Out & About #1038 | PATH Updates + Halo Halo at Eats Manila (The Grange)

​Extremely hectic weekends have caused work-from-homes to transition towards catch-up periods for sleep, chores, and the occasional home improvement task. It is with undying regret that I declare this extent to chaos to persist for at least another few weeks due to prior schedule commitments.

Office days provide a breather that melds social interaction with focused work. My baking coworker instantly brightened the otherwise overcast day with coarse sugar-speckled blueberry muffins.

​Due to damp external conditions, lunchtime was spent navigating the PATH and associated connections, exiting onto ground level only when necessary. I had come downtown equipped with waterproof footwear, though wasn't about to risk frizzy hair due to utterly unwarranted levels of above-seasonal humidity.

Observations included:

• The arrival of cozy fall/winter accessories at Hudson Bay
• Early morning coffee promos at Nadège
• An upcoming Flower Market within the TD Centre
• Storage bins on clearance in the Zellers portion of Hudson Bay
• Adorable Trick-or-Treat baskets at Shoppers
• Purdy's Less Sugar Dark Chocolate collection, which signified the dietary shift towards lower sugar intake in customarily sweet treats

At Union Station, I obtained a sample of Emergen-C from the Bay Concourse. Prior to being handed the card, however, the staff member inquired of my age. I was taken back, awkwardly asking him to "Guess" instead of relaying the answer immediately.
"Nineteen." he responded.
I shook my head, replied with my true age, then inquired whether the sample contained alcohol.
He clarified that the instant packet contained a high dosage, thus could not be administered to anyone under the age of 19, and apologized for his misinterpretation.

While this hasn't been the first occurrence of being IDed, it was admittedly surprisingly for an encounter that did not entail alcohol.

Roaming Union Market, I'd also find Freshly Squeezed's recent opening next to Kibo Market and AZUL replacing Grand Tacos Taqueria.

​I routed back north towards Eaton Centre, spotting signage for Miniso's upcoming takeover of a larger retail space and % Arabica's takeover of the former Starbucks kiosk on the concourse level.

At the north end of the shopping centre, I'd find Winners. In comparison to the Yonge/Eglinton and Yonge/College locations, this new outpost stocked a larger assortment of beauty products (haircare and fragrance), clothing, fitness equipment, and carry-on luggage compared to homeware goods and decorative installations.

​The colourful array of yoga mats was impressive. Gaiam-branded weighted bangles had also caught my attention, though I resolved to seek out reviews prior to investing in the $20 1 lb set.

​I avoid back-to-back days of commuting wherever possible. Unexpectedly breezy was the second in-office day, though surging mercury levels were foreshadowed even from the early hours of the day.

​Blue skies and a decent amount of cloud cover eased me confirmed acceptable conditions for a lunch time bike ride.

​And when the clock struck 1 PM, I did exactly that.

Quickly scouring the web for Halo Halo recommendations in the downtown core, I found a number of positive reviews for Tagpuan. Their College Street location on the edge of Kensington seemed doable, thus I ventured out to strange, unexpectedly rundown neighbourhood.

The ride up was not exactly smooth. Besides the potholes along the curb on University, I encountered an incredulous number of delivery drivers on e-bikes and post-secondary students attempting to whiz past me in the narrow bike lane. With rider volume having increased dramatically since the start of the academic year, I was remarkably overwhelmed by this new sense of urgency and aggression. Heck - I even got called out for stopping at the crosswalk of College and McCaul, simply for adhering to the signals!

East of the College/Spadina intersection and away from U of T grounds, I found raised wider, smoother raised cycle tracks and a decrease of cyclists. That said, the area immediately took a sketchy turn: A handful of tents were spotted on the south side of College. Meanwhile, a man was yelling, going through the nearby garbage receptable, and stepping into the bikeway without warning. I swerved around him and docked the bike around the corner at College/Borden.

​The man continued with his outcries, glaring at all those in wait of the next streetcar. I wouldn't have bothered by this scene had I merely ridden past, but he hovered about the entrance of my chosen lunchtime destination. Eventually, he stormed off, allowing me to reach for the doors of Tagpuan without fear.

​Pulling open the door, I enter to find sauna-like levels of humidity. It was beyond me how a store serving moisture-sensitive products could be so hot, and even more profound how diners could simply sit amidst the heat and continually engage in conversation! A number of patrons had queued to place takeout orders, the one before dabbing at the perspiration droplets forming on his forehead.

Naturally, I sought relief from my neck fan. Just one member of staff had been positioned at the counter. I watched as he sluggishly fulfilled takeout orders, then ventured to the back of the establishment in the meantime. Imported merchandise could be found in the landing area connecting the cashier/seating area to the kitchen. Arranged along the counter near the checkout were boxes of traditional Filipino desserts, kakanin. Flan, sapin sapin, pichi pichi, and pandesal were the familiar names amongst them.

The lethargic, nose ring-adorning male on duty continued to serve the takeout and dine-in customers, open the patio doors to promote air flow (thank goodness!), then tend to the requests Filipino aunties before finally turning to me - and only since the ladies gestured to me first! It felt as if a century had passed since I stepped into the calamitous heat.
I inquired about Halo Halo, which was priced at a hefty $13 (!!) for a microscopic 12 oz. cup. Its supposed preparation time of "5 minutes" also seemed questionable.
All factors considered, I spun on my heel and left. Not a single aspect of the visit had justified the mind-boggling price tag uttered.

​Retracing my path along College, I had originally considered heading back directly for the sake of time. At College/Spadina, I surprised myself by swerving between two cars eagerly attempting a right turn. The maneuver hadn't been ideal, though I reckoned I'd collide with either of the vehicles, or the cyclist behind me, should I decelerate.

Halfway back, I recall the existence of Eats Manila at Village by the Grange. Turning south onto McCaul, the detour goes smoothly until I am stopped by traffic along Dundas. The remainder of the distance to the next Bike Share station is covered by foot.

Briskly strolling to the stall where my browsing partner had eaten, I scour the menu for Halo Halo, but find none. The middle-aged man behind the counter had been serving two customers before me, but he quickly acknowledges my presence and confirms availability of the coveted dessert. The wait is minimal, and the price reasonable. A standard-sized portion of about 16 oz. and a lofty double scoop of ice cream sets me back $7 plus tax. Unbelievable was it to think that the first destination had been nearly twice as pricey, slower than one could ever imagine ("Time is just a concept."), geographically and demographically unattractive, and devoid of proper customer service.

​My order at Eats Manila was fulfilled in a mere matter of minutes, with friendliness and promptness to boot! Although seemingly bland-looking at first glance, the cup's contents curbed the desire for Halo Halo with confidence. For starters, the ice had been finely shaved and immersed with just enough milk to combat the scorching conditions of the outside world. Using a shaved ice machine had enabled uniform flakes, eliminating the despicable, wonky chunks too often found across the Halo Halo spectrum. Young coconut strands, a good amount of jellies in various sizes (and not just beans), evaporated milk, and an ube-vanilla swirl would seal the deal. While I would have preferred a plain ube ice cream for depth of flavour (and maybe a side of flan and crispy rice to top), I was more than content with the creation and its given price point.

Later that evening, I'd make my way to Lorne Park Library to secure a Lucky Day CVC Pass. The checkout process was slow, but relatively free of obstacles. On the other hand, it shed awareness on the poorly designed network surrounding the Clarkson community. 

Once back, I'd spend another thirty minutes troubleshooting the recently installed Ring camera, only find to water infiltration in the port. Adulting truly never ends.

Meals of the week included: Steamed Pork and Braised Eggplant + Minced Pork with Choy Sum over Rice, Congee Queen takeout, PB & Raspberry Jelly Toast for breakfast, and DIY Pineapple Fondue for dessert. 
​
After sampling a number of Chinese eateries, I must declare loyalty towards Congee Queen. The Beef Brisket Noodles were amazing: a plentiful portion with flavourful, tender pieces of flesh, supple egg noodles, and a soothing, gratifying broth - not the msg-laden nonsense of Wonton Express.
Century Egg and Shredded Pork Congee was another spectacular choice, a satisfying, hearty bowl answering even to the days when appetite is suppressed. The concoction was brimming with proper pieces of century egg and an abundance of pork - none of the watery messes and scanty toppings of the establishment's so-called competitors.

Congee Queen always delivers.

Continuing on my Chinese cuisine kick, I turned to my tub of Hong Kong Tea Leaves from Van Cheong Tea in Lansdowne.

​The retailer had been remarkably generous, for the container had been filled to the brim. That said, a chaotic mess erupted in the absence of a seal; after all, I hadn't been anticipating this degree of hospitality. Unlike the blend from the now-shuttered grocer in New Kennedy Square, the product adopted the form of completely uniform granules - finer than loose leaf tea but not gritty like a powder.

​The container included specific instructions to yield optimal results. Salvaging the quantity dispersed across the countertop, I'd modify the guideline to create a concentrated rendition. Half & half cream would act as a substitute for evaporated milk, while a fine mesh tea filter in place of a cheesecloth.
The tea embodied a fragrant, complex profile, boasting an exceptionally clean taste after filtering. Utilization of a cheesecloth was not an optional step, for the mesh filter did not succeed in removing all solids. Yellow cane sugar syrup and half & half cream were competent in recreating the indulgent attributes of classic HK Milk Tea, however I'd likely need to tweak the quantities to reach ideal proportions.

​When my Laura Mercier order failed to reveal itself on my doorstep after ten business days, I was reasonably enraged. The customer service chat had dismissed my inquiry on not one, but two occasions. It was only upon investigating further that stock issues were discovered. A refund was issued. Alas, time lost cannot be compensated.

I executed the next plausible course of action: ordering through a competitor with swifter shipping times, and tacking on the Lancôme Génefique set after persuasion from BamBam.