Out & About #1132 | The Last of Autumn, Halloween Pizza Party + The Keg

​By this point, we've officially entered the single-digit temperature zone. Mornings hover around 4 C, while the mid-day peak flutters between 11-14 C. Despite despising the dry, cracked skin that comes with colder weather, I thrive in the ability to wear cozy knits and layered ensembles without fear of perspiring profusely.

My Korea content remains unattended, for inadequate are even the brief spurts of reprise from ongoing work duties. Dare I say, I've forgotten to breath for the past while!

Coupled with an unworkable direct line of management and incompetent team member, frustrations have surged. Rather than merely enjoying my sixty minutes of unpaid lunch, I now struggle to remove myself from meetings in order to disconnect for sanity purposes on a consistent basis. What a travesty it is to be posed with such a dilemma: To live life or to let life live you.

However short-lived, I make the constant effort to step away from the depressing screen of black and white. Crunchy fall leaves and the brilliant gradient of fall foliage are amongst the few elements that bring peace to my soul.

The beauty of autumn is truly unparalleled! It's a period where I wish time would move slower, to allow for proper appreciation of Mother Nature and to relish in refreshingly brisk temperatures before the dreaded arrival of winter.

​Halloween decorations began to emerge in the office, readying the space for upcoming festivities.

I concluded the day with tremendous fatigue, not unassociated with the despicable Monday morning team meeting that never seems to be cancelled and never ends punctually. As a consequence of rapid decline in coordination abilities, I suffered a stinging laceration to the thumb, sheerly from proceeding about daily route. And I hadn't even managed to muster the energy to engage in daily exercise, the usual highlight of my day!

The second in-office day was comparatively better. For starters, all meetings had been nixed or postponed. I was also relieved of pestering people, until the late afternoon anyway.

Costumes had been encouraged for the spooky week, and my choice lay with the star of Netflix's latest mystery series.

My rendition of Wednesday Addams was undoubtedly tamer and cheerier than the original. Streams of black tears had been omitted to retain professionalism, in case of impromptu meetings. That said, I endeavoured to adhere to a colourless palette for eye makeup (substituting my usual pink eyeshadow for grey instead), as Wednesday is allergic to colour. The yellow stitching on my awfully squeaky Docs was the sole deviation.

​Come lunchtime, the floor was overwhelmed with a staggering selection from Moga's Pizza. Toasty, brimming with toppings and oodles of gooey cheese strands, and positively indulgent, I enthusiastically took to four (!) slices out of indecisiveness (and being prompted by a fellow floor member).

​Soft drinks and a plentiful portion of semi-melted Halloween candy were also arranged nearby.

Given the lack of seating in the kitchen, I opted to bring my slices back to my desk to enjoy. The spread was soon joined by a container of choy sum from home.

It was worth noting that, while I hadn't received much commentary on my attire when I first strode into the office, many colleagues did, in fact, recognize the intention and applauded me for successfully executing the Wednesday presence.

I took to another stroll at lunch, this time marvelling at the shrubs along the Duke of York frontage of the Living Arts Centre.

​Eventually, my footsteps led me into the mall, where I was met with various seasonal product displays battling for attention. Observed were Halloween onesies at Urban Planet and spider-decked truffle tins at Purdy's.

​Then came string lights, wreaths, not-yet-illuminated trees in the mall corridors and within Simons.

​High spirits persisted into the latter half of the day, until a barrage of brainless earfuls were sent my way. At times like these, I wondered how some creatures had come to terms with themselves. Opting out of office activities and gleeful gatherings while simultaneously halting all possible opportunities at critical thinking was an incredulous undertaking, and often not voluntary.

Six months into enduring the role, I'm glad to report that fellow office mates have grown accustomed to - and further welcome - my shenanigans. Not all conversations must revolve around work: getting to know people as individuals is equally important in building rapport.

Excess chocolate ganache from the Butternut Squash Tart had been set aside for the time being, as the weekend had already comprised of far too many projects in parallel. I tended to the bowl two days later, forming spheres and rolling them into cocoa powder. These would constitute delightfully luxurious ganache truffles.

Overwhelming praise was received from my office mates, with one originally declining to sample then eagerly extending a hand when the creator was revealed.
Admittedly, I was far from pleased when a troublesome colleague had reached for the box, flipped the label backwards, and left a trail of cocoa powder across the table. That said, my treats weren't exclusive; had they been, I would have placed the box on my desk for safekeeping instead.

​One of the students brought homemade chocolate chip cookies in a pink IKEA zip bag, and even offered to share them with me despite only having three in tow. I carefully reached for one, but was, in fact, encouraged to take as many as desired, for I had singlehandedly provided sweet sustenance for the floor again and again without fail.

The gesture was very kind and instilled a sense of warmth within me: Being the recipient of appreciation and having built comradery over food was a lovely thing.

​Over lunch, I was catapulted into the cold, windy dampness to meet a former coworker. The gusts were ruthless, as was the continuous stream of raindrops. My fingers became icy within minutes; waiting at her front door hadn't helped either.

​Eventually, I succumbed to the allure of a warm beverage, mainly for the sake of reinstating feeling into my frigid fingertips.
CoCo's Hot Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea was sought, for the TOTM promotion had rendered it better value than any Tim Hortons mobile offer (which were strangely all pertaining to Iced Coffee).

​Despite working to the point of near-collapse, as well as physical and mental exhaustion, for two consecutive days, I was grateful to have been exempt from worthless meetings. Just as I was about to wrap up for the day, a despicable email is received. Opening its contents, a disgruntled scoff echoed about my desk: it was none other than a last-minute ask diminishing the value of my other efforts undertaken thus far. Some people are truly better being followers than leaders.

I proceeded as planned though, departing earlier than my usual end time. Alas, only twenty minutes had been recovered due to my desire to complete an ongoing work task.

The evening hours marked my return to The Pilates Body. Braving an aggressive rainstorm, I, along with three younger members of the office, ventured towards the studio for a 5PM group session.

​Since my 2023 experience, the studio has added more equipment and re-arranged their layout slightly to incorporate organizational apparatus, such as a coat hanging fixture by the door and an equipment rack along the wall.

​Labelled as a "Beginner Reformer Class", I wasn't expecting any new concepts beyond my existing knowledge. Too lengthy was the warm-up period for muscle engagement. Persisting pain around my knees also caused discomfort when doing footwork. The class was suitable for second- or third-timers, for the pace was moderate and the exercises straightforward; that said, there was frequent mention of terminology (neutral, imprint spine) and instructions that assumed a strong mind-to-muscle connection.

All in all, the class refreshed on pilates principles but posed little difficulty for yours truly. If anything, I merely confirmed precision in my form, and the ability to handle a quicker tempo and expanded range.

After bidding farewell to the girls, I made a stopover at Galleria before heading back. The intent was to locate the coveted KANU packets from my spring trip to Korea. Unsurprisingly, the 10-pack that had retailed for 4,200 KRW in Lotte Mart was subject to a tragic markup following import. The product had practically doubled in price, retailing at a premium $9.49 locally.
I took a box, grudgingly relinquishing my hard-earned funds, for there was no alternative to satisfy the yearning for KANU.

Also spotted was a decent selection of De Mello products, ranging from whole bean coffee to their best-selling Nom Nom Vietnamese Instant Coffee. In a pinch, Galleria was convenient for reliving Seoul experiences without the grueling 16-hour plane ride. However, the quality of pre-packaged and fresh goods is far inferior, despite their steeper price tags.

While the rest of the GTA celebrates trick-or-treating and rowdy gatherings for viewing sports, Halloween always holds different implications for me.

We revisited The Keg for dinner, precisely one year later. (Mother's Day had been a lunch outing instead.)

The dining floor was peaceful, yet populated nevertheless. Although I was anticipating no more than a handful of patrons in the restaurant, a glance about the space confirmed that there were at least four occupied tables in every direction. Originally, the hostess had attempted to seat us towards a dim, cramped corner booth against the wall. It was a gesture met with disgust, especially seeing that there were plenty of tables and booths available.
"So do you want me to ask if you can sit there?" she retorted.
"Well yes."

​Aside from this particular member of staff, the rest of the evening played out smoothly and respectfully. Our server was a cheery fellow, prompt and positively professional in every way.

The Keg Features Menu wasn't presented until his arrival, but I had been aware of the offerings having conducted my own share of research before venturing out. The Braised Short Rib caught my attention immediately. I had also contemplated the Fireside Old Fashioned, though halted request upon seeing "marshmallow" twice in the ingredient list. Ultimately, I settled on the Gin Basil Lemonade, a refreshing and lightly herbaceous cocktail that set me back $15 for the 2 oz. portion.

​After placing our orders, we eagerly awaited the arrival of warm bread. Consistently delivering scrumptiousness, the specimen embraced a wonderfully crunchy exterior with a plush, tangy interior reminiscent of sourdough. The porous structure within was a spectacle to behold in itself! The Keg's bread starter never disappoints.

​Mains comprised of the aforementioned Braised Short Rib and a Keg Classics Filet Mignon with Garden Salad.

Four hefty chunks of short rib were arranged atop a generous mound of skin-on garlic mashed potatoes. Garlic green beans had been substituted with red peppers upon request. A red wine demi-glace made its appearance both in a small Stainless steel pitcher and drizzled over the dish's components.

​Four hefty chunks of short rib were arranged atop a generous mound of skin-on garlic mashed potatoes. Garlic green beans had been substituted with red peppers upon request. A red wine demi-glace made its appearance both in a small Stainless steel pitcher and drizzled over the dish's components.
The condiment was incredibly salty, causing me to recoil immediately. Two of four pieces of braised beef were tender, while the other two sinewy, tough, and "cow-y" in aroma. As for the sides, there was an obvious void of leafy greens. I appreciated the textural contrast of the mashed potatoes, as well as its relatively mild notes of garlic; the sautéed red peppers were also worth noting, for they had been cooked just until its edges began to shrivel and darken, preserving a juicy snap at its midsection.

View the full album HERE !

​The Filet Mignon was impeccable as always: a tender, rosy Medium Rare that paired exceptionally with sauteed 'shrooms and delightfully sweet roasted beets.

Concluding the meal was a lavish slice of Billy Miner Pie. Seemingly hefty in its visuals, the mocha ice cream cake was drizzled generously with caramel and hot fudge sauce, then topped with a heavy proper portion of sliced almonds (reminiscent of my Finger Cookies!). The Oreo cookie crumb base contributed structural integrity while subtly alluding to the indulgence of brownies.

​We enjoyed the treat tremendously, even after a full meal of meat and carbs.

When the time had come to pack up leftovers and settle the bill, our server swiftly swooped in with containers and a large paper bag, which he hung on the adjacent coat hook instead of placing on the damp table or - the most despicable of all - the floor. Although seemingly insignificant to some, the care and detail in his communication was particularly memorable.

​The evening ended with yet another fabulous experience at The Keg.