Out & About #1097 | Hi-Five Again + LUNA Bakery Bingsoo

When I announced that I'd be watching Hi-Five again, I wasn't kidding. Though, it should be obvious by now that anything GOT7-related is taken very, very seriously.

Commuting into North York took about 45 minutes - quicker than rush hour but nevertheless lengthier than a weekend morning visit ought to be. In fear of delays, I resorted to purchasing tickets online. The act was easier said than done, for navigating a webpage and entering credit card information isn't exactly easy once on the highway. Alas, 401 conditions enable such acts of distracted driving.

The second time around, the movie felt a tad shorter. Some scenes became less impactful this time, but the ending became clearer. Suffice to say, a handful of details were discovered during the second viewing.

Although the auditorium filled with a greater number of viewers, it was evident that none were ahgases. The appearance of Jinyoung did not incite the shared gasps heard on opening night; those in presence were primarily there for the sake of entertainment, rather than appreciation for Jinyoung's superb acting and exceptionally toned physique.

When the movie concluded just before the 3 PM mark, I was starving. After a stopover at Dollarama, I led the way up Yonge Street in search of sustenance.

Majority of the established on the west side of Yonge leading towards Churchill Ave were now vacant. We trekked a bit further and discovered Pine House. My ultimate decision would lay with Egg Club, however.

​The outpost was impossibly small, operating strictly as a takeout establishment. I obtained my BLT was ready in about five minutes, then meandered towards a POPS in search of shade. Undertaking the brisk stroll from Empress Walk had already resulted in perspiration. To prevent further discomfort, I turned away from the picnic tables positioned along the east side of Yonge Street. A handful of girls with Korean corn dogs in their hands did the same.

I sank my teeth into the BLT, positively ravenous. The creation was found to be no more than a thick slice of porous brioche fitted with slimy tomatoes, wilted romaine, and an excess of ketchup-mayo. While the signature omelette centrepiece was fluffy and gratifying, the sandwich's other constituents were mediocre at best. Heavily saturated with sauce, the bacon and tomato slid between the toasted bread casing, making for difficult consumption. Especially warranting contempt was the brioche, which lacked the structural integrity necessary to keep the creation intact. All surfaces had been buttered and toasted, yet the slices themselves were barren of complexity. By the time its contents had been depleted, I was more than willing to dispose of the leftovers.
What a disappointment.

LUNA Bakery was identified as a stop on our way back. The Salted Butter Roll would be a mandatory purchase.

Sampling the bakery's bingsoo had also assumed a spot on my wishlist for a treacherously long time. By sheer luck, the second floor seating was found to be near vacant! We reckoned the opportunity to have resulted due to proximity to Canada Day, as it wouldn't have been uncommon to take Monday off for a self-made long weekend.

​A Black Sesame Bingsoo with a side order of Red Bean paste was requested. A numbered pager was presented to us at the time of ordering, and vibrated shortly after we had seated ourselves upstairs.

​While I had my eyes on the Injeolmi Bingsoo, the pricier Black Sesame edition was ultimately the superior choice. The four-part creation exuded a sublime nuttiness that rivalled the bakery's extraordinary Black Sesame Latte. Finely ground black sesame seeds, black sesame rice cakes, and black sesame sauce were arranged across the surface of the dessert. Wispy, airy snow ice resided underneath, contributing a splendid contrast of texture and flavour.

​Sweetened condensed milk had been omitted from the surface, though this mattered not. We discovered another layer of finely ground black sesame seeds near the centre, along with an acceptable drizzle of condensed milk. The bottom layers were found slightly sweeter, but far from cloying. It was precisely this adequate amount of sweetener than unleashed the intensity of black sesame, elevating its nuttiness.

​Two paper cups had accompanied the tray for ease of consumption. Given that we were merely a party of two though, the cups were barely used. The bingsoo was a decent size for sharing, allowing both of us to enjoy the delectable concoction from either side of the table.

The sole unfortunate component was the extra red bean, which I had relinquished an additional $2.50 plus tax. Oozing liquid from underneath, the coarse red bean paste presented itself as a watery, salty specimen. It did not pair well with the Black Sesame Bingsoo whatsoever, consequently causing most to remain even after comprehensive depletion of the bingsoo.

​After returning dishes to the plastic bins near the stairwell entrance, I slipped into the single stall bathroom. The aura was less eerie than how I remembered it. With low customers volumes, it was also found fairly pristine, with no shortage of toilet paper nor soap.

​The Salted Butter Roll was transported home for later consumption. Consistent with our assumptions, westbound traffic was unthinkably light; staycationers had likely left but not yet commenced their return. In just thirty minutes later, we succeeded in making our return to an air-conditioned haven.

Despite adopting a wrinkled surface the morning prior, the roll was nonetheless scrumptious after toasting. Flaky on the outside and gratifying on the inside with a centre of salted butter, LUNA's version was indeed tastier than any 3000 KRW+ specimen in Seoul!