Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger
  • ~ Home ~
  • ~ What I Think ~
  • ~ What I See ~
    • Events
    • Food
    • People
    • Places
  • ~ What I Make ~
  • Blog Series
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer

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

9/16/2017

 
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.
Picture
​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.
Picture
​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.
Picture
Picture
​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.
Picture
Picture
Picture
​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.
Picture
< Pictured above and below: It's Lit, BYOB with Black Sushi Rice, Crab Salad, Seaweed Salad, Maple Sesame Shoyu, Maguro, and Albacore Tuna >
Picture
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.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
​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. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
​As one cannot officially conclude a meal without dessert, Tsujiri's North York outpost was next.
Picture
Picture
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.
Picture
Picture
​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.
Picture
Picture
​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.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
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.
Picture
Picture
Picture
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.
Picture
Picture
Picture
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?

Poke Eats Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Comments are closed.
    Picture

    Who Am I?

    Formerly an avid owner of several interest-based portals, Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger presents precisely the elements expected. From experiments in the kitchen to miscellaneous musings, from IGOT7 reflections to developments in transportation infrastructure, it's all consolidated here. Welcome to the raw, unfiltered side of Quirky Aesthetics.



    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013


    Categories

    All
    Ahgabond Adventures
    Ahgase
    Arctic Aquarium
    Atlantic Canada 2018
    Barrie
    Beauty
    Birthday Buddy
    Calgary 2023
    Chinese New Year
    Conquering COVID 19
    Daily Randoms
    Eyes On You World Tour 2018
    Food
    Friends
    Hallyucon
    Hamilton
    Hong Kong
    Iron Ring
    Jeju
    J Movie
    K Drama
    K-Drama
    Korea 2025
    Korean Beauty
    K Pop
    Los Angeles 2017
    Macau
    Montréal 2023
    New York 2018
    Ottawa 2019
    Pilates
    Random Rant
    Restaurant Review
    Seoul
    Shopping
    SSMC
    Taiwan
    TFR
    Vacation
    Vancouver 2013
    Vancouver 2014
    Vancouver 2015
    Vancouver 2016
    Vancouver 2020
    Vancouver 2022
    Vancouver 2024


    trazy.com

    RSS Feed


WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

Quirky =  a term that commonly refers to something/someone distinctly different and unique
Aesthetics = the visual aspect of things



Together, Quirky Aesthetics refers to the things, events, and happenings seen and perceived by this blog's creator - quirky perspectives in a visual form.

Contact ME

​Subscribe

Join our mailing list today!
Join Now
© Quirky Aesthetics. All rights reserved. Last modified: August 10, 2015.