The year that Sweetery made its debut coincided with the year I was repeatedly left in disappointment with food events throughout Toronto. The first annual Sweetery had been held in a small parking lot at Front and Portland, complete with lots of walking signage in case advertising (and illegally utilizing my content for promotional purposes) hadn't been enough, and involved a fifteen- to twenty-minute walk through sweltering temperatures after disembarking the 510.
Variety hadn't been nearly as plentiful as I had hoped. Quality had also lacking for the prices being charged. I skipped out on last year's as a result of vacationing on the West Coast (absolutely no regrets there) and didn't have the opportunity to see the potential changes that occurred after relocating to David Pecaut Square.
I proposed a Michaels trip to my favourite fangirl, suggesting that we could swing by the desserts-based event this year since it happened to be en route anyway.
With the implementation of fountains and a stage directly outside Metro Hall, the scene was undoubtedly more welcoming than its first year. Booths were situated along the perimeter of the area and two food trucks could be found near the stage.
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Prices were on par with the 2015 launch, as was the selection of goods available. The items on offer included fad items - such as Tsum Tsum-themed macarons, donut cannoli, and macaron burger - as well as a few classics like kakigori and waffles. Savoury styles of paella and corn on the cob also made an appearance.
Perhaps the two sections of my primary interest was Camellia Milk Tea and the Second Harvest games panel. A minimum of five dollars was required to engage in blindfolded - er, Sharpie-tinted-sunglasses-donning - food guessing games. Levels of difficulty ranged between the six stalls, commencing with dried fruit from bulk barn and sandwich cookie fillings to fruit-flavoured gummies and three varieties of tea from DAVIDsTEA.
I found amusement in this, even if the honourary mention prize was no more than a mini Toblerone bar.
I found amusement in this, even if the honourary mention prize was no more than a mini Toblerone bar.
Camellia Milk Tea branded itself in being "Not Your Average" cup of milk tea, for reasons being that no artificial flavours were utilized in the crafting process. The aim was to differentiate themselves from mainstream bubble tea shops through the use of dairy/soy milk instead of milk powders and meticulously picked tea leaves sourced from the best distributors. Jasmine, Rooibos, Earl Grey, and Assam were amongst their choices; a simple syrup of brown sugar and granulated white sugar was served with the drinks.
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At a mere five dollars, I found the flavourful beverages well worth the investment. Earl Grey was a bold, black tea whose hints of citrus paired suprisingly well with milk. Jasmine, the only green tea in the lineup, was floral with a refreshingly astringent aftertaste. I could have used a little less ice in my 10 oz. cup, though the beaming UV rays caused the blocks to disintegrate rapidly anyway.
A lengthy Michaels run and two failed attempts to catch the TTC later, we found ourselves swinging by Uncle Tetsu BAKE and then taking a quick break at Tsujiri before making our way back to the suburbs.
Tsujiri's menu now consists of daifuku, two intriguing parfaits, and a Matcha Double Fromage Cheesecake. One of these said parfaits were sold out at our time of visit, so I pointed towards the Double Fromage Cheesecake slice instead.
It set me back $6.75 before tax, which wasn't too ridiculous considering Cheese Garden's hefty pricing scale. Sturdy sponge, velvety cream cheese, and a soft, cheesy matcha later was the perfect trio to combat an unexpectedly warm day of trekking around the core. I also enjoyed the gentle brushing of cake crumbs at the outer edges of the cake, as they further contributed to texture without being invasive of the cake flavours.
Yuzu O-Matcha was another pick of the day. The iced straight matcha was made invigorating with a subtle layer of yuzu accents.
The train was later caught, and art supplies and cheese tarts were plopped onto the adjacent seats. The journey had been brief, but the weather conditions and congestion rough on the soul. Pulling into the platform and seeing my car in the distance had never been a more comforting sight.
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