Category: Shopping - Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger

Out & About #594 | Weekly Roundup Feat. Royal Orchard Thai

10/27/2019

I pry my eyes open to the chilly sombre mornings.
The world is dark, and the air laced with frost.
An extended arm reaches for the alarm, which vibrates and rings.
The blanket is removed, and all ease is lost.

Lurking around the corner is none other than your internal clock's worst nightmare: Daylight Savings.

The shift in seasons prompt changes in our daily habits:

New shoes to prevent ankle-rolling;
Grocery shopping for seasonal produce; and
Limited edition craft brews

We may also end up munching a bit more, then resort to hibernating within the comfort of our homes, baking up sweet treats to combat the frigidity of the external mercury levels.

A few tidbits of the week are as follows: a box of goodies from The Danish Pastry House (that went unsampled by yours truly), Banana Bread Beer (that went unpurchased), new Fresh Foam Craig Trails to combat grade differences in the concrete jungle, and a preview of Bluestone Lane's Yonge/Queen location.

More Matcha Cookies were attempted (and butchered with an accidental dumping of baking soda), and patriotic cans of Royal City were acquired in anticipation of the eminent Canadian moment.

A Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddle and Brewed Coffee pairing facilitated the morning routine. The McD's App enabled the meal for under five dollars - a wonderful combination of sweet maple griddle cakes and savoury, headache-banishing fillings, accented with a jolt of caffeine.

Positively necessary was the purchase of this duo, for what ensued was a visit to City Hall, an urban landmark towards which I embody feelings of resentment and grief.

A short breather allowed a visit the McDonald's flagship at Yonge and Elm, and prior to that a stopover at CoCo. Who would've thought that this mere trek would have resulted in a wad of saliva being hurdled in my direction, tainting not only my jacket but my beloved new tote as well. And yet, there are those that wonder why the intersection of Yonge and Dundas makes headlines for its detrimental acts to society.

Out & About #591 | Weekly Roundup: The Night Baker + More Peanuts

10/19/2019

"Are you doing anything for Halloween?" asked an innocent fifth-grader.
"Nope."
"Are you giving out candy?"
"Nope."
"Then what are you doing??" she pressed.
"I'm going to work."
"That's so sad." The concept of reality began to dawn on her. "You should be a kid again!"

Alas, time and space are not mediums that permit backtracking in the world of nonfiction.

The week commenced with many a snack, including LINE Friends-themed Pepero, Cadbury squares transported directly from the UK, and mini cupcakes bearing a 1:1 ratio of cake and frosting.

On a particularly damp day arose uncompromising cravings for cookies. And, against my discretion for the city's current transit system, I set out on a lunchtime commuting mission.
TTC was able to whisk me to College and Ossington in roughly forty minutes, but making it back within the one-hour time frame would have been impossible. So again, against my better judgement, I pulled aside to the nearest Starbucks and opened Google Play. It was time to try Uber.

In case you're wondering, I was still late. On the brighter side, I was dry and less tardy than if I had opted for retracing my path via the subway.

Out & About #588 | Weekly Roundup Feat. Thank U Coffee + Tokyo Kitchen

10/12/2019

As far as personalities go, orangecane and I couldn't be further apart, and this very observation was validated through our habitual tendencies. She makes no appearances in this entry, however I was constantly reminded of our conversation - with You Are playing as BGM - every time I cocked my head upwards to gaze upon the cloudless skies above me.

The first order of business for the week was consolidating my Rec Room credits. The Roundhouse Park location re-invited one of my old favourites, Kung Fu Panda, where I spent a solid twenty minutes trying to grab all the golden dumplings (to no avail, of course).
A shocked stool plush keychain was redeemed as consolation.

Nearby was Chipotle, where I had specified an order of Carne Asada Salad (with guac!!!) in advance. In sheer contrast to my first encounter with the system, my bowl had been assembled perfectly to my liking. The pickup process was smooth, the online order staff member was swift, and utensils/napkins had already been placed into the bag. Adding to my day was the adorable message adorning the aluminium cover.

Midway through the week was my two-time-postponed meetup with feedthebear. And naturally, we had slotted in a few new dining destinations surrounding our point of congregation.

With a bit of time on my hands, I opted to swing by Thank U Coffee first. The understated café had ranked high on my list of to-gos, and I must say that it did not disappoint.

The walls bore a variety of finishes: lacquered in a lush forest green, faux brick appliqués, and even a vivid mural owed to the artisty of a local creator. Light fixtures were sophisticated orbs resembling a tumble of roughly wound steel wire; they cast a cozy glow throughout the space, further accentuating the luminosity of the colours found within.

An extensive menu was found to the right of the entranceway, its prices unmistakably at the higher end of the spectrum. Piquing my interest was the Canadian Latte, which I was informed to be shaken by hand to yield a thin layer of surface foam. When I took to asking "What makes it Canadian?", it was noted that the name had been determined by a Canadian, and the inclusion of maple syrup had been tested in its initial stages but was ultimately deemed unsuitable for the final formula.

I later chose a regular-sized Thank U Coffee - essentially a latte with Earl Grey syrup (and no leaves in sight). The result was fragrant, delicious, and hit all the notes for a great iced latte. Needless to say, though, it was priced steeper than one would prefer.

I stayed a while, long enough to learn that the café owned by a young Korean husband-and-wife duo. They were entrepreneurs with a vision: the wife extremely friendly and made attempts to acquaint herself with every patron that waltzed through the door, including the Ritual frequenters.

Out & About #582 | Partial September Visuals

9/13/2019

Ottawa posts will be delayed for some unspecified duration of time - though, that shouldn't come as a surprise anyway.
Work has resumed, thus opportunities to recount the trip's happenings shall be on the back burner in the interim. For now, let's review some recent happenings of the month.

1) Ice Q (Round 6)

I love Thai Tea, and there's just an undeniable speck of individuality in Ice Q's rendition that keeps me coming back for more, in spite of a fragrant blend I've (derived from the source and) stashed at home.

Two weeks ago marked their Grand Opening weekend, which I had originally planned to take part in with a fellow eating enthusiast. Unfortunately, those plans fell through due to extenuating circumstances; an early evening trip to Japan Fest took place in its stead.

Regardless, I managed to take advantage of the 20% off promotion on the second last day with a custom order of Black Sesame ice cream-topped Thai Tea - an unimaginably fantastic pairing. They have also affixed Korean-inspired "melts" to the menu, expanding their range of offerings to include savoury sources of sustenance.

2) Training sessions aren't so bad with treats and coffee

Out & About #579 | Collective August Visuals Feat. Japan Festival + The Night Baker

8/29/2019

Summer is drawing to a close, and, with its departure, should humidity excuse itself accordingly. The past two weeks have proved cooler than the predicted seasonals - not that I'm grumbling about that, of course.

Nevertheless, chilly mornings are the stealthy culprit of summer colds, as made evident by those around me falling victim to summer colds, one by one like dominoes on a playing board. A compact cardigan goes a long way, my friends.

Moving on to our regular run of feasting snapshots:

1) The Night Baker's insufficient grassy Mistachio prompted the seventh iteration of an old recipe on a relatively quiet Sunday afternoon.

Roasted peanuts remained an essential element in the dough, but white chocolate chips had been swapped for semi-sweet ones due to availability. This modification yielded a sweeter core, while the accidental increase in beaten egg resulted in overall softness.

2) Ice Q (Round 5)

Affogato is one the newest items to ease their way onto the menu, following closely after the café's introduction of crepe-and-coffee pairings. Having ordered an Americano to go in my past, as well as a Thai Iced Tea with a (pricey) shot of espresso, I didn't think twice about the quality of their espresso. It was surely better than whatever disappointing ration Archtop had offered.

The order included two scoops of vanilla ice cream - plain, in the absence of vanilla bean; a delicate drizzle of chocolate drizzle glazed the surface of the top orb, with dark chocolate curls dispersed for an added dose of texture.

Presented separately was a small pitcher of "Italian espresso", an aromatic presence of fine surface bubbles and minimal crema. Acidity was mild, though it mattered moderately, given the pre-existing profile of the ice cream and sugary profile of chocolatey condiments.

The combination was a match made in heaven: the fruit of bitter grounds gradually penetrating icy, sugary mounds, then finished with the tinge of semi-sweet crunch. I finished the creation with glee, foregoing any and all woes about becoming ridiculously roused for the remainder of the day. My surroundings appeared heavily saturated - and sharp, almost to a digitally enhanced degree - in the subsequent hours, which was a first for me. Thankfully, these stimulated perceptions of the world diminished during the later hours, enabling a restful evening of uninterrupted sleep.
All factors taken into consideration, this would be an option I wouldn't hesitate to order again, especially alongside a nectarous bowl of ice shards.

Out & About #573 | Pray Tell, The Night Baker + Pilot Ossington

8/3/2019

Repeat after me: Do NOT contemplate venturing downtown on Caribana weekend.

The GO train WILL be loud and rambunctious.
The passenger car WILL reek of the newly-decriminalized plant, to an extensive degree.
The streetcars WILL be delayed from Exhibition Station.
The countless road closures WILL result in needless traffic chaos and an excruciating return commute.

Now, with that said and done, let's proceed with our regular gustatory programming

Pray Tell has assumed a spot on my downtown radar since December of last year, around the same time I discovered the fabulous Café Cancan. Alas, their unavailability of weekday brunch and late opening hours automatically ruled out the Dufferin Grove establishment for an early afternoon get-together.
The opportunity for analysis finally rolled around with much warmer weather and an ambitious brunch buddy; it worked out well, since their "secret" backyard patio was now in operation as well.

A day prior, we - or rather, I - secured a reservation via Bookenda, the eatery's alternative to OpenTable. My arrival was delayed, naturally, due to extenuating circumstances, but the restaurant was more than happy to accommodate our last-minute decision to switch to the patio from our window seat in the street-facing dining room. Three amiable members of staff serviced the interior and exterior dining areas, with occasional support from the bartender and kitchen staff.

Our migration to the great outdoors was greeted with a jug of ice water, along with new sets of napkin-wrapped utensils. Menus were also shifted for our perusing needs. Revealed within a hardcover bi-fold booklet were entrées, cocktails, and coffee/tea choices; an extension of the alcohol section was found in a smaller paper menu.

After some contemplation, we settled on the Very Nice Mimosa and Justice Beaver to start. A shareable sweet-and-savoury combo of Mr. & Mrs. Benny Hopes and Bad & Boujee French Toast ensued. Bottomless Mimosas at $33 per person were also available for a duration of two hours. Considering that each individual order was priced at nine dollars, it would have easily evened out should we been able to exhaust two glasses each over the course of consumption. Doing the math, we arrived at the conclusion that our tummies were unlikely to feature such a capacity.

View the full album HERE !

Out & About #572 | Weekly Roundup: Sang-Ji Fried Bao + Coffee Runs

8/2/2019

Due to the frequency of Weekly Roundup posts, the monthly issue of Collective Visuals shall be suspended for this period, naturally. Please find the a short collection of late July/early August snaps below, which are not to be bereft of the series' regular food-centric feelings.

1) The discovery of coffee pod machines, in conjunction with the purchase of an ice cube tray, has enabled the creation of Iced Lattes right in the office.

2) JAWS-inspired OLG Pachinko?
3) I spotted the Honda Indy GO Bus!

4) Two Nine Tea (formerly Palgong)

Palgong has officially evolved into Two Nine Tea - a name potentially owed to its popular $2.99 milk tea. The interior and menu remains consistent with my last visit.

My only lamentation is in regards to the bathroom facility: a tiny space featuring both a toilet and urinal alongside cleaning supplies. A pitcher of water was provided to compensate the malfunctioning faucet. I'll take this as a better quick fix to a lack of running water than completely nixing the resource altogether.

We also stopped by Vava and its ever-adored wall of (knockoff) plushies.

5) Sang Ji Fried Bao

As esteemed in the North York food scene as Juicy Dumplings (520) in Chinatown, this hole-in-the-wall space had held a spot on my radar for over half a year. My first attempt was executed in vain, for it occurred on the single day of their closures: a fatefully snowy Monday.

However, it was a Tuesday this time; I was determined to succeed.

The establishment was far from spacious, as are many along the strip. Similar to Naniwa Taro a few doors down, the interior consisted of nothing more than a menu board, a combined kitchen and cashier area, and a handful of seats. The differences lay in the cuisine style, presence of outlets in the seating area, and payment policy; Sang-Ji accepted none other than physical monies.

The Sang-Ji Bao(s) were reminiscent of soup dumplings (the beloved "XLB"/xiaolongbao) but sturdier in appearance - think a gym rat versus a marathon runner. The thin wrapper utilized in the original Shanghainese version was swapped for a denser variation - one commonly seen in Northern Chinese cuisine such as Beef or Chive Pancakes. Denser and tougher, it enabled the undersides of the buns to crisp nicely upon contact with a well-greased wok.
Found inside the buns was a super succulent - and, dare I say, bewitching - pork filling. Needless to say, unexpected bursts of scalding broth was an aspect not to exempt from the experience. Potentially inflicting harsher burns to the tongue than its Shanghainese counterpart, Sang-Ji's namesake dish proved its popularity with unrivalled freshness and intense insulation.

A sprinkle of toasted white sesame seeds, shriveled bits of green onion, and (entirely optional) splash of Chinese dark vinegar ensured complexity in aromatic profile.

Service was essentially nonexistent, besides the curt "Ok bye" we received in response our dish return gesture. Most patrons had opted for multiple takeout orders instead of dining in. During our short stay, the outflow of Styrofoam boxes never seemed to halt at all.

At $6.99 for a set of four, the eatery's signature wasn't bad at all. In large quantities, I can imagine the costs to accumulate rapidly, however it satisfied our desire for a small, pre-dinner snack.

Out & About #568 | Weekly Roundup: Butter Baker + Ice Q

7/20/2019

Only fools catch colds in the summer.
Or that's how the saying goes anyway.

So I've branded myself a fool, catching a bug and letting it wreck havoc on my entire being. A rapid recovery was made from a 101 fever - the actual kind, not the one catching fire in Korea - but a new hump arose after my round of unhealthy eats at Night It Up. I lost my voice instantly, and essentially transformed into a toad living in fear of inflammatory foods.

1) Butter Baker goodies from my favourite fangirl

Matcha White Chocolate tasted better this time around: crisp and more bitter, but still very heavy in the floral department. Winning my heart in a heartbeat was the Triple Chocolate, whose fragrant aroma I warmed up to even while launching the most disastrous coughing fit of the season. It was an item that was easily polished off. Birthday Cake was the sweetest of the pack, and, admittedly, my least favourite. Its spreadability and high sugar content did not pair particularly well, in my opinion. Then again, I'm not one to prefer overly sweet treats.

2) Hestia
In The PATH underneath the TD Centre was a cafe find I hadn't expected at all. On the hunt for a turmeric latte, the name popped up in my results alongside nutbar at Assembly Chef's Hall. Nutbar's rendition was hefty at $6.25 before tax, and nut milks aren't generally my go-to either.

It took a few loops for me to finally find Hestia, and I'm glad I persevered. The caffeine-less Turmeric Ginger Latte soothed the throat while reviving the senses. Its potency was evident in the slight tingling sensation experienced during consumption. Oat Milk, which I had requested in fear that dairy might worsen my condition, was an alternative that incurred an additional charge of sixty cents. That said, it was a sweet decision that I felt no remorse towards making.

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.

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

7/1/2019

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.

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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