Out & About #1118 | Mississauga Hong Kong Festival, Oomomo + Kitaya

Of all the cultural events held in my neck of the woods, I will admit that the announcement of Mississauga Hong Kong Festival taking place at the far east end of the city came as a surprise. Scheduled as a 3-day event at Paramount Fine Foods Centre, the event appeared to combine a soccer tournament with an outdoor festival of sorts.

Information was scarce leading up to the event, but those with a keen interest eventually caught news of a festival map and vendor list. This graphic was the defining factor in spurring attendance for non-sports fans.

I had never ventured to the location of the former Hershey's Centre, but the event organizers had released a somewhat helpful parking guide in advance of the event. Visitors were directed to asphalt lots near area C.

Resulting from the long weekend was notably less traffic than usual. In under thirty minutes, we made our on-site arrival. The lot in closest proximity to the festival was restricted for staff and related authorities - one of two young volunteers mistakenly said "Prime Minister" instead of "politicians", completely catching us off guard with the unintentional dose of comedy.
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There was a total of two parking lots to support festival-goers: one directly across from the market and another that was a slightly further walk in the sun.

At quarter to four, the closest lot offered a handful of spaces. We parked with ease then scurried across Rose Cherry Place. The festival grounds spanned the interior of Paramount Fine Foods Centre as well as the lot immediately outside.

Lion dancers caught our attention first, followed by the various booths and photo zone. A newspaper-style photo vendor was present to capture the moment with a frame titled "2025 Mississauga Hong Kong Festival". The concept was akin to the prints offered by the newsboy cap-donning photographer at Hero Tea's Mississauga opening. However, this photographer seemed newer to the scene. He came without a softbox and constantly complained of technical issues relating to his camera disconnecting from the printer. In the end, we received our lone printout after roughly four attempts. As the stall had been contracted to provide services to the event, payment had been shifted towards a "pay as you wish" format for tips.

Next came perusal of the sponsor booths and food stalls.

Playing pachinko at Nando's had the potential of earning vouchers for 1/4 chicken, hummus, and more. Meanwhile, Kaizen and Mississauga Fire offered complimentary tote bags and Sun Life stress balls and shaker tumblers for completing a survey.

​Food vendors were limited, but those in attendance were either wholesalers/catering companies without physical storefronts or recognized names in the uptown food scene. I was keen to try Once Patisserie, having seen plenty of visual reviews from a café-hopping friend.

​Generally speaking, prices were more economic than expected for an event of the scale. Madeleines averaged at $5 apiece, while matcha and coffee beverages with oat milk costlier at $7-8.

​The fusion bakeries sold out quickly, despite little to no queuing. Meanwhile, the traditional eateries saw hoards of visitors and eventually were forced to close due to being depleted of food. It was undeniable that the traditional options proved more popular.

An emerald green stall by the name of 青貨站 caught our attention with an array of bottled dessert soups (糖水) and herbal teas (涼茶) in resealable plastic pouches. Also on the menu was red bean jelly (砵仔糕), a specialty item that I had been craving for the past few days.

Bottles of 糖水 were priced steeply at $8 apiece, so we opted for a restorative Sea Coconut and Pear Tea for $5 instead. Of course, the $4 round of 砵仔糕 could not be excluded either. The contents of the resealable, soft plastic pouch were positively refreshing and nourishing!
Meanwhile, the Red Bean Jelly was springy and chewy, as the treat ought to be. Its presentation within a foil container sealed within a lidded plastic container was remarkably convenient; further accompanying the round were two bamboo skewers - the traditional choice of equipment for loosening its edges and on-the-go consumption.

​Roaming the market, we found makeshift pickleball courts (bordered by folding tables on their side), Hong Kong-inspired artwork and puzzles, and stage performances fighting the blaring roar of airplanes overhead. 

​The variety of merchandise was particularly noteworthy, for the offerings reflected the essence of Cantonese culture as it specifically pertained to Hong Kong elements. From dimsum to Vita Lemon Tea to signature landmarks of the port city, the on-site assortment of goods was admirable - utterly unlike the random crochet keychains and knickknacks sold at other summer pop-ups.

​Of course, I couldn't resist picking up a few mementos for myself! Mahjong tiles with "Hong Kong" etched onto the face in various configurations were a standout design. My hand lingered on two, but ultimately settled for five in total. With each keychain priced at $5 and a combo deal of 5 for $20 in effect, it was difficult to resist the deal.

Majority of HK Fest's attendees were Cantonese-speaking families and their locally born offspring - a wholesome turnout compared to the typically younger audience of GTA night markets. Visitors of all ages were summoned to the scene, affirming yet another Chinese custom: the importance of gathering and family.

We enjoyed the festival despite its arguably small scale. Sustenance was pretty affordable, and indoor plumbing and water refill stations were easily within reach inside the Paramount Fine Foods Centre. While one of us wished for more HK-specific sightings though, I expressed disappointment towards the absence of egg waffles. Only wagon wheels were spotted, however those lean more Taiwanese in origin.
The main caveat was an insufficiency of food. Many of the vendors had been depleted of their supply around 4 PM. A handful of the retail vendors had also began to cease operations before 5 PM. 

​The 852 Community commenced an end-of-day sale around 4:30 PM. For just ten dollars, we obtained small containers of Rice Noodles Rolls (sauces were to be DIYed at the nearby condiment station), Malteser Mochi, and a Wintermelon Tea.

​I found the sweet soy sauce bottle empty, thus settled to drizzle the 腸粉 with peanut sauce and sweet sauce and finish with a dusting of toasted sesame seeds. These chewy rice noodle segments were delightfully scrumptious and well-deserving of a last-minute purchase.
Advertised as a one-of-a-kind offering, the 麥提沙糯米磁, aka Maltesers Glutinous Rice Balls, were an unexpected twist on a classic dessert commonly crafted using ground peanuts, sesame seeds, and mango. The interior of the 糯米磁 was a whole Malteser, which caught us by surprise in its textural contrast against the soft, elastic mochi. The exterior was coated in Ovaltine for a sweeter, more palatable alternative to cocoa powder. Although the combination was rather innovative, it quickly grew satiating after a few rounds.

The Wintermelon Tea was the most depressing of the trio, for it was bland and encased within a plastic cup devoid of an opening for straws. Someone had evidently ordered the wrong type of lids.

​When we conducted a final lap before departing, I was dismayed to learn that Once Patisserie's Yuan Yang Madeleine had sold out.
I made a mental note of the rapid depletion of stock before making a beeline towards the bathroom. A number of soccer training drills were being held within the sports centre. Opposite the indoor playing field was a fully furnished gymnastics area that comprehensively reminded me of elementary school gymnastic classes.

​We began the drive home around 5 PM, intending to make one detour along the way. The recent wave of The Beer Store closures had me taking my empties to the Heartland outpost, only to remain at the back of the line for far longer than expected. I spun on my heel and reinstated the bottles and cans in my trunk. These were later tended to at a different location, closer to home, before I zipped off for a long-awaited deep tissue massage.

​The first day of the long weekend was extremely productive: cookies were baked, house was partially cleaned, errands were completed, and a festival was visited. One ought to think that I'd spend the following day ruminating at home, however another adventure awaited me.

​A trip to Don Mills was in store, and so I applied my Hello Kitty sticker tats from Japanfest for the occasion. 

I've always found the Don Mills outpost of Oomomo to be superior to the chaotic Markham location. The variety of ceramics, baking accessories, and organization tools was unparalleled!

​Unfortunately, I neither succeeded in locating an upright paper towel holder nor utilizing my 15% off coupon during this visit. The latter had been a consequence of the Markham-based location failing to notify customers of the retailer restriction.

​I indulged in some unplanned purchases anyway, then headed over to Kitaya.

The sushi spot's soft serve had assumed a position on my radar for some time now. Resolving to act upon my yearnings, a Matcha and Houjicha Swirl was procured. A total of four flavours were available across two soft serve machines: Matcha and Houjicha in one, and Milk and Black Sesame in another. In other words, swirl options included Matcha-Houjicha and Milk-Black Sesame, but not Matcha-Black Sesame.

All factors considered, I regretted not this decision, for the concoction was a considerable portion and delivered unexpected depth of flavour. 
With the swirl's muted tone, one could, within reason, presume the formula to be bland. However, this was hardly the case: the soft serve was incredibly delectable and more potent than the visuals had implied. Both matcha and houjicha were distinct, with the latter being especially memorable. Boasting complex notes of roasted tea and harnessing a luxurious mouthfeel, I could confirm Kitaya's houjicha to be, quite possibly, the best I've sampled to date! Also enjoyable was the matcha, although houjicha was definitely the standout counterpart.

Despite the steep price of $6.35 before tax, the serving size was generous enough for sharing. We took to the bar seating along the perimeter of the shop to consume our picks, observing many shoppers wander in looking for similar sweet treats.

​The fumes resulting from cooking donburi ingredients eventually flooded into the seating area, much to my distaste. That said, I was thankful that I did not exit the establishment reeking of grease and seasoning.

Bathrooms were limited to the public facilities shared by C&C Supermarket, CoCo, and the other tenants. Without a doubt, it was downright repulsive - complete with urine on the floor and an exposed roll of toilet paper resting atop its dispenser. As I've noted countless times before, clean public bathrooms in North America are a luxury. Little has changed over the years with regard to this void in public services.

My next order of business was a stopover at Fairview Mall. The T&T parking lot was atrocious, yet I succeeded in securing a spot nevertheless.

​I had few objectives beyond perusal and delivery of homemade baked goods. Mall visitor volumes were staggering, though I reckon the influx could have easily been a result of the Labour Day long weekend.

Observed during my short-lived saunter were:

• New locations of Molly Tea and Hey Tea
• Playdium across from Shoppers Drug Mart
• Eyelet hem scrunchies reminiscent of Em & Thread at Miniso

• A vast assortment of Jellycat plushies at Baby Bryan

• Daily specials at the Cotti Coffee stall
• Imported peach-flavoured Pepsi at T&T

​The eastbound commute had estimated an hour; the return trip was no better.

When I finally returned home, the Yuan Yang Madeleine from Once Patisserie obtained on my behalf was unveiled.

​Phenomenal was the palm-sized creation, with the luxuriously potent ganache montée filling as the highlight. Despite its name, the madeleine did not exhibit any prominent notes of tea or coffee, but relied on the filling for character. That said, the shell-shaped pastry remained crisp on the exterior, albeit residing in a paper bag in my cooler for several hours. I marvelled at the specimen, for it wasn't dry and crumbly, yet not damp either. It embodied a subtle moistness that eased one into the velvety, tea-infused centre.

Suffice to say, the single filled madeleine successfully paved the way to try Once's other creations. It simultaneously convinced me of a need to undertake my own rendition - which would have happened already had I not been: i) occupied with house cleaning ii) slated for a boatload of meetings immediately following the long weekend. Ugh.