Out & About #380 | Thai Milk Tea, Poke Eats + Tsujiri North York

North York is a wonderful strip of fusion eateries that happens to be accessible both by public transit and driving. Traversing up (or down) Yonge Street in search of parking can be a nuisance, though the ever-evolving selection of establishments is worth the effort in my opinion.

New to the Yonge-Sheppard area is Tsujiri and Bake Code's recent Thai Iced Tea launch. When they first revealed a sneak peek of their summer drink collection, I had anticipated to have it tried before the commencement of the school season. A similar case with Pablo, I believe three specialty beverages were added to the menu the same weekend I departed for LA.

​While only a mere two weeks of academia have passed, the workload is tremendous and persistently troublesome. In desperate need of a breather, my mind trailed off on the idea of venturing uptown to take part in the things I had missed.

Bake Code was the first stop. The bakery opened early, which made it a suitable waiting/meetup location. A lineup had already formed at the cashier when I entered, so I took a seat and evaluated their assortment of breads and pastries while waiting for the line to dissipate.

Thai Iced Tea was available in two sizes: Regular and Large, with the latter weighing in at $5.00 before tax. The cost was on the hefty side, but, relative to their bakery goods and standard Chatime drinks, still fairly economic.

​The milky orange beverage was slid over the counter after a few minutes, with perhaps a spoonful more ice than I would have liked. The contents of the plastic cup was fragrant, smooth, and, most importantly, flavourful. Strong notes of tea and spices were tasted, along with a certain familiar milkiness that's often found in bubble tea.
Chatime possesses their own rendition of Thai Iced Tea as well, but as a summertime exclusive. Bake Code's version was less rich in milk power, causing it to be more refreshing than satiating. Expectations were fulfilled with great confidence. I'll likely be trying this again.

​Nanashake was my first visit to the developing apartment complex at Yonge and Bogert. While the site remains un-updated on Google Maps, the reality is that many retailers have settled into the structure's lobby. This time, I chanced upon H Cafe (an expansion of Uncle Tetsu in Unionville), Love Me Sweet, and quite a significant number of new food court stalls.

Facing the south side of the building was Poke Eats - the only spot serving up marinated sashimi bowls in the vicinity. The storefront was comprised entirely of glass which simultaneously allowed sufficient illumination to fill the store and passerbys to catch a glimpse of skillful fish-slicing knifework.

​Seats were few and service was speedy; it's quick-service atmosphere did not skimp on customer service though. The girl behind the cashier was more than happy to respond to inquiries in a pleasant, patient manner.

< Pictured above and below: It's Lit, BYOB with Black Sushi Rice, Crab Salad, Seaweed Salad, Maple Sesame Shoyu, Maguro, and Albacore Tuna >

The menu adopted the form of a lofty chalkboard: amusingly-named Signature Bowls provided quick choices for indecisive clients, while BYOB (Build-Your-Own-Bowl) options enabled complete customization in either Snack- or Regular-sized bowls.

​A Snack Size was chosen in fear of generating food wastage.It ultimately proved a knowledgeable decision as half the bowl was filled with compacted black (or rather, purple) sushi rice, while toppings were scattered on the surface. The tuna chunks were fresh and supple, albeit on the slightly warmer side for having been rested on steaming rice. Only a minor difference could be tasted between the Maguro and Albacore, though both had been neatly tossed in the accompanying sauce(s) beforehand, yielding a solid flavour profile. The rice was seasoned as well, creating a sense of cohesion throughout the dish.
Portions of the crab and sesame salads were on the scarcer side, so it would have been preferable to adjust the rice to topping ratio for better proportion. 

​As one cannot officially conclude a meal without dessert, Tsujiri's North York outpost was next.

View the full album HERE !

The dark walls, unobtrusive lighting, and spacious interior was a drastic difference from the bustling, cramped corridor of their first location on Dundas. A sophisticated, zenful vibe reflective of a Japanese tea house resonated from its quarters. Desserts were also arranged in an orderly fashion - Delysees-style - for ease of selection. A plethora of seating could be found throughout the shop, ranging from front-facing bar seats to a wooden communal table to lounge chairs.

​Three individual washrooms stalls were located on the basement level of the shop. Dissimilar to that of other neighbouring establishments were wide, sturdy steps. Unlike Gong Cha or Cafe de Paris two doors down, the staircase assumed a steady decline that was free of dust and unidentifiable elements.

​Unable to choose between a Tsujiri Float or Yuzu Ice Blended, the final pick lay with the Yuzu Mint Rare Cheesecake Cake Blended. At $7.50 (or $8.00 for a Medium) before tax, the small dessert was pricey to say in the least. Topping options were between whipped cream and soft serve (for an additional charge).
The dessert comprised of a blended ice base of yuzu and mint, followed by round slab of rare cheesecake of roughly one inch thickness. Drizzled on top was a tart yuzu sauce that injected both colour and boldness. It was the ideal dessert to curb cravings while relieving oneself of heat stroke.

I picked up a Kinako Daifuku and Yuzu Tart before my departure. Daifuku items are almost always sold out at the downtown location, while the Yuzu Tart was a seemingly new introduction.

In contrast to the mushy mound of syrup-laden cream that had found their way into Sasaki Pastry in J-Town, Tsujiri's rendition was much more enjoyable. The outer casing of mochi was thin and chewy, and enabled one to slice through with ease. The dual layers of kinako-infused cream and sweet soybean paste lent a satisfying nuttiness to the concoction, while the liberal dusting of the powder aided to heighten its aromas further.

​The Yuzu Tart consisted of three major components: a sturdy shell, invigorating citrus filling, and a delicate squirt of rich, grassy matcha cream. Almost reminiscent of a lighter version of lemon meringue, a fine slice of the refreshing tart hit the spot for afternoon tea.

In addition to regular offerings witnessed downtown, matcha powder can also purchased at this location for a meager fifteen dollars. Had my inventory not already been replenished, I would have hopped on without second thoughts. Though, this simply reasons a second visit, am I right?

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