Out & About #1053 | Cycling to East Chinatown + Distillery Winter Village

While seldom my customary choice, Monday coincided with my first day in the office.
Licensing requirements, or rather the uncertainty associated with satisfying such requirements, have kept me up for at least two weeks and counting. In spite of easing into the work week, these woes would not recede to make way for paid responsibilities.

​I'd somehow execute the 90-minute commute with 4-5 hours of sleep. When lunchtime rolled around, I embarked on a cycling trip to East Chinatown via Gerrard.

A portion of this segment would be devoid of delineated cycle tracks/on-street pavement markings. Stopped vehicles and construction in the curb lane would force cyclists to merge with vehicular traffic, admittedly unfavourably. That said, I was thankful that plenty of empty docks were available near my desired destination.

​A distant coworker had noted regular visits to a Chinese bakery by the name of Tung Hing, not on the bases of quality but rather convenience due to proximity to other POIs.
"What about (the nearby) Grand Restaurant/Phoenix Bakery?" I had posed before departed.
A hesitant and largely negative response came back, informing that the restaurant had switched owners countless times without sustaining any sort of reliability.

I forgoed a stopover and head straight to Tung Hing. The bakery revealed itself as quite dilapidated; origins were presumed to be Vietnamese-Chinese given observations of banh mi - and even Vietnamese Coffee - gracing the menu.

​At slightly after noon, the shelves were relatively well stocked. However, all baking operations had ceased for the day. The kitchen area was as deserted as the PATH on a weekend. A middle-aged lady of East Asian descent handled the cashier. Meanwhile, a bulky Caucasian sat perched behind the cake counter, head down scrolling through her phone.

A few units of each bakery item were spotted. Prices ranged from sixty cents to $2.50, which promptly confirmed Tung Hing as the most budget-friendly pick of all of Toronto and beyond. Not a single GTA outpost could outdo their low prices.

I stepped into the queue and patiently awaited my turn. A Pineapple Bun with supposed pineapple jam filling was acquired for a mere loonie. Tung Hing strictly accepted payment by cash or e-transfer.

Not thinking too deeply about the specimen, I stuffed it into one of my Congee Queen containers and continued on my way.

​Rounding the southeast corner of Gerrard and Broadview, my eyes fell upon Issho Bakery.
Alas, their doors were locked. They were closed on Mondays (and Tuesdays, for that matter).

​Shaking off disappointment, I hurried back to the Bike Share station as to secure the same bike for my return trip.

The next stop was IKEA. The compact homeware store was, again, conveniently located along a cycling route. In addition, there were a total of 3 Bike Share docks surrounding College Park. When two of three had reached capacity, I merely headed to the third, which was about 30 seconds of a walk away.

I obtained a ninety-cent of standalone hooks, undocked, then continued along Gerrard WB. To steer clear of an oncoming ambulance, I continued west of Bay and rounded south onto Elizabeth. The quieter street facilitated maneuvering to the Bike Share station on the opposite of the road.

After docking at the last vacant spot, my footsteps would lead me to the north side of Dundas, where LAMOUR was conveniently located. A thirty-second stopover for Innisfree cream later, I was back at the office. The entire trip had been completed in just under one hour!

It was finally time to unveil my Pineapple Bun from Tung Hing. Live updates would be communicated to my distant coworker, who waited anxiously on the other end for my review. For starters, I couldn't comprehend using both a wax paper liner and a plastic bun casing. Moreover, the plastic casing was unsealed, but the bun was neither fresh nor warm. All kitchen operations had ceased by the time I had entered the store.
The experience only grew worse from that point, as the base of the bun adhered to the liner and refused to detach. With the topping crumbling more with every tug, my desk was soon covered in cookie topping shards. Golden and uniform was this topping, yet perhaps too uniform. Often associated with pineapple buns is the perfect asymmetry of the crunchy topping, however Tung Hing's was thin and neither asymmetric nor crispy.

I had also imposed high hopes on the supposed "pineapple jam" filling. Alas, the tacky component was more reminiscent of a water-based, starch-thickened custard than the juicy, pulpy core of Taiwanese fenglisu that I had envisioned.

In the late afternoon hours, I quickly picked up a Holiday Smile Cookie before continuing on my way to Union. Let it be known that the Bay/Queen location has proved efficient and courteous in all visits thus far, mobile order or not. Unfortunately, the cookie obnoxiously sweet (nothing new to be honest) - at least three notches greater than the classic Chocolate Chip.

The subsequent office day was a hectic one. Besides lunchtime errands, a visit to the Distillery District was also scheduled after work hours.

Upon disembarking from the GO train, I'd spot a Samsung pop-up in the Bay Concourse. The electronic giant's new gaming platform, termed "Odyssey", would allow interested commuters to queue for a chance to try their hand at the system. Marketed using OLED screens, I raised an eyebrow at the design choice, for the technology is known to cause screen burn-in with heavy usage and entail costly replacements.

Festive décor is always a spectacle to behold. The shimmering embellishments undeniably fill the air with holiday spirit, even in the absence of snow. One cannot the sheer joy of laying eyes on the installations while perusing the downtown core.

Eaton Centre's lofty Christmas tree had also been erected at the centre of the mall, its inaugural Tree Lighting Ceremony having taken place one week prior.

My coworker and I conducted some rapid window shopping in advance of Black Friday.

Afterwards, we hastily made our way north of the retail space. Dropping by Cong Caphe's Elm street location was pivotal before our office shift, for it would be difficult to take advantage of my 10% off coupon once we were situated further.

​My understanding was that the voucher could be applied on an entire order, and was reasonably disappointed when informed that it could only be applied to one item. As a consequence of this new information, I opted for a coffee product instead and purchased an Iced Brown Coffee at regular price. The shockingly potent espresso shots did not incorporate readily with the extraordinary amount of underlying sweetened condensed milk, making for a concoction so potent that it gave rise to instantaneous stomach discomfort.

​Around 4 PM, I led the way to the Distillery. We boarded the first 504 streetcar in sight, for droplets had began to descend rapidly.  Three streetcars would traverse the stretch of King Street in single file, yet, somehow, not a single one operated in the direction of the Cherry Street loop. We'd be required to disembark at King and Parliament and continue the rest of the way on foot.

Unexpected precipitation had made for slick cobblestone walkways that reflected any and all light sources in the vicinity. In spite of the dreary, overcast climate, the warm-toned fixtures of the festive district lifted our spirits immediately. New to this year's installations was a sleigh with reindeer crafted of wine barrels.

​Strolling along Gristmill Lane, I'd introduce notable vendors and attractions to my coworker, who was visiting for the first time. Highlights would include the bonfires positioned outside Boku, Izumi's extensive selection of casual but homey Japanese fare, and, of course, the dazzling Christmas tree.

​Christian Dior was again the sponsor of the year: Beyond sparkling embellishments and a faux marble pedestal, the front of the tree was garnished with a gargantuan emblem reading the initials "CD".

View the full album HERE !

Not a single aisle was left uncovered. While my coworker reacted ecstatically to the presence of apparel retailers, I observed my surroundings for variances against past years.
Balzac's had expanded their store coverage to southeast corner of Trinity Street and Case Goods Lane, offering branded merchandise in addition to warm cider and coffee. The Jellycat stall witnessed during my early autumn bike ride had replenished their inventory with holiday-exclusive merchandise, eliminating bag charms of the Amuseable Peanut.

​Sweetie Pie was spotted promoting their new offering of bagels. Meanwhile, knitted scarves and adorable stationery/gifts paved the way towards the Naughty or Nice section at Pure Spirit Mews.

​The Distillery District had enhanced this area extensively with a ceiling of string lights and warming lamps along the perimeter. In past years, the area was dim and drab rather beaming and brilliant. Functioning warming lamps had also been placed sporadically; this time, they all served their intended purpose.

​I contemplated a Spiked Eggnog at first. Then, upon noticing the associated cost and recalling the availability of Bacardi Gold Rum at home, the idea was dismissed. The bar would utilize Neilson's Eggnog in their concoction; as such, I reckoned I could obtain the carton for much cheaper at Loblaws, should I desire, while simultaneously earning Optimum points.

​Between Belgian waffles, Chicken Schnitzel, and Loaded Fries, we weren't entirely certain we wanted anything from this assortment. Tank House Lane would lead us to the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, where warmth was sought and names of upcoming theatre performances were noted.

Washrooms were present in this building, along with adorable miniature neighbourhoods with snow-capped trees.

​By this point, the sky had dimmed completely, showcasing the stunning beauty of the tree and the signature weaving string lights at the Mill Street entrance.

The first floor of GOTStyle had been transformed to an EATALY pop-up, while the upper level would persist as an apparel- and accessory-only space. Entering the shop was quite dangerous, as the makeshift ramp was not flush with the entrance and the floor was slippery due to wet footwear and lack of a carpet.

Compared to the Bloor Street and Sherway locations, the selection was incredibly compact, primarily spanning gift-able items such as olive oil, panettone, and pick-your-own chocolate.

At long last, after exploring the entirety of the district, we were ready for sustenance. Retracting our steps back to the "warm area", as my coworker called it, we found solace in the Artisan Grilled Cheese.

I was curious as to whether the French Onion Grilled Cheese would accept an add-on of bacon or turkey, but was told plainly that all sandwiches were pre-made and that on-site staff would merely transfer the desired articles onto a grill press. The younger member of staff also advised against the French Onion Grilled Cheese, admitting that the creation had also resulted in personal disappointment as the onions turned sour when meshing with the cheese. The review incited a grimace from us, consequently leading to the ultimate choice of the Christmas Dinner instead.
​Alterations to the product were usually denied, however the staff member agreed to slice our grilled cheese to facilitate sharing.

Sampling the creation the third time around, I was astounded at its thinness and relatively scanty quantity of filling. Although its constituents indeed comprised of those listed on the menu, not a single element was visible without peeling away the crimped, carby cloak.

​The Winter Village had seen a quiet start to the evening due to rain, but gradually grew busier as darkness fell and the droplets receded.

​Our second sustenance picks were Warm Winter Soup and BBQ Chicken Pierogi from Pierogi Miska. The cabin vendor did not feature a lineup whatsoever, but served customers in a steady stream.
At being charged well upwards of the listed $15.93 plus tax, I inquired whether the amount was correct. The toque-donning lady on the other side of the counter explained that the Distillery District had imposed a tax of their own. As a result, all customers would be subject to two rounds of HST. The lack of transparency shocked me, for it meant that the prices on the menu were misleading and utterly incorrect. Adjacent to the menu on the inside of the cabin was a handwritten price list reflective of one round of HST. 

Neither of us were too pleased with pricing. However, there were no qualms whatsoever about the items procured or the friendly service received. The Warm Winter Soup was a phenomenal, fragrant beet borscht, to the point where my Claire Saffitz-esque "Mmmm!" summoned a chuckle from the staff. The vibrant emulsion was served in drink cups with lids rather than bowls, nixing the need for spoons and essentially eliminating potential mess while walking around - a genius idea, if I dare say!

The pierogi was a gratifying, well-rounded order that was presented in a rigid reusable container - a massive upgrade from the flimsy biodegradable garbage I had expected. My coworker remarked on the "smooth" potato filling, while I enjoyed the sour cream topping and commended the subtle crunch of green onions. These rings which were surprisingly not pungent, though it is uncertain whether they had been treated by blanching or if the chilly temperatures had halted penetration of enzymes into the air.

Shredded chicken bits coated in commercial BBQ sauce were sprinkled between the potato dumplings, contributing a sense of heartiness.

​As we eased into the night, I proposed a stopover at Izumi for warmth. Needless to say, sake would not be excluded from this visit.

​In place of the Tangerine Cocktail I had been eyeing earlier in the evening, the Complete 7 flight was requested. My perpetually sober coworker opted for the Yuzu and Lime Refresher, which was declared to be extra zesty on the already chilly evening.

The thirty-dollar array would be accompanied with a coloured handout describing the individual profiles of the sake. From the other side of the counter, the man would identify each variety and its notable characteristics, then speak to the recommended order of sampling.

• First: Nama-Nama and Nama-cho
• Second: Genshu and Arabashiri
• Third: Izumi Gold
• Fourth: Teion-Sakura
• Fifth: Nigori

Nama-Nama earned personal preference over the Nama-cho, for it was an objectively clean and distinctly refreshing profile. Arabishiri was also enjoyable, scoring a checkmark upon the first sip. Teion-Sakura was sour, contradicting with most mainstream sake profiles; it indeed evoked the essence of sakura. Nigori sake often tends to be sweeter due to its milky consistency, though Izumi's nigori was perceived as somewhat bitter and even lightly carbonated. This was an entirely different experience to the bottled version I had purchased earlier this year. Izumi Gold was, frankly, less indicative of its name that expected.

The brewery permitted consumption of food items from their stall outside, thus we agreed on the nine-dollar Green Tea Churros with Red Bean Dip. (The rice crackers and peanuts on the brewery menu were inadequate as anju.) In spite of the somewhat murky colour profile, the duo was a delectable take on the Mexican classic. Notes of green tea were mild but discernible; meanwhile, the red bean offered a slight sweetness paired with textural contrast.

Both the sake flight and churros were well worth their price. I had been informed that churros were made fresh, though takoyaki was observed as frozen specimens.
Service had also been amicable. The duo behind the serving bar comprised of one Japanese female and one Caucasian male. It was fascinating to overhear their conversation, for the man spoke near-fluent Japanese and swiftly transitioned to English for customer interactions. His words were laced with an accent of sorts, though I could not pinpoint its precise origins.

Having forgotten about Palgong's hodo kwaja and taiyaki, I suggested a stop at Timmies.

​Between the Distillery and Union Station were a handful of Tim Hortons outposts, closing times ranging between 9 PM to 11 PM. The hunt for a Double Chocolate Brownie led us near King station, where I obtained one of seven remaining squares.

​Crisp yet cloying, I deemed the treat superior to Starbucks but inferior to my own creations.

​And so, the day concluded with tired feet and even more tired shoulders.