Out & About #360 | Naan & Kabob + Pacific Mall

​As far as Middle Eastern cuisine goes, I'm relative inexperienced besides the two rare incidents that brought me to try Paramount and Bamiyan Kabob. I was introduced to the latter by an entity of tremendous familiarity with the cooking style, and while it wouldn't have automatically emerged as my first choice before, I was pleasantly surprised with the unprecedented profile.

Fast-forward to this past June, I received a gracious invitation to an event titled "Foodie Silk Road". A "foodie", by perception, is an extremely generic term that can be applied to any mortal that appreciates the process of filling their appetite with food; an "enthusiast", on the other hand, narrows down the group within that is equipped with the knowledge of comparing and contrasting food-related concerns. The "enthusiast" can be narrow- or open-minded, though his or her opinions will likely be of analytical nature. To many, this is deemed as "pickiness", however I tend to enjoy referring to this accumulation of gustatory knowledge as a path of continual development and self-improvement.

​Alas, let's not stray from the Silk Road. In order to raise awareness about the various types of Afghani dishes offered, Naan & Kabob set out to increase exposure via word-of-mouth as well as social media, a quintessential component of marketing in today's modern society.

The event was to be held in the recently refurbished food court of Scarborough Town Centre, a shopping centre that is quite distant from my own suburban quarters. To meet the start time of 11:30 AM, we set out just following the morning rush and arrived with ample time to spare.

​A section within the food court seating was isolated for the purpose of this event; there was a distinct barrier surrounding the tables, though I can't quite say it was sufficient in obstructing hangry lunch-goers from sneaking in and plopping their trays before them. Frankly, it was a tad amusing to me that the thought of restricted access never crossed their minds.

We were ushered into the area upon arrival, provided beverages and complimentary gift bags, and seated soon after our lunch orders were taken.
The reign of Middle Eastern cuisine remained exotic, unexplored territory for me, so I had requested the assistance of the event staff for meal selection advice. Apparently, standalone locations had different best-sellers as opposed to the quick service outlets, and reasonably so as the establishment categories catered to different niches. The Shish Kabob and Tandoori Chicken were notable picks amongst the Grilled Kabob Plates, so we followed suit.

​The images in the menu were a tad misleading, but there is no negative indication in this by any means. An identical set of elements were present in the containers we later received, though amplified to a portion size more extravagant than pictured.
Shish Kabob and Tandoori Chicken Kabob Plates would ring in at $8.49 and $9.99 respectively, with the addition of rice tacking on an additional $1.50 to $2.00.

Plastic black containers donning our names were presented to us shortly after noon. My immediate reaction was appreciation towards the labelling and organized manner of distribution. Containers with snap lids ensured that all leftovers could easily be taken home, while labelling prevented conflicts and confusion over similar orders.
Given the quick service setting, these operation details are key to maintaining steady service and uncompromised efficiency.

​Each meal arrived with a toasty slice of Naan bread tucked into a white paper bag. Within the container was our choice of protein, curried chickpeas, a bed of seasoned long-grain rice (presumably Basmati), and a side salad tossed in a creamy but light dressing.
As the bases were essentially carbon copies, we took turns in sampling the marinated skewers. Tandoori Chicken featured six vibrant pieces boneless, skin-less chicken breast that were charred to perfection. We had been warned of its not-so-mild seasoning profile, but the result was a bold, smoky flavour with underlying flickers of pepperiness. Its cross-section was, interestingly, paler in tone and a bit dry given its glossy appearance. An entire platter of the chicken may have exceeded my own spice tolerances, though my dining partner-in-crime enjoyed the moderate mildness.

​Shish Kabob comprised of two lengthy strips of chewy ground beef. Seasoned with a medley of herbs and spices, the unsliced kabobs were fragrant and bursting with flavour. In particular, I found the coarseness of the meat to lend texture without veering into stiffness. A soft, herb-laced interior provided further satisfaction.

We both loved the Naan bread, unquestionably so. It was warm to the touch and aromatic to the senses. There was a certain sweetness about that I couldn't quite pinpoint. Regardless, it was wonderful when served alongside the not-so-mild meats and also when reheated in a toaster oven at home.
The curried chickpeas were on the spicier side for me, so I resorted to mixing them with rice for some relief. My partner commented that a fluffier variety of rice would have been preferred, though I begged to differ. Any softer grain counterpart would have resulted in an overall soddenness and failed to carry the herb-infused flavours.

​On a general note, I tend to dislike any dressing-bearing salad. Restaurants tend to commit the mistake of dousing the greens in excess and with an oil-based sauce that rarely ever compliments the main element(s). Yet, Naan & Kabob's salad was unlike the rest. Pickled vegetables and a fluid white dressing were weaved in between the greens and tomato chunks, contributing subtle flavour without being overpowering. The presence of greens also helped to lighten one's palette after ingesting the other components of the hearty meal.

​The aim of the event had been geared towards educating diners about Middle Eastern/Afghani culture by means of food while branching outwards in hopes of establishing a solid customer foundation. Personally, I found much joy in trying out Naan & Kabob: there are plentiful options are me, though I wouldn't have personally been able to distinguish between degrees of authenticity.
The ideal termination of an event or activity is an eye-opening experience that can pave the way for further exploration. With that said, I'd say that N&K was successful.

​Seeing as we had already found ourselves in STC, it would be doing the drive injustice if we had departed without wandering for a while.

Following a stopover at Lindt (chocolate cravings still haven't hit the curb), a mutual decision landed us in the Sweet Jesus - Love Me Sweet - Squish collaboration shop. Neither specialty gummies nor diabetes-inducing soft serve was my cup of tea; instead, I made a beeline for Love Me Sweet to pick up their Matcha Cheese Tart.

​Having lost the close opportunity to try out all three flavours post-formulation, I made it a priority to purchase one single tart to verify whether the trio bore strong similarities. (Note: Coffee Cheesecake is not sold at this location, even though Original and Chocolate versions are present.)
The box was transported home and stashed in the fridge until the next day. To my utter dismay, I arrived home to witness the red packaging uncased and the one and only cheese tart sliced in half. My heart shattered at the sight, and fury rose within me.

​An image of the unscathed tart was uncaptured. However, I should conclude that the Matcha batter was more or less identical to the Original and Chocolate flavours. The grassiness of green tea was absent, though I suppose the formula was a bit denser than the rest. Either way, it did not justify the $3.99 plus tax. I likely would not venture out again having tried an above-average assortment at Uncle Tetsu BAKE.

​The final destination of the day was Pacific Mall. Once again, I set out to revisit the K-Beauty aisle. This time, my intentions led me to obtain a concealer from Missha and the infamous silicon sponge from M Brand (at a whopping seven dollars!).

An update shall be provided in regards to whether the translucent piece of plastic lives up to its name after thorough usage.​

​Soul Cafe's P-mall outpost had been closed during my last visit, thus I had my doubts whether I'd be able to experience proper bingsoo on this trip at all. Thankfully, the doors were open and lineups were nonexistent.

​Prices were listed on a hanging banner above the cashier, as well as on a smaller sheet taped to the counter. At first, I questioned why the prices varied between the signs; the girl responded that the smaller sheet listed the costs with tax included.
Shaved ice was available in Small and Large sizes, with tinier cups ringing in at four dollars instead of six. It was odd that this selection hadn't been listed anywhere else, and that customers were locked in Large cups by default.

< Pictured above and below: Injeolmi Bingsoo (Large) and Cold Grapefruit Drink >
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I also took to verify the store opening hours during this visit: 1 PM on weekdays, and 2 PM on weekends (if I remember correctly, then if not vice versa).

​The Injeolmi Bingsoo tasted identical to the original location on Drewry: clouds of soybean flour were whipped up with each spoonful and even the tiniest gust was sufficient in causing powdery turmoil. An excess of sweetened condensed milk proved to be too cloying for our liking, though crunchy almond slivers and chewy rice cakes were well received as toppings. The layering of injeolmi powder as well as rice cakes in between fluffy portions of snow ice took me by sheer surprise, injecting an extra dose of enjoyment to its consumption.
We were barely able to polish off the entire bucket, though its contents disintegrated along the way with time anyway.

​Iced Grapefruit and Green Grape beverages were told to be the top-rated items from the pricey quartet. I opted for Grapefruit, having completely obliterated the fact that I had once tried it at the North York spot.
With the exception of the sticky cup rim, the chilled variation was far better (and less sweet) than before. Equal parts invigorating and refreshing, the generous spoonful of grapefruit pulp was an added bonus.

​Sauntering around the mall landed us upstairs to pick up crispy egg rolls and witness Dak Lak's ever-changing menu additions. (Rice crackers and banh mi combos sound delicious, might I add.)

​Uncle Tetsu's never-ceasing determination has also landed the Japanese Cheesecake shop at the south side of the mall, precisely at the Markham/Scarborough boundary.

Since the shop had recently emerged of "soft opening", majority of the downtown location's products were unavailable. The Original Cheesecake, Original Rusk, and Madeleines were present, though I was informed that Triple-Baked Cheese Tarts and Matcha items would make their way uptown after approximately two weeks.

The excursion wrapped up with a two-hour drive through rush hour, which ultimately landed me in a state of absolute feebleness. (I mean, you know it's bad when you don't even have energy for cake.)