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Out & About #1082 | A New Beginning, Raspberry Mousse Cake + Win's Eatery Stouffville

4/20/2025

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With great power comes great responsibility.
Unfortunately, in my case, only one applies. (Hint: It's not the former.)
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​Following a brief break of snacking and matcha latte-ing, I entered into my new position without too many thoughts. After all, I had just returned from vacation not long ago, with the strike-related concerns chasing its start.
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​Glad I was to now be granted a far nicer commute of twenty minutes. That said, I was utterly unaware of the situation that would unfold over the subsequent few days.
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​The office was great - a tall building with underground parking, separate towers for public and security-controlled access, and brilliant views of the surrounding scenery. Of course, Square One was in extremely close proximity as well. Most of the open cubicles had been equipped with modern setups, including charging stations supporting Type C, universal docking stations, and sit-stand desks. IT was great too - many topics of interest were digitalized and easily accessible by employees old and new.

However, the downsides of the new position soon became evident.
For starters, the workload was beyond imaginable. The team comprised of just four in total, myself included. The transition of responsibilities would ensue before I was even fully onboarded. Worst of all, I'd be left in the dark about IT equipment, benefits, mandatory training, and more.
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I had little to no time alone on my first day, which I hardly expected. At least I'd be left to poke around the intranet, or so I thought.

A lengthy morning meeting eventually led into noon. I departed for the mall for errands, not knowing it was just a five-minute walk away. The trip between Square One and Celebration Square always averaged at least ten minutes by car.
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After procurement of Lindt couverture, I was due to return for my second round of "training" meetings, wolfing down a Gold Bunny just prior.
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By the 4:30 PM mark, I was positively exhausted. The amount of information presented had been nothing short of overwhelming.
A tad hungry and extremely fatigued, I deemed it appropriate to venture towards T&T for snacks instead of heading home for exercise.
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The Iced Whole Pear Drink was obnoxiously cloying, in spite of constituents of white fungus, red date, and a cored Asian pear
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The Pandan Layer Cake was impressively fragrant, yet tasteless. Meanwhile, the Sausage Bun was cold, starchy, and disappointing with a sodium-laden stick of artificial meat.
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On the following day, I was made aware of an internal connection between the public and office elevators.
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Naturally, I set out to confirm the route for myself. The saunter was also a fabulous opportunity to take the stairs, as the colourful poster on the door beckoned.
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Besides wandering the office itself, a mild inclination to try the Cookie Butter Cream Cold Brew led me to the mall once more. McDonald's within Walmart served to supply me with the iced beverage, which was otherwise found repulsive and devoid of a distinctive - or even acceptable - profile.
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Besides arguably lengthier working hours (and colleagues without a set working schedule), my mandatory office presence has now been increased to three out of five days. On my third consecutive day, I strode over to Square One with a mission in mind.

One of the parting gifts bequeathed upon me by coworkers was a Saint Germain gift card, its $20 value was to be depleted in one transaction. Consequently, I was able to choose a handful of items that would otherwise never make its way to my kitchen table.
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The assortment spanned the following:
  • Whole Wheat Loaf; $3.98
  • BBQ Pork Bun; two at $2.98 each
  • Sea Salted Butter Roll; $2.75
  • Coconut Cocktail Bun; $2.75
  • Chicken Bun; $2.98
  • Sea Salted Cheese Crusty Bun; $2.98
  • Twin Palmiers; $2.98 ​
​Presented in amusing cow print liners, the Sea Salted Cheese Crusty Bun was rather intriguing. With a crackly cookie topping, flaky interior, and centre of salted butter, it was likely the highlight of the haul.
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The Twin Palmiers were passable, but hardly memorable. Hitotoki's rendition has easily been my favourite to date!
The Coconut Cocktail Bun was bland, while the Whole Wheat Loaf similarly lacklustre in both taste and texture. Adopting a near-identical appearance to Korean Salt Bread, the Sea Salted Butter Roll was a decent interpretation with an irresistibly crispy top and salted butter interior; that said, it lacked the plush properties that LUNA had boasted.
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Assuming the sole savoury selection of the spread, the Chicken Bun was an interesting take on the classic Tuna Bun. Using chopped chicken pieces in place of tuna eliminated the fear of fishy odours. Unfortunately, it wasn't tasty enough to warrant a revisit. On the flip side, the BBQ Pork Bun consistently delivered in flavour and filling-to-bun ratio.
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​Alas, the round of errands did not stop there. CoCo's Wednesday BOGO offer on Taro Sago Milk Tea would incite a lunchtime proposal to my former coworker. She gladly accepted, given the close proximity of her work-from-home location.
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There was tremendous comfort in seeing a familiar face in a foreign environment. Beyond being able to share a short-lived catch-up session, I was glad to have a friend to turn towards during the tough transition - a ray of light amidst dark uncertainty. Not only was she willing to listen, share, and relate, she further presented me with unexpected gifts.
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The first was a macaron recipe book that she had been considerate enough to give me during GO train-free days, plus a Sweet Potato Dorayaki. The second was a box of snacks for sharing with my new office. While the Hot Honey Chicken Crackers were too fiery for my tolerance, the Extra Cheesy Penguins were absolutely delightful and crispy.
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It would be dishonest to declare that my first week went swell. It did not.
I was truly questioning my decision, but also constantly reassuring myself that things would become better with time.

​Stress reveals itself unconsciously though, and my frequent inclination to reach for buzz-inducing beverages was a dead giveaway.
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Raspberry Mousse Cake
​With the arrival of Good Friday, I decided to repurpose the too-rigid Raspberry Jam in my fridge. Frankly, the jam may have been an excuse; the desire to restore joy in my life played far greater a role in the decision-making process.
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i) Sponge

Referencing the ever-reliable Sunday Baking, I altered not the sponge recipe for her layered Strawberry Mousse Cake.

Ingredients:
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 20 g honey
  • 3 egg whites
  • 50 g granulated sugar
  • 45 g  ̶c̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶f̶l̶o̶u̶r̶ AP flour 
  • 18 g canola oil
​That said, I opted to bake the sponge in a 6 in aluminum pan as opposed to a large sheet pan, for leftovers are annoying. This required adjusting baking time: 375 F for 5-10 mins for volume acquisition, 350 F for 7-10 mins for thorough baking, and 325 F for 5 mins to ensure doneness without a scorched surface.
In hindsight, the first leg of baking could have been reduced to 5-7 minutes to prevent excessive browning and rapid travel of heat, as indicated by the larger air pockets in the upper half. Nevertheless, the sponge emerged splendidly: impeccably fluffy and subtly sweet.
ii) Mousse

The mousse would also originate from the same recipe, but with minor modifications:
  • Increasing the amount of heavy cream from 110 g to 250 g
  • Adding white chocolate couverture to stabilize and sweeten the added cream
  • Swapping in a stabilized raspberry jam in place of strawberry puree, sugar, lemon juice, and gelatin
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Ingredients:
  • 121 g white chocolate couverture
  • 250 g heavy cream
  • 148 g homemade raspberry jam *
Raspberry Jam, based on my go-to jam recipe:
  • 1.8 cups frozen raspberries (2 cups is fine)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp gelatin
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iii) Cream Decoration

To finish, I'd prepared a stabilized whipped cream the evening prior and allow the formula to thicken overnight. Transferring the mixture to a piping bag in advance helped to facilitate the final steps of decoration.

Ingredients:
  • 68 g heavy cream
  • 13 g granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp gelatin
  • 2 tsp freeze-dried strawberries, crushed
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​Once piped, each amateurish swirl would be sprinkled with crushed freeze-dried strawberries.

It is worth noting that the freeze-dried strawberries should be added just before serving as to prevent bleeding into the whipped cream and becoming sodden. Consuming immediately after decorating allows the pieces to preserve their shape and resist accumulation of moisture, as my excess portion had.
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iv) Raspberry Jelly

There is, truthfully, no surprise to this element. The remainder of my homemade raspberry jam (unmeasured) was warmed to restore its fluidity. Then, it was allowed to cool to room temperature, as to prevent dissolving of the mousse later, and poured on top of alternating layers of sponge and mousse.

​​As evident in the cross-sections, this layer was hardly uniform. In its defense, the uniformity mattered minimally to the overall consumption experience. The tart jam lent a well-warranted dose of tanginess to the otherwise primarily sweet compilation.
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Notes
  • In order to keep damage along the circumference to a minimum, I had allowed the cake to come to room temperature before removing either the mould or acetate strip. While this approach worked well for the unmoulding process, the prolonged time on the countertop caused the mousse layer became incredibly soft, therefore difficult to cut. As such, it is recommended to serve the cake straight from the fridge for optimal taste and texture.
  • This exceptionally airy sponge needs no syrup for moistness, as it contains a decent amount of oil. Syrup was naturally omitted due to this very reason.
  • Over the course of several days, I observed a compelling surge in sweetness with each progressive day. While I'm uncertain of the cause, I recommend consuming the cake within 48 hours for maximum enjoyment of the textural variance and peak sweet-tangy contrast.
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​In short, I loved this cake and its simplicity. While it pains me to say it, I may have beaten out Akko!
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​Other happenings of the weekend included: a visit to the optometrist (in my monkey socks!), voting in the Advance Poll, and reluctantly lugging myself to Stouffville to fulfill a promise.
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My browsing partner refused to budge on this arrangement, in spite of my extreme exhaustion and stress-induced dizziness and nausea. I first hinted, then eventually angrily announced my state of health. Nothing was good enough of a reason to cancel.
In exchange for a later departure (aka driving myself), I earned much-needed respite in the form of pilates, but later suffered a grueling 75 minute weekend commute to the east end.

We were served a hefty slice of chocolate cake, which appeared to comprise of several layers. Between the OREO base, feuilletine, two layers of sponge, and three cocoa-tinged layers of unidentifiable texture, I regarded the specimen as being inappropriate as a pre-dinner snack.
And wrong was I not. A single forkful was sufficient in confirming its satiating nature, beyond flavours that melded together as opposed to inviting its audience into a heavenly world of chocolatey glory. Admittedly, I wasn't sure what to make of the creation, for it appeared to be cocoa-based, but was otherwise bland.
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​A while later, the party would collectively shift towards Main Street Stouffville. Peculiar were the choice of restaurant and its geographic coordinates: A compact-beyond-belief Chinese restaurant in the middle of a deserted BIA.
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The surrounding area was undoubtedly serene, with grand attempts made to render the neighbourhood more appealing. That said, the lack of tactile plates at crossings and dilapidated curbs were already telltale of the amount of foot traffic experienced by the corridor. Even cycle tracks along our drive had seen greater investment!
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​Win's Eatery was quite possibly the teensiest Chinese diner I had ever laid eyes on. Having managed to assemble enough space for a group of 20 without imposing fire hazards was a challenging feat, to say in the least. The staff's efforts were appreciated; the cozy seating arrangement - not so much.

​​I'd barely be able to lift my elbows for the entirety of the night. Furthermore, it grew increasingly difficult to keep my eyes open for the duration of the meal as fatigue crept up once more.
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​Having assumed the standard rundown of a ten-course Chinese dinner, I hadn't been too bothered with comprehensive photo capture. That said, the starter definitely took me by surprise. A braised duck with glutinous rice would commence the feast on a hearty note. Next up was crispy skin stuffed with pan-fried glutinous rice - a largely similar dish that I skipped without remorse.

Traditional platters of shrimp, chicken, scallop, etc. were swapped with never-before-seen alternatives. Intestine with pineapple chunks, stir-fried beef with mushroom, and battered-braised fish replaced jellyfish and cold cuts, stir-fried beef and broccoli, and steamed whole fish respectively. Noteworthy were the stalks of veggies, which weren't swimming in grease as I had expected.
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The lettuce wraps were especially impressing, earning an acclamatory "Mmmmm!" (complete with widened eyes) for a scrumptious filling of pan-fried Peking duck flesh, celery, carrot, corn, and peas. Meanwhile, I did not regret skipping on the Peking Duck wraps whatsoever, given that the order primarily comprised of skin and not an ounce of meat.

Win's supposedly signature fried rice also incited a look of astonishment: witnessing such sizable chunks of beef in fried rice was revolutionary.
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Sealing the evening was dessert of Green Bean Soup (I declined) and graciously plump Longevity Buns. Properly peach-shaped and tinted generously with pink, the visuals were more promising than any of its Vancouver counterparts. Most importantly, the interior was luscious with a sublime filling - the perfect proportion!
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​The bathrooms, identified by a door with a "Wi-Fi" banner, were also revolutionary, but at the opposite end of the spectrum. The door revealed a platform and strange accessway leading to two unisex stalls. Each of the stalls required entry through another door and climbing another platform. From their size, tiny sink, and linear layout, these spaces were almost reminiscent of Korea. One could not use the toilet comfortably without dodging the paper towel dispenser or bumping one's head on the wall in front. Cleanliness was nonexistent, for just about every corner and millimetre of floor space was covered in dust or hair. The North American standard was indeed despicable.

While located in one of the oddest corners of the GTA, Win's Eatery had left a memorable impression. Service was friendly and fare was unique. The bathrooms, which later became clogged with feces, would never be forgotten either.

Driving back, we learned of York Region's lack of comprehensive municipal infrastructure. Despite not having ventured into the rural areas of the neighbourhood, many stretches were devoid of streetlight. In addition, many of the lampposts, if present, were merely crafted of wood without any reinforcement.
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Sunday materialized as a hectic day of chores and office preparations. However, the slow evening also enabled my first ride of the season! After two years, nearby watermain construction had finally ceased. It was time to restart my suburban adventures.

The first thing I realized was the deterioration of my cycling gloves. Second was my lack of fear to riding on the road, in mixed traffic. Having biked in Toronto, I wholly knew no fear.
No rash maneuvers were made, of course. Vigilance is critical with weekend drivers and reduced visibility periods such as sundown.
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My unplanned route was involved taking parts of Glen Erin Trail until Brookmede Park, losing my way at Dunwin, then reconnecting to Glen Erin Trail / 5th Line Trail from the Erin Mills Pkwy MUP. Continuing eastbound, I'd arrive at The Collegeway / Mississauga Rd, where I'd loop through UTM grounds before exiting at Mississauga Road. Surprisingly, the paved asphalt walkway terminated abruptly within minutes of entering the campus. The Outer Circle / Mississauga Road connection was similarly far from ideal.

Operating with one lane in each direction, Mississauga Road is incorrectly listed as a "bicycle-friendly route" on Google Maps. I was thankful to have witnessed lower vehicular volumes than usual given the Easter long weekend, for the uphill venture would have been aggravated under the influence of speeding vehicles and a corresponding amount of exhaust.

​The ride would prove easier upon reaching Eglinton, where the MUP would guide me all the way back west until Credit Valley Hospital. Existing on-street cycle facilities on Credit Valley Road and an MUP along the west side of Erin Mills Parkway would compensate for the lost connection on the north side of Eglinton. Needless to say, though, I am hopeful that the arrival of Kith condos at the NE corner of the intersection will result in improvements for the municipal boulevard as well, just like the Arc.

The final leg of my trip involved routing through Crawford Green Park. Having expected the recreational trail to be speedy and liberating, the staggering number of children and parents with strollers had me reducing travel speed significantly. In stark contrast to the neighbouring parks, Crawford Green was bustling with young families.

​And, soon enough, Monday was upon me yet again.
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    Formerly an avid owner of several interest-based portals, Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger presents precisely the elements expected. From experiments in the kitchen to miscellaneous musings, from IGOT7 reflections to developments in transportation infrastructure, it's all consolidated here. Welcome to the raw, unfiltered side of Quirky Aesthetics.



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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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