Out & About #299 | Toronto Christmas Market 2016 + Cacao 70 Distillery

I hadn't exactly intended on attending the Christmas Market this winter. Admission fees now applied to Friday afternoons as well as weekends, though there hadn't really been any noticeable new additions to the annual festivity.

Nonetheless, the appeal of the pink trees and supposed giant sphere of cheese drew me in. After a morning of Hard Carry-ing and chocolate delivery, I set out to explore the heavily decorated section of Distillery with a fellow food and K-Pop enthusiast.

​Wandering through the aisles was a completely different experience during daytime: as opposed to trailing behind crowds in the frigid cold while observing the glow of string lights and becoming distracted in the process, manouvering the area became significantly easier due to improved visibility.

​It was undeniably colder than last year though, meaning that the bun encasing our mustard-topped Bratwurst sausage assumed dry and stale properties upon being exposed to air. 

To allow for the regeneration of warmth in our bodies, we ducked into independent retailers between sips of craft beer samples and piping hot Campbell soups.

View the full album HERE !

Ultimately, we weren't able to locate the enormous ball of cheese that had been glorified on social media sites. We instead took to analyzing the background characteristics of the spots where Jackson and Jinyoung had filmed the most recent two episodes of Hard Carry.

​Not only had they purchased coffee and cookies at a vendor near the Mill St. entrance of the market, but also took to shopping around a boutique coincidentally named "GOTSTYLE".

GOT7 visiting GOTSTYLE? - It was too perfect of a combination. (And do you see that 'Park' toque?!!)

​Numerous attempts at recreating their Distillery snapshots later, the fact that our desperate tries could not compare to their magnificent beauty was deeply emblazed in our hearts.

Eventually, the cold became a tad too unbearable. Cacao 70 was nearby and appeared to be the most ideal spot to indulge while recovering from the frost.

Despite entering the premises during off-peak hours on a weekday afternoon, majority of the floor was filled with customers of all ages embracing the holiday spirit. There was a minimal wait for a two-person table, though I noticed that table turnover rates were relatively consistent for parties of various sizes.

​The interior was modern and comfortable, though nowhere near as spacious and illuminated as I would like. Cafe Augusta-like bulbs cast a yellow-orange tint on all elements of the table, ensuring that none would be exempt from harsh shadows and distasteful glare spots. In essence, wooden furniture paired with chalkboard-mirror walls worked wonderfully with the atmosphere of the tourist district, but the poor choice of lighting annihilated this once tranquil store concept.

​Service was friendly and prompt, but it was evident that customers would not be permitted to lounge about after devouring their ordered items. Given the high traffic load of the area, this was not an unreasonable request. (Though, I did find it odd that Wi-Fi was provided for an establishment that prohibited dawdling.)
In order to quicken this turnover process though, it is recommended that the brunch spot/dessert parlour invest in an additional washroom stall, preferably one for exclusive customer usage and not shared by visitors of the neighbouring businesses. (We did not appreciate lineups exceeding ten minutes, especially when those in front of us had strollers and young infants in tow.)

​The menu was quite expansive and included everything from drinking chocolate of varying cocoa percentages to savoury crepes to triple chocolate fondue. We finalized our options to two "Sweet Icons": Triple Chocolate Pizza or Chocolate Marshmallow Pizza; our server suggested the latter in the form of half 12" pizza, such that each would receive two slices of gooey s'mores goodness.

​Utensils were first delivered to our table, then followed by the grand creation itself. Served atop a gorgeous (but weighty) slab of white-grey marble was a warm, lightly charred dessert pizza accompanied by sliced strawberries, bananas, and even more chocolate sauce.

In contrast to the overly firm, sugar-laden product that I had expected, the Chocolate Marshmallow Pizza emerged to be an extremely satisfying choice that was neither too sweet nor too large to finish. The base was crisp yet spongy, and the melted marshmallows soft and sticky. The addition of fresh fruit was a refreshing touch to the dessert.

​I can officially conclude that Cacao 70's Distillery location is just as enjoyable as its smaller Queen and Spadina outpost, minus easily accessible outlets, diffused natural lighting, and an otherwise leisurely atmosphere. It is a place of indulgence for tourists and locals alike.
Prices are a tad steep - hot chocolates ranged from six to ten dollars per cup, so the preferred dining option is to split the larger desserts among several friends.

​The return trek began as the sky began to dim. It was a shame that I wouldn't be able to capture the beauty of the lights submerged in a endless sea of navy, but I had other callings to attend to.

Tandem happened to reside in a convenient location (ie. next to the streetcar stop), so I swooped in to pick up a Black Sesame Latte before continuing onwards.

It was as smooth and fragrant as I remember! I almost succumbed to the Neko shortbread and Matcha Sesame Rings, but then remembered Put A Cone On It's Matcha White Chocolate Chips Cookies.

My last destination of the day was Koreatown - specifically Sarah & Tom. I was on a mission to pick up GOT7's Turbulence album, which was a task I had failed to accomplish during my recent Pmall trip.

Opting to finish the entire excursion on a sweet note, I continued westward to Put A Cone On It. Unfortunately, the dimmed interior notified me that they had long closed before my arrival. Trips were made to Hodo Kwaja and Kevin's Taiyaki instead.

​The Turbulence albums were released in eight different versions: one for each member and another for the entire group. Having not been able to obtain Jackson, Jinyoung, or a group photobook, I took my chances to purchase two more.

Shortly after stepping foot into the door, I unveiled the first one: JACKSON!!
The second album, which I hadn't held much hope for, miraculously turned out to be JINYOUNG!!

I may have just used up a week's worth of luck in this. (Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!)

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