For the second year in a row, I opted for a cake-less celebration of Mother's Day. This was a reasonable approach, for I was simply too busy and too exhausted. Restless evenings and endless tasks on my to-do list had purged all thoughts of creative liberation in the kitchen; whatever residual periods would be reserved for durations of rest - short-lived intervals, yet rest nonetheless.
Looking back on the cakes of previous years, I regret none of the extravagance that the Mocha Layered Cake, Salted Caramel Roll Cake, and Dalgona Coffee Roll Cake had summoned to my household during peak pandemic years. As the world returns to its pre-pandemic hecticness, my daily routine has been adjusted to accommodate additional duties accordingly.
The sole project I could muster enough energy to realize were Chocolate Chip Cookies. That said, one should never expect a basic batch from me.
Resorting to Sunday Baking's Levain Cookie recipe once more, I took to crafting the treats manually, using the good ol' one-bowl, hand-whisked method, for the stand mixer would result in greater setbacks than gains for small quantities.
Resorting to Sunday Baking's Levain Cookie recipe once more, I took to crafting the treats manually, using the good ol' one-bowl, hand-whisked method, for the stand mixer would result in greater setbacks than gains for small quantities.
My remaining macadamia nut supply from Tavazo was inadequate in meeting the recipe requirement of 120 g. I had initially reached for the adjacent container of pistachios and began the deshelling procedure, then quickly realized that its toasting temperature and resulting texture wouldn't align with the soft crunch of macadamia nuts. Consequently, pecans were used to make up the remainder of the 120 g. The nuts were arranged in one layer and placed in the toaster oven to bake for about 7 minutes at 300 F.
Yearning for chocolate chip cookies, I selfishly swapped out a portion of the white chocolate for semisweet callets. Sunday had included equal quantities of chocolate and nuts by mass, roughly translating to a 126 g mix of Surfin (72 g) and Blancor (54 g) in my version.
Yearning for chocolate chip cookies, I selfishly swapped out a portion of the white chocolate for semisweet callets. Sunday had included equal quantities of chocolate and nuts by mass, roughly translating to a 126 g mix of Surfin (72 g) and Blancor (54 g) in my version.
To reduce total active time, the two trays of cookies were baked using Claire's method: baking on the upper third and lower third racks, then swapping midway. Unfortunately, the specimens did not bake evenly. The batch that commenced in the lower third of the oven were observed to spread more, leading to a flatter cookie with wispy edges along the circumference, but maintained a generally lighter appearance. Meanwhile, the batch that commenced in the upper third solidified rapidly, resulting in a uniform round shape, compactness (read: minimal spread), and a darker hue. I blame the inconsistencies on my finnicky oven, though both variations were still delicious. The paler specimens were visually inviting, showcasing specks of chocolate, whereas the darker mounds were decidedly crunchy and, in my opinion, nothing short of addictive.
By the time lunchtime rolled around, cookie operations had concluded and we were ready to depart for Gyu-Kaku. Since our first visit in 2021, the establishment gradually worked its way onto our approved list of dining destinations. From post-Barbie late lunch, post-apple picking appetizer-munching without A/C, and post-Costco weeknight bites, the Japanese BBQ establishment has consistently impressed with its vast assortment of offerings, attentive and accommodating service, and ability to keep cooking odours at bay.
This visit was no exception. Though the seats and tables pose questionable cleanliness levels, often with food remnants lodged at table corners and condiment bottles bearing greasy exteriors, the grill items are usually enjoyable. We took to the Chef's Choice Course once more, for it was priced quite reasonably at $100, or $50 per person.
Starters included a Gyu-Kaku Salad, Miso Soup, Napa Kimchi, four pieces of Gyu-Sushi, and our go-to order of Beef Sukiyaki Bibimbap. These offerings were in sharp contrast to the rose-shaped Mother's Day exclusives, which had only Deep Fried Gyoza and Edamame in the lineup.
Similarly, options of Kalbi Short Rib and Pork Belly were much preferred over Pork Sausages and Umakara Yaki Beef, the evidently more economic alternatives.
Similarly, options of Kalbi Short Rib and Pork Belly were much preferred over Pork Sausages and Umakara Yaki Beef, the evidently more economic alternatives.
View the full album HERE !
| Gyu-Kaku Menu - May 7, 2024 Menu + May 16, 2024 Revision |
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In the absence of Hitachino Nest White Ale, Asahi on tap was also requested. Our mid-day endeavour enabled Happy Hour pricing of $7.50 for a 16 oz. pint, instead of the regular dinnertime $10.
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Fewer slices were noticed on each platter, indicating smaller portion sizes than before. We relished in the wonderful char and suppleness of the cuts, though admitted that we weren't as full as previous visits. The meat had been marinated to an exceptionally potent degree, which made for an excellent in-restaurant experience. The aftereffects of monosodium glutamate were felt later on in the form of extreme parchedness, but, overall, the meats were more tender, albeit lesser quantities than past recollections.
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I headed down towards the parking garage before continuing on our day. Gyu-Kaku's four-hour complimentary parking facilitated the perusal of nearby businesses. In the meantime, leftovers would reside in a cooler bag until ready to depart.
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Previously conducted research had informed me of Kariya Park's spring bloom status. Based on videos dated one week earlier, the park was comprehensively flush with fuchsia buds. Our arrival confirmed that this was still the case.
The street-facing entrance was now home to a variety of flowering trees, not just magnolia as it had in previous years. While I couldn't be further from a fleur spécialiste, the sight of delicate rosy petals unmistakably livens the scenery - and also ascertains the long-awaited arrival of spring!
View the full album HERE !
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We relished in the wondrous layers of pink petals, as did other visitors. A handful appeared to be locals such as ourselves, though a large majority seemed to originate from north and east of the city (namely Brampton). It would be an understatement to declare the same group to be visible minorities, for English was not the default spoken language.
Ethnic background was not the aspect that caught our attention, however. In spite of the profound education surrounding environmental initiatives, it remains an utter shock that many have not learned to respect nature - to "leave nature as you found it". Several children were spotted shaking tree branches or yanking flowers from their stems, yet not a single adult in the same party scolded them for their actions. They merely observed without remorse - or worse, joined them in the shaking, leaving us absolutely aghast.
The saving grace was the minimal degree of respect we received while capturing images in a photogenic location: Fellow visitors waited for their turn instead of forcefully entering the frame and driving us out.
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Beyond the park gates, we found more flowering trees, including a stunning Japanese maple that towered over the trail.
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The inside had bloomed thoroughly, turning every bend and segment of the path into stunning backdrops.
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Once the desire to experience spring during its short stay had been quenched, we returned back to the car and meandered along City Centre Drive towards the mall.
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Located within the centre court was an escape room-inspired pop-up intending to educate the general public about tax return scams. The installation spanned three rooms, each of which posed tasks and questions to test participant knowledge regarding details that the CRA would and would not inquire. A member of staff would be present to assist and explain the exhibit rules, for time in each room was limited: 2 minutes in the first, 3 minutes in the second, and 4 minutes in the last. Though, it was evident that the parties before us had responded less than swiftly, given that our total wait time to enter the installation averaged thirty minutes.
At the end of the venture, we were provided our score: a shockingly low grade of 74%, indicating that further familiarization would be necessary to prevent "being scammed" in legitimate interactions with the CRA.
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We slipped the two complimentary bamboo casing-sheathed pens away and continued browsing the boutiques in the vicinity.
New openings and findings included:
- Abercrombie & Fitch taking over Muji's former space
- Swarovski's shift towards the luxury wing
- Läderach taking over Swarovski's former space
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- Claw machines at Sukoshi Mart
- Rocky Mountain Chocolate taking over Laura Secord's former space
- Marry Me Mochi taking over The Face Shop's former space, bringing along a very gaudy and impractical interior layout that caused lineups to intrude into the mall corridors
- Saint Germain's $1 deals, starting from Monday
- MyMy Chicken's debut of Apple Donuts, sold in either packs of 3 or 10
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