressing, a painfully lengthy wait time, and cash-only requirements are enough to encourage taking my business elsewhere for better value.
Slurp Ramen's customizable Miso bowl was tasty according to the tester, however one cannot dismiss elements such as chopped cabbage and charred sweet potato being ungenuine ramen components. The lumpy egg, in spite of its runny interior, was a deduction in terms of visual appearance for me.

We tossed our Thai Tea cups - now depleted of liquid - into the bins next to Cake & Loaf, where I secured a Chocoate Peanut Butter Cookie sample, and then proceeded with a walking tour of the one-kilometre radius. By this time, the drabness had cleared to reveal blue skies and warm rays of sunshine.

James Street proved to have undergone drastic developments in my period of absence. Added to the roster were new cafés, street art, and kitschy independent shops. The small stretch had been reformed in such a manner that it near emulated the crafty character of Trinity Bellwoods.

A hybrid motorcycle gear/coffee shop - with a lounge to boot! - was quite the striking combination.

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Out & About #542 | Partial April Visuals

4/12/2019

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We've somehow sprung past seventy-five percent of the first quarter already. The job hunt persists; life must go on.

My downtime has been characterized by a short round of visuals, primarily relating to the concept of feasting. Unpictured are the screenshots from He is Psychometric (사이코메트리 그녀석) , all of which have required peeling myself off a cozy, comfy mattress to tune in for the livestream. Spoilers aren't my cup of tea.

1) An uncompromising yearning for Chipotle was sadly met with dismay and plummeting protein quality.
2) Testing out new mainstream and craft brews

3) The climbing starter set has now been acquired! My Hub access has since been renewed for another four weeks.

4) K-Beauty essentials secured from ebay a month prior have finally arrived (with an expired eye mask in tow).
5) BNC's Garlic Rusk is as scrumptious as their Brownie Cookies - just be sure to munch in a manner that does not exceed three days.

6) The tragic fate of all my birdies is as demonstrated by my miniature, magenta carry-along.
7) Ralph Wrecks VR was a wholly immersive virtual reality experience complete with multi-dimensional, colourful graphics, vibrations, and scented sections. Though similar to the Ghostbusters module at The Void's downtown location, this version was a more lighthearted take with kid-friendly "villains".

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Out & About #525 | Chinese New Year Visuals

2/5/2019

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Happy Year of the Pig!

I do admit that while I identify a little less with pigs than dogs, traditions are closely adhered to regardless. (I'll have you know: I almost pulled a muscle tackling dust purgation of the entire house unaccompanied.)

As with other years, we made our annual visit to the Chinese New Year Market. This time around, we arrived early enough that parking was not an issue. Thank goodness.

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<<Previous

Out & About #567 | Weekly Roundup: Afternoon Snacking + Night It Up! 2019

Out & About #565 | Canada Day BBQ + Collective June Visuals

Out & About #558 | COWS NOTL + Niagara Drive

Out & About #557 | Weekly Roundup: A Week of Feasting

Out & About #556 | Hub Markham Feat. Oomomo + Gyugyuya

Out & About #550 | K-Town, Kinton + ThirsTEA Revisited

Out & About #548 | Partial May Visuals

Out & About #544 | BLACKPINK 2019 World Tour in Hamilton

Out & About #542 | Partial April Visuals

Out & About #525 | Chinese New Year Visuals

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