With secondary school examinations having concluded for the season, I've been leading a rather desk-bound lifestyle since dragging myself to Oakville through rush hour is no longer a task I need to take part in. July has provided me with oodles of time for exploration and backlog review, and brief road trips on days I'd like to feel less sedentary.
Canada Day has since passed, though that isn't necessarily synonymous with the halting of Canada 150 celebrations throughout the GTA. The stickers and logos remain visible everywhere, and as I patriotic individual, I'm pleasantly proud of it.
Here are some partial/mid-month visuals to sum up my previously unposted activities:
1) Day trip to Welland
Canada Day has since passed, though that isn't necessarily synonymous with the halting of Canada 150 celebrations throughout the GTA. The stickers and logos remain visible everywhere, and as I patriotic individual, I'm pleasantly proud of it.
Here are some partial/mid-month visuals to sum up my previously unposted activities:
1) Day trip to Welland
 |  |
2) Minion Happy Meals are the best Happy Meals (besides Snoopy and Monsters Inc. ones, of course)
3) Foraging for sustenance near St. Catharines
3) Foraging for sustenance near St. Catharines
4) Disney x The Face Shop
While on the hunt for a fitting gift for my birthday twin, I came across the Disney x The Face Shop limited edition collection. Lip tints, lip balm pots, and eye-lip palettes were fabulous and all, but the true stunner of the pack was the eyeliner-mascara duo.
While on the hunt for a fitting gift for my birthday twin, I came across the Disney x The Face Shop limited edition collection. Lip tints, lip balm pots, and eye-lip palettes were fabulous and all, but the true stunner of the pack was the eyeliner-mascara duo.
The metal box was sleek yet charming, while the tops of both products boasted adorable Mickey Mouse ears. I have yet to deplete my black eyeliner samples, however this set was just too irresistibly cute! (Bonus: I also received a kitchen towel set for fulfilling the purchase.)
 |  |
5) Post-strawberry picking late lunch at Hub Sushi
6) Late morning errand-running means taking McD's on the go
7) Soul Cafe carries melon bingsoo now?!
8) Crafting tangyuan from scratch with Brown's help
6) Late morning errand-running means taking McD's on the go
7) Soul Cafe carries melon bingsoo now?!
8) Crafting tangyuan from scratch with Brown's help
 |  |
 |  |
9) Cover FX's Cream Concealer was chosen after a solid investigation at Sephora, though returned within two days since creasing was prevalent and coverage thin.
10) Attending Naan & Kabob's Silk Road event
11) Pacific Mall things
10) Attending Naan & Kabob's Silk Road event
11) Pacific Mall things
 |  |
13) Word on the street was that Get it Beauty opened up at World on Yonge. While the 20% off promotion is in place for their Grand Opening, selection was quite lacking and not nearly up to P-Mall K-Beauty aisle standards.
14) Having visited CoCo thrice in the span of seven days, I think my additions are becoming a bit too severe.
15) P.A.T.'s Thornhill outpost carries a substantial assortment of carb-filled delights
14) Having visited CoCo thrice in the span of seven days, I think my additions are becoming a bit too severe.
15) P.A.T.'s Thornhill outpost carries a substantial assortment of carb-filled delights
 |  |
16) Hub Sushi
The very fact that Hub appears not once but twice in this mid-month collection is a genuine validation of its topnotch dining experience and consistent quality.
The very fact that Hub appears not once but twice in this mid-month collection is a genuine validation of its topnotch dining experience and consistent quality.
< Pictured above and below: Lunch Set C: Chef's Selection of Sashimi + Spicy Tuna Roll, Ocean Dream >
No matter the time of day or volume of incoming traffic, I have never departed the establishment feeling unnerved, displeased, nor incomplete. Under the recommendation of foodieelove, I opted for one of the Japanese fusion spot's special rolls instead of my regular order of Salmon Aburi Pressed Sushi. Ocean Dream was a satisfying octet of tuna, cucumber, avocado, thinly-spiralized cucumber, and tobiko. Each piece featured a hefty handful of fillings secured within a thin layer of sushi rice and topped with salmon sashimi. An ornate drizzling of (what I presume to be) teriyaki sauce finished the dish. (I could have done without the smeared, dried wasabi underneath the rim of the dish though.)
No matter the time of day or volume of incoming traffic, I have never departed the establishment feeling unnerved, displeased, nor incomplete. Under the recommendation of foodieelove, I opted for one of the Japanese fusion spot's special rolls instead of my regular order of Salmon Aburi Pressed Sushi. Ocean Dream was a satisfying octet of tuna, cucumber, avocado, thinly-spiralized cucumber, and tobiko. Each piece featured a hefty handful of fillings secured within a thin layer of sushi rice and topped with salmon sashimi. An ornate drizzling of (what I presume to be) teriyaki sauce finished the dish. (I could have done without the smeared, dried wasabi underneath the rim of the dish though.)
 |  |
View the full album HERE !
The Lunch Special arrived with miso soup and garden salad, the former presented with steamy clouds escaping its tan-toned surface. Six Spicy Tuna Rolls surrounded the platter of sparkling sashimi: they were delicious, with Sriracha mayo highlighting pulpy bits of the finely-chopped fish. That being said, they were, admittedly, a tad tougher and more rigid than expected. One couldn't possibly complain about the sashimi though - the slices were gushingly fresh and had me instantly lusting for more. Within single slices of salmon were fleshy bits laced with mild amounts of blubber, yielding mouthfuls of soothing bites of lean protein as well as luscious layering of fatty finesse.
As always, service was stellar. (Need I say more?)
The Lunch Special arrived with miso soup and garden salad, the former presented with steamy clouds escaping its tan-toned surface. Six Spicy Tuna Rolls surrounded the platter of sparkling sashimi: they were delicious, with Sriracha mayo highlighting pulpy bits of the finely-chopped fish. That being said, they were, admittedly, a tad tougher and more rigid than expected. One couldn't possibly complain about the sashimi though - the slices were gushingly fresh and had me instantly lusting for more. Within single slices of salmon were fleshy bits laced with mild amounts of blubber, yielding mouthfuls of soothing bites of lean protein as well as luscious layering of fatty finesse.
As always, service was stellar. (Need I say more?)
17) Mango Bingsoo from The Cups
Sushi + bingsoo is truly a no-fail combination, especially when the shops lie in plazas situated directly across from each other. Tiramisu was decent and Injeolmi was tasty, so how would Mango prove to be?
Sushi + bingsoo is truly a no-fail combination, especially when the shops lie in plazas situated directly across from each other. Tiramisu was decent and Injeolmi was tasty, so how would Mango prove to be?
 |  |
Whipped cream, almond slivers, and cheesecake bites covered the surface of the Cup-sized treat, while alternating layers of mango syrup and delicate milk ice comprised of the body. As someone who retains a neutral fondness for mangoes and absolutely despises the synthetic taste of mango concentrate, the Mango Bingsoo was a winner in my books. A few deductions were made for the partially defrosted mango chunks (ack, brain freeze), though such a factor was insignificant compared to the extensive wait time during the last visit.
View the updated album HERE !
RSS Feed