Category: Shopping - Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger

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

10/1/2023

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

After many weeks of contemplation, realization, and acceptance, Arctic Aquarium was concluded to have run its course. The decision had not been an easy one, and spanned many strenuous days and nights. The once dire hope that the sleepy polar bear would stay by my side was replaced with an urge to do the exact opposite: only by being apart could both sides prevent further damage.

Honestly, it was as many of my longtime companions has pointed out: "You're just so different." And I couldn't agree more:

Where one was steadfast, the other was sluggish.
Where one was pragmatic, the other was sentimental.
Where one valued efficiency, the other valued harmony.
Where one was outspoken, the other was cautious.

In spite of these drastic differences, attempts were made to reach a consensus. Alas, different communication styles amounted to misunderstandings - actions executed with good intentions but yielding poor results.
Tensions amassed, and were untreated in the face of stress and withering energy levels. It was simply just too hard.

Loss of trust ensued, as did loss of joy. The situation grew unhealthy. All came crashing down with a final blow: my straightforwardness. Perhaps we may have left these issues unspoken had I not be upfront in communicating. Perhaps we may not have come to an understanding that growth would be necessary on both sides to progress. Perhaps the outcome would have proved more dramatic had it been left to brew for a longer duration. (Do you wonder, do you wonder, do you wonder like I do?)

We held a formal discussion, probably our most mature exchange to date. The visit was accompanied by a single slice of Apple Pie and Ube Crinkle Cookies from the freezer (the longer you freeze, the less they expand). Then I retrieved my belongings, at last pointing to the enmusubi (縁結び) obtained at Japan Festival just over a month ago. "Do you know what this symbolizes?" I posed the question.
"Love?"
"No, fate."

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

9/22/2023

The busiest weeks pass me by with regrettable swiftness. If the mandated - albeit loosely - two days of in-office presence wasn't enough in rendering exhaustion, three back-to-back days of travelling in and out of the city were surely sufficient.

I readied myself for the days ahead with a "Military Latte" on Monday afternoon - a delightful combination of Momo Tea's Matsu Matcha and G7 Espresso. That evening, I reached for Sayuri, my first Hakutsuru nigori. Embracing sweet, creamy, and indulgent qualities, it was undeniably more enjoyable than the Superior Junmai Ginjo. (Lucky for me, it was also more economic.)

Driving into the city was a pain in itself, but navigating along the endlessly construction-filled corridors of Bloor Street served as another source of torture. I had signed up for a two-day First Aid training course at least two months prior, with full knowledge of its intended location but not its painstakingly early start time.

In order to arrive at the intersection of Bathurst and Bloor, I'd either suffer a two-hour commute by public transit, or roughly 70 minutes by car. On the first day, I was granted a drop-off.

At 8:07 AM, an introductory video had started airing. I was slightly tardy, yet not as much as the others that eventually emerged at 9 AM, and even 9:30 AM! The instructor was particular about timing, instilling guilt in nearly every one of us to maintain punctuality for breaks and start/end periods.

The first day's topics comprised of Scene Surveys, head and spinal injuries, the recovery position, CPR compressions, operating an AED, and choking. Beyond being presented with an incredulous amount of data via slideshows and short clips, we were provided many opportunities for hands-on learning. By the end of the first day, summoning a bystander from the role as a "trained First Aider" had been repeated to the point of memorization.

Following the session, I proceeded to update my K-town records.

First and foremost was the acquisition of physical funds, for Kevin's Taiyaki operated on a cash-only basis. Next was the perusal of new and established vendors in the area.

Thirstea remained
A new Korean Fried Chicken shop had opened
The former space of Put A Cone On It had become Dessert Fox
An uncharacteristically minimalist, alcohol-licensed café had opened

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

9/16/2023

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

Mid-September was remarkably early to commence fall activities, yet it aligned well with the rest of my schedule. Taking advantage of apple availability, we ventured to the farm closest in proximity: The Big'r Apple Farm in Brampton.

The Big'r Apple Farm was, in fact, home to smaller apples than the standard grocery store selection. While I wasn't entirely surprised given my experience at Applewood last year, I wasn't impressed that $25 for 20 lbs - and paid by cash only - was the only option available to visitors. On the other hand, admission was free, which enabled large families to visit without surrendering atrocious entrance fees.

Parking was ample, adopting the same grassy surface as Dixie Orchards, albeit starkly less green and not nearly as well maintained. Given that the absence of tractor rides, visitors would be required to trek the entire distance towards the front of the farm for apple-picking needs. Other produce, such as peppers, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes, were also spotted on site, despite bearing generally poor visuals as their indicator of freshness.

We followed the abundance of signage with poor spelling towards the rows of apples, eager to evaluate the spread on site.

The McIntosh selection was quite compact, leading to commentary of the fruit being "unripe" and "not ready for picking". Regardless of whether they were unripe or simply undersized, I wasn't particularly keen on committing to twenty pounds of the same five-ish species. The quantity was excessive even in consideration of o̶u̶r̶ ̶h̶o̶u̶s̶e̶h̶o̶l̶d̶'̶s̶ my atypically high consumption levels and pie-making intentions.

We resorted to merely sightseeing and snapping a few photos by the trees. While posing with one of the branches, a lone McIntosh detached and landed in my hand. The single, ashy-hued specimen would assume our souvenir from the trip.

Based on information acquired from reviews of Carl Laidlaw Orchards up the street - a destination home to farm animals, playground structures, and admission fees of $15 per person - we opted for a stopover at Al Ferri & Sons' Country Apple Market for our fill of produce.

The market was a wealth of apple varieties, bagged by "bushels" and "pecks", along with preserves, cheese, cider, frozen pies, and more. Prices were more than reasonable, with the smallest apple bags ranging between $6-$9.

Out & About #931 | Italy is Eataly

9/7/2023

Due to an unforeseen "smudging" ceremony, my mandatory in-office presence were, thankfully, reduced to one day. The news had been received with glee, for spending time in the humid outdoors was the least preferred way to kick off a four-day work week.

On particularly sticky days, the frigid office space prevails as a source of relief, rather than torment. Over lunch, my time in the great, homeless-filled outdoors was limited, for I dove into the Eaton Centre at the first opportunity to continue embracing A/C-filled corridors.

Perusing the three-level retail centre, I confirmed the conclusion of back-to-school promotions and spotted schoolgirl-inspired ensembles at Mango. The pairing of a white button-down, tie, and loafers were very uniform-esque, offset only with the incorporation of light wash denim and a rosy pink blazer. Meanwhile, the pinstripe two-piece skirt-and-vest combo beckoned recollection of my middle school attire: a patterned - yet not graphic - tee, a fitted black vest (which remains in my possession, mind you), and simple bottoms of either skinny or boot cut jeans. History repeats itself, as does fashion, albeit with slight adjustments to indicate the decade change.

Most notable during this mall trek was my stopover at the Adidas Toronto Lab. Beyond being embellished with LED screens, exclusive capsule collections, and colourful Toronto-exclusive artwork, the sports apparel store would also offer embroidery and graphic printing services on adidas-branded items.

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

8/25/2023

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

My work-from-home days are spent in a typically, enjoyable manner. Why wouldn't they be? There is a tremendous amount of pleasure that arises from having handcrafted beverages and a slew of QC-ed baked goods readily available when the craving arises.

The remaining portion of my Ube Yema Jam was utilized in a Matcha-Ube Latte, in which Momo Tea's Matsu exuded an impeccably luscious, grassy hue. It was consumed alongside one of many Mugwort Injeolmi Crumble Cookies.

Cooler climate conditions is a welcome change I've come to experience over the past week. External conditions are breezier than within the gym.

While routing back home, I encountered a terrifying case of stunt driving along a major corridor through a residential area. A report was filed upon returning home that evening without delay.

Seeing as I still hadn't sampled Gong Cha's QQ Grape Passionfruit Iced Tea, I took matters into my own hands and constructed a blend presumably similar to the chain's recipe. Brewed genmaicha, Ribena, lemon juice, yuzu passionfruit jam, sliced green grapes, and plenty of ice landed a refreshing, tangy concoction in my hands.

Meals of the week comprised of: Steamed Pork and Pickled Radish, Baked Garlic Cabbage, Steamed Pork and Tofu, and Choy Sum over rice. Also undertaken for the first time in countless years was tamagoyaki. Its execution wasn't flawless, for it contained too heavy a sprinkling of salt; Kewpie mayo and HP sauce would assist in restoring delectability, however.

Creations of the week included:

1) Oat Fudge Bar (Ver. 5)

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

Out & About #927 | Japan Festival 2023

8/19/2023

Japan Festival is a summer highlight event for the city, as well as myself personally. Besides the two years where majority of community gatherings has ceased in response to the pandemic, I proudly declare attendance in every annual occurrence.

It's been particularly pleasant to observe the advancement in scale over the years. From just one row of food vendors and a painfully scorching wait, the celebration of Japanese culture has expanded to include thrice as many retailers and two days of stage performances.

Overall organization of the event has also undoubtedly improved. Signs indicating order and pickup zones were introduced even in the early years of the event, while end-of-queue line markers - usually young volunteers - assisted in relieving confusion. However, queue lengths were noticed to diminish rather quickly (compared to past years), drawing attention to the efficient operations of the vendor team.

The sleepy polar bear was grateful for cooler climate, as was I, for the previous year's sweltering conditions had us both irritable. Of course, being on the receiving end of hangriness and observing failure in locating parking quickly had amounted to yet another degree of annoyance. I offered to drive this time around, partially as I was running behind on errands and primarily to save my sanity.
Instead of having to grit and bear through the sluggishness of weekend drivers from the passenger seat, I merely honked when the situation deemed necessary. After all, through lanes and access corridors are meant for continued movement, not stalling while "in search of parking".

We arrived on Celebration Square grounds around 1 PM.

Nippon Express was found near the Duke of York Blvd entrance yet again. Instead of a spin-the-wheel contraption, brewed cups of green tea were being offered in exchange for social media engagement. I passed the fluid and complimentary Hi-Chew candies to the sleepy polar bear, yet voiced intent on retaining the reusable cup for in-office usage.

Alas, the cup was dragged along for most of the visit, until the sleepy polar bear sheepishly admitted that there was no fondness for the drink. "Then dump it out!" I responded, impatiently. Why wouldn't you dump it, put the cup away, and free your hands to help me with my things?! I thought to myself in a cloud of fury.

Many familiar vendors made an appearance, and even assumed a similar booth location to the previous year. Instax offered polaroid keepsakes, though phased out the tablet-based digital decoration option. Dixie Outlet Mall, Subaru, Canon, and Denso offered spin-the-wheel freebies, but switched up the prizes and redemption format slightly.

Answering to the sleepy polar bear's consistently poor, hanger-induced attitude, we began to browse for sustenance. Positioned parallel to Duke of York Blvd were longtime occupants of Kinka/Guu, Kinton Ramen, Ryu's Noodle Bar, and EDO Japan. Located towards the Living Arts Drive segment of the square were newer vendors, mostly Chinese-operated offering trendy, fusion spinoffs of Japanese classics.

Mochi French Toast caught my eye immediately. The item had made recurring appearances at the Richmond Night Market, yet hadn't exactly made its way over to the Central-East region of the nation. Leading the way, I pointed towards the menu and proposed one Sweet and one Savoury option. The minimum order was two blocks of French Toast; mix-and-match capabilities would be permitted only with orders of four pieces of more and were restricted to either Sweet or Savoury profiles.
Instead of blatant rejection, the sleepy polar bear remained silent. "Let's just get one order of Okonomiyaki?" I suggested, capitalizing on my sponsor's fondness for the grilled pancake.
"Alright." came the confirmation, as anticipated.

Following payment, we were directed to one of two lines: "Sweet" was marked with blue chalk, while "Savoury" in red. An order slip was presented to us. While I had presumed this to be our receipt for pickup, the staff member handling the transactions had failed to inform us that the slip was to be provided to a member of staff for order fulfillment.
Eventually, we caught on and informed the girl behind the "Savoury" counter of our order. Thankfully, we were the only patrons in line.

View the full album HERE !

Out & About #926 | Ginger Molasses Loaf, Mugwort Injeolmi Crumble Cookies + Mambo Italian

8/18/2023

My weekly routine changes minimally from week to week, though each period seems to bring about new revelations and discoveries.

Visits to the gym informed that my stair-climbing endurance still perseveres, despite lack of regular training, along with a bug bite of unknown origin. (I didn't even go hiking!)

Tuesday afternoon marked my first Mat Pilates class at the Hurontario-Eglinton location. The instructor had noted thirteen years of yoga experience and five years of pilates, then engaged in further discussion with the class regarding the original "Eastern" teachings of yoga for spiritual benefits versus the modern "Western" approach of fusion fitness (HIIT, rhythmic, etc.). Those dedicated to yoga practice urged to keep things "Eastern". At that moment, I recalled why I steered clear of yoga: physical benefits and form and alignment corrections did not reside at the core.

In contrast to the fast-paced, perspiration-inducing sequences at the Vega location, the Hu-Eg instructor commenced with gentle pelvic tilts then transitioned into a HIIT format instead: three rounds of full-body exercises with a one-minute rest period between each round. Some of the exercises were combination moves, involving rotation of the upper body while lunging back. For the most part, the moves were derived from fundamentals of pilates, but modified for a smaller range of motion and lower difficulty level. Naturally, I took to a larger range of motion in the latter rounds, along with inclusion of the pilates ring where possible.

I was commended for my form at the end of the class, and encouraged to join again.
For the next seventy minutes, I would remain in the vacant, well-ventilated studio for streaming of my own Well+Good conditioning routine. Again unlike Vega, the Wi-Fi connection was astounding; I could actually load videos!

Becoming acquainted with wine profiles has been a new venture as of late. I'm less intrigued by red and more eager to explore the world of white - and maybe rosé later on.

Emerging as my priciest alcohol purchase to date - beyond Grey Goose for vanilla extract, a project which failed miserably - was Cave Spring's 2019 Riesling Ice Wine.

Luscious and luxurious the formula was sweet, yet far from cloying, and smooth with a delicate tanginess at the end. It was a costly investment, however a wholly justified one. The 375 ml bottle ought be savoured steadily, rather than downed for instant gratification, as beer is often consumed.

Out & About #925 | Isaan Der, Robotcalypse Omescape + Hanbam Izakaya

8/12/2023

All good trips to Markham involve a visit to LCBO. After all, it is where the "East Asian exclusives" reside.

In the days leading up to the trip, I, admittedly, had too much beer to drink. Moreover, I hadn't depleted the stash from the previous visit. A beeline was made for the compact wine section instead, first examining the VQA shelves then navigating over towards the Vintages department at the back.

Sparkling sake was foregoed in favour of Cave Spring's Riesling Icewine and Quails' Gate Chardonnay Okanagan Valley. A bottle of Hakutsuru Junmai Ginjo was also obtained out of curiosity after having seen the bottle at many izakayas. The sleepy polar bear also took to two drinks: the ever-basic, ever-sugary Somersby ciders.

My next stop was OOMOMO. Hand masks were direly needed; unfortunately, the Mediheal ones were no longer being retailed. I took to several packs of $2.75 false lashes, a claw clip, and replacement travel bottles.

By this point, we were already late for our lunch appointment with friends. When the sleepy polar bear had failed to verify the "Avoid tolls" option on Google Maps, we had spent an additional twenty minutes looping back onto the 401 after taking the 410. The second hindrance came when I was faced with a frustrating "I forgot where I parked the car". Any other entity in my social circle would have voiced the declaration as a joke. For the sleepy polar bear though, navigation issues and common sense items are very much real, rooted issues.

Eventually, the vehicle was located. Google Maps guided us towards Isaan Der by the unconventional route of Aristotle Avenue. The relatively new, 300-metre long road wove underneath the Hwy 404 northbound on ramp, connecting to Norman Bethune Avenue/East Pearce Street. At the southeast corner of Leslie and East Pearce was a familiar stretch of restaurants. Amongst them was Isaan Der, my proposal of the afternoon.

It was by chance that my first day on Yonge-Eglinton grounds had coincided with the eatery's final week of operations. Since their relocation to Richmond Hill, I had encountered many reviews from friends hailing from the area. Now, it was finally my turn.

The interior was amazing, featuring a seating area nearly three times the size of their former midtown location. A colourful ring of lights hung from the centre of the ceiling. Curtained booths and colourful lights gave off a modern, eccentric vibe.

Our party of four was seated in a patent leather booth by the window. A single menu was provided in the form of a tablet, though a QR code could be scanned for independent review of the restaurant's offerings. Since my previous visits, the assortment had seen incredible expansion, yet also noticeably steeper prices.

The duo across took to a Pad Kee Mao with Shrimp and Fresh Noodles Pad Thai with Chicken. These plates were enormous, comprising of as much noodle as a typical Chinese restaurant entrée would. Despite depicting the greasy visuals of 乾炒牛河, the Pad Kee Mao was, surprisingly, not that greasy and extremely flavourful with distinct notes of soy. Arguably containing a greater amount of oil was the Pad Thai, whose noodles were slick but cooked to a nice, chewy texture and topped with toasted peanuts.

Out & About #924 | Two-Bite Brownie Trials, Molasses Loaf + Matcha Pistachio White Chocolate Chip Cookies

8/11/2023

Mondays at home are great - stellar, even.
My approach towards work-from-home has undeniably altered since departing the tremendously toxic sector of consulting. While I still strive to unlock new levels of productivity and potential, it is easier to delineate between corporate duties and after-hours responsibilities. The coveted "work-life balance" is much easier to attain when one is able to log off on time.

During work hours, I luxuriate in the presence of Larry, good music, and a plethora of snacks at my fingertips. And when the time comes to commence pilates, I simply go - free of qualms that my expertise may be summoned between the hours of 7-10 PM.

At-home periods also allowed for creativity in the kitchen. As such, I delved into the world of two-bite brownies, eager to perfect the recipe.

Preppy Kitchen's Two-Bite Brownie recipe was an utter disaster. It depleted nearly a third of my cocoa powder inventory with a whopping 67 g inclusion. The formula was the first of any brownie batter undertaken by yours truly that did not involve melted chocolate couverture, instead deriving the entirety of its profile from mere cocoa powder.

Results were cakey as opposed to fudgy, with a lingering bitterness from the cocoa powder in the absence of acidic constituents such as brown sugar. Its saving grace was that it did not stick to the pan, however the single attribute was insufficient in warranting satisfaction. Back to Sunday Baking and smitten kitchen it was!

Constructed within the same day was SK's take on individually portioned brownies. The formula was similar to that of Sunday's, wherein chocolate was melted with butter then whisked with sugar. Thorough aeration of eggs made for beautiful crackles on the surface. Unfortunately, these moist, scrumptious morsels fell victim to the same fate as Sunday's for the bottoms crumbled in the pan.

The tops were salvaged and portioned out for distribution. Meanwhile, the bottoms were spooned out of all thirty cavities then formed into small spheres. These marble-sized specimens would be transferred to the fridge while a coating was prepared. Drawing inspiration from Sunday Baking's Condensed Milk Pound Cake recipe, I combined white chocolate couverture, genmaicha powder, and several drops of vegetable oil to form a bittersweet glaze. Cake pop-like morsels yielded from two careful coats of the mixture. They were dense, but not at all unpalatable.

Any remaining portions of my trials would be brought to the office for rapid depletion.

Out & About #922 | Nathan Phillips Farmer's Market, Espresso Lemonade + Injeolmi Cake Attempt

8/5/2023

On a devoted hunt for tonic water, I wound up at Loblaws one Saturday afternoon. Renovations can slotted once-familiar aisles into odd sections of the supermarket. Joe Fresh apparel had been moved to the centre of the store - for no good reason, should you ask me - while Starbucks was now positioned near the entrance (a good choice).

Of course, the produce and freezer sections remained as they were, along with the alcohol aisles and their corresponding sommelier station. Just before checking out, I found Ruby Cacao Häagen-Dazs on sale. A 2 for $10 deal prompted acquisition of the tried-and-true Vanilla Almond.

The Ruby was beautifully fruity, refreshing, and just a tad acidic, as ruby chocolate was intended. Vanilla Almond was a classic flavour, earning itself a loyal following and well-deserved nods of approval.

Given that weekly team meetings had been rescheduled to Thursday, my in-office presence was also adjusted accordingly. In the earlier half of the work week, Espresso Lemonade experiments were executed.

Both Perrier and Montellier Sparkling Water had reacted severely with freshly pulled shots of espresso, causing overflow of the entire mixture. But omitting the fizziness entirely led to a reduction in freshness factor. Tonic water came to my rescue, instilling a lightly sweetened, zesty aura without unwarranted reactivity.

Into mason jars filled halfway with ice, the following were added: 2 parts lemonade, 1 part espresso, and 1 part tonic water. Distinct layers remained, along with luscious crema on the surface. The combination would fare equally well with cold brew.

The summer season is prime time for ice cream; beyond Häagen-Dazs, the household also took advantage of Baskin Robbin's 31% off Pre-Pack promotion on the 31st day of the month. Chocolate Mousse Royale was obtained in the absence of plain Chocolate ice cream. It was silky smooth, as mousse often is, with a handful of chocolate chips woven within. That side, its profile wasn't nearly as complex as chocolate, nor as intense.

After a last-minute trip to the east end of the GTA, the sleepy polar bear brought back a number of treats for sharing. Alongside my requested Fruit Tea from Yi Fang were canned cakes from Hokkaido Bakery and assorted (overpriced) desserts from Adore Cake and Blackball's combined space.

Black Sesame, Strawberry, Houjicha, Mango, and Hazelnut Cookie Choux were laid out before me. Each rang in at six dollars apiece, as per Google Reviews. Mochi Bites were priced at a whopping ten dollars per bag, with flavours spanning Cocoa, Matcha, and Coconut. In reality, the sole difference was the topping, for the condiments of a tacky white dipping sauce and sweet-savoury corn flake topping were identical across the board.

WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

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

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

Contact ME

Subscribe

Join our mailing list today!

© Quirky Aesthetics. All rights reserved. Last modified: August 10, 2015.