It's finally the long weekend!! The summer term is gradually wrapping up and so is the chaos associated with it. To kick off the start of my long weekend, I embarked on a journey to North York to try out Sweet O'Clock, a dessert shop just a few doors down from Gong Cha that recently opened up.
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Their Grand Opening BOGO deals had already past, but this did not eradicate the desire to try out their Taiwanese-style icy desserts.
The concept of the store was rather interesting - almost all who walked into were dine-in customers, yet they all proceeded towards the counter to order before sitting down to secure one of the seven tables available. Space was limited, and tables hadn't really been cleaned as this was more of a food court-style dining setting. On hotter days, when strong UV rays could be felt penetrating through the glass storefront, sitting at the two tables closer to the entrance was quite unbearable.
With only two people working though, it shouldn't have been that hard for one to manage the making of desserts, while the other provided customer service.
With only two people working though, it shouldn't have been that hard for one to manage the making of desserts, while the other provided customer service.
It was our first time stepping foot inside the establishment, so a good few minutes had passed before we came to a decision. A Supreme Mango Shaved Iced was ordered to share.
After paying, each table was given a buzzer, much like at Panera Bread or particular burger joints such as Union Burger. Upon the lighting up and vibration of the buzzer, customers could retrieve their long-awaited order(s) from the same counter at which orders were taken.
Despite only ordering one dessert, the wait for ours was approximately 15 minutes. The one girl making drinks/desserts, though nice, had sure taken her sweet time (no pun intended) with crafting each individual order.
After paying, each table was given a buzzer, much like at Panera Bread or particular burger joints such as Union Burger. Upon the lighting up and vibration of the buzzer, customers could retrieve their long-awaited order(s) from the same counter at which orders were taken.
Despite only ordering one dessert, the wait for ours was approximately 15 minutes. The one girl making drinks/desserts, though nice, had sure taken her sweet time (no pun intended) with crafting each individual order.
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I became quite content the moment my buzzer flickered red, and went up to the counter to retrieve our shaved ice.
The frosty snack was composed of finely-shaved ice drizzled with sweetened condensed milk, topped with a generous amount of fresh, ripe chunks of mango, and further garnished with a not-quite-perfectly-hemispherical scoop of subtly flavoured mango ice cream. Presentation was just as advertised in their in-store poster; the only flaws were the evidently visible dark spot on one of the chunks of mango and the two streams of sweetened condensed milk dripping down the sides of the shallow bowl.
The full album can be viewed HERE .
The frosty snack was composed of finely-shaved ice drizzled with sweetened condensed milk, topped with a generous amount of fresh, ripe chunks of mango, and further garnished with a not-quite-perfectly-hemispherical scoop of subtly flavoured mango ice cream. Presentation was just as advertised in their in-store poster; the only flaws were the evidently visible dark spot on one of the chunks of mango and the two streams of sweetened condensed milk dripping down the sides of the shallow bowl.
The full album can be viewed HERE .
The shaved ice hidden underneath the pieces of mango had started to melt slightly by the time it had reached our table (and had a series photos taken), making it the dessert swirl around the bowl as one dug into the dessert to mix its components. Soon, the ice cream melted into the ice, and eventually the shaved ice melted altogether. The dessert was no longer swirling around at this point, and each element perfectly complimented each other in bursts of mango harmony.
It's comes as no surprise that this item is a top-seller, but it also rings in on the pricier side: the dessert is just a little over $10 after tax (yikes!). With zenQ just around the corner, it's less than likely that I'll try their taro/yaro balls and grass jelly shaved ice. On the plus side, they do offer the collection of Vicinity points as opposed to zenQ's flimsier stamp card (gotta love the mini menu though!).
Sweet O'Clock will continue to remain on my food radar, though it's still questionable whether I'll return again just to try a different dessert, especially when their items are produced at such an incredibly sloth-like rate.
Our next stop was Gong Cha, which I had been craving since my Ajisen visit.
It's comes as no surprise that this item is a top-seller, but it also rings in on the pricier side: the dessert is just a little over $10 after tax (yikes!). With zenQ just around the corner, it's less than likely that I'll try their taro/yaro balls and grass jelly shaved ice. On the plus side, they do offer the collection of Vicinity points as opposed to zenQ's flimsier stamp card (gotta love the mini menu though!).
Sweet O'Clock will continue to remain on my food radar, though it's still questionable whether I'll return again just to try a different dessert, especially when their items are produced at such an incredibly sloth-like rate.
Our next stop was Gong Cha, which I had been craving since my Ajisen visit.
< Pictured above: Wintermelon Milk Tea w/ Grass Jelly and Wintermelon Drink (Tea) >
Gong Cha's Wintermelon drinks never cease to deliver the greatest degree of satisfaction. Where I've found Chatime's version to lack depth, Gong Cha's variation boasts a more defined, refined flavour with much character.
Side story: I was supposed to receive a free upsize by redeeming Vicinity points during my last visit, but the girl at cash had redeemed the points without providing me with the upsize. I had not realized this size difference until we were already hopped onto the highway on the return trip home. Nothing could have been at that point, but I brought this matter to the girl at the cashier this time around. She gladly granted me the upsize with a smile, and even apologized for her co-worker's mistake. This level of customer service is quite rare among bubble tea shops, though I could not have appreciated her sincerity more.
We strolled around the area some more before heading to dinner.
Gong Cha's Wintermelon drinks never cease to deliver the greatest degree of satisfaction. Where I've found Chatime's version to lack depth, Gong Cha's variation boasts a more defined, refined flavour with much character.
Side story: I was supposed to receive a free upsize by redeeming Vicinity points during my last visit, but the girl at cash had redeemed the points without providing me with the upsize. I had not realized this size difference until we were already hopped onto the highway on the return trip home. Nothing could have been at that point, but I brought this matter to the girl at the cashier this time around. She gladly granted me the upsize with a smile, and even apologized for her co-worker's mistake. This level of customer service is quite rare among bubble tea shops, though I could not have appreciated her sincerity more.
We strolled around the area some more before heading to dinner.
Seriously, just how adorable are these mini LINE plushies?! Unfortunately, the individual selling price of each was less-than-adorable at a whopping ten dollars (/sigh).
We continued roaming the area until the clock struck 6:00 PM, at which point we headed towards to Pastel Creperie & Dessert House for dinner.
We continued roaming the area until the clock struck 6:00 PM, at which point we headed towards to Pastel Creperie & Dessert House for dinner.
Pastel has both an outdoor dining area, as well as a cute, nifty little patio. Considering that a mild thunderstorm warning was in effect (and that eating outside enabled the possibility of cigarette smoke wafting into our dining premises every few minutes), I opted for a table indoors.
It wasn't until stepping in that I realized how limited the seating was. There were only seven tables in total, each capable of seating four customers. Either the turnover rate is speedy, or customers simply prefer buying takeout, but it still doesn't alter the fact that conversations for the adjacent table(s) will probably be overheard during hours when the shop is packed.
It wasn't until stepping in that I realized how limited the seating was. There were only seven tables in total, each capable of seating four customers. Either the turnover rate is speedy, or customers simply prefer buying takeout, but it still doesn't alter the fact that conversations for the adjacent table(s) will probably be overheard during hours when the shop is packed.
We were greeted and seated immediately upon walking in. Another waitress followed up instantly with two small glasses of water.
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After taking a good long look at the menu, it was decided that a Roasted Turkey Crepe and Chicken Crepe would be ordered. Not even a minute after handing back the menus, our utensils had been prepared and neatly set on the table in front of us. Talk about high efficiency!
Our crepes were shortly served up - they had been made to perfection and garnished at an alarmingly quick pace! I had barely taken in the shop's delicate ornaments and decorations before prepping my camera for more action.
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Both crepes were absolutely delicious! They were chewy without being soggy, and each filling was uniquely scrumptious. The Chicken Crepe contained a generous amount of diced chicken breast, finely chopped cremini mushrooms, just-softened spinach, and a distinct layer of swiss cheese, all wonderfully enveloped in a flavourful cream sauce.
The Roasted Turkey Crepe featured layers of turkey (that bore an oddly similar taste and texture to ham) and a creamy sauce with a consistency essentially identical to mayo wrapped inside a thicker crepe. The addition of the egg was also a nice touch, heightening the overall taste of the savoury dish.
The Roasted Turkey Crepe featured layers of turkey (that bore an oddly similar taste and texture to ham) and a creamy sauce with a consistency essentially identical to mayo wrapped inside a thicker crepe. The addition of the egg was also a nice touch, heightening the overall taste of the savoury dish.
Each was accompanied by a small garden salad drizzled with a hint of vinegar-based dressing, which was decidedly appropriate considering that cream-based sauces had been used for the crepes themselves.
Already full but still lusting for dessert, we decided to share a Green Tea Red Bean Parfait to end the meal on a sweet note.
Already full but still lusting for dessert, we decided to share a Green Tea Red Bean Parfait to end the meal on a sweet note.
The initial debate was between the Mixed Fruit Parfait and the Green Tea Parfait, which costed one dollar more, but I'm glad we eventually decided to choose the latter.
Green tea and red bean is a classic combo, but it's even better in parfait form! The tall glass consisted of layers of green tea ice cream, crunchy granola bites, a very light whipped cream, and small spoonfuls of azuki beans. The bottommost layer was a delightfully airy green tea sponge cake. The parfait also emerged onto our table in a very reasonable amount of time, enabling us to catch the bus back with ease.
For such a small establishment, I have to admit that I had not expected much to start. However, after finally getting a chance to dine in, I can guarantee that I'll be back to try more of the items on their menu.
First of all, service is beyond great - the waitresses were friendly, attentive, and, most importantly, efficient. Not once did they fail to show a smile and were extremely patient when dealing with my indecisiveness. I must also commend their ability to suppress curiosity at my rising from my seat to take photos of the interior.
Secondly, the environment is comfortable - the booths are spacious enough to fit yourself and potentially a large bag. There is definitely a lack of space between neighbouring tables, though the noise level did not prove to be too bad during off-peak hours.
Needless to say, the food was great! Portions were just sufficient, and discernible levels of time and effort had been put into the creation of each item. I can't wait to re-visit!
The full album can be found HERE .
The last stop of the day was Square One, where I was on a mission to restock my supply of Oolong tea and matcha before the mall closed for the day. A few new Itsy Bitsy releases from Hallmark were spotted while on the way out.
Green tea and red bean is a classic combo, but it's even better in parfait form! The tall glass consisted of layers of green tea ice cream, crunchy granola bites, a very light whipped cream, and small spoonfuls of azuki beans. The bottommost layer was a delightfully airy green tea sponge cake. The parfait also emerged onto our table in a very reasonable amount of time, enabling us to catch the bus back with ease.
For such a small establishment, I have to admit that I had not expected much to start. However, after finally getting a chance to dine in, I can guarantee that I'll be back to try more of the items on their menu.
First of all, service is beyond great - the waitresses were friendly, attentive, and, most importantly, efficient. Not once did they fail to show a smile and were extremely patient when dealing with my indecisiveness. I must also commend their ability to suppress curiosity at my rising from my seat to take photos of the interior.
Secondly, the environment is comfortable - the booths are spacious enough to fit yourself and potentially a large bag. There is definitely a lack of space between neighbouring tables, though the noise level did not prove to be too bad during off-peak hours.
Needless to say, the food was great! Portions were just sufficient, and discernible levels of time and effort had been put into the creation of each item. I can't wait to re-visit!
The full album can be found HERE .
The last stop of the day was Square One, where I was on a mission to restock my supply of Oolong tea and matcha before the mall closed for the day. A few new Itsy Bitsy releases from Hallmark were spotted while on the way out.
Scooby-dooby-doooooooooo! These Halloween-themed mini plushies are so cute!
Stay tuned for my collective July visuals!
Stay tuned for my collective July visuals!
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