Out & About #390 | Part 1: Little Pebbles + JaBistro

​Little Pebbles is unofficially the cutest, most versatile spot in Kensington, and I can affirm this. Warmer weather means Cold Brew, while chillier temperatures introduce Apple Cider and other festive selections. From Sakura Tiramisu to Daifuku constructed from seasonal fresh fruit, this quaint Japanese cafe's selection of cakes and confectioneries (and beverages!) never ceases to stop widening.

​Sakura Tiramisu and Uji Tiramisu have earned themselves a spot on my must-try list for some time now, but academic desolation has forbidden downtown journeys of any sort since the start of the semester. DAY6's concert was the perfect excuse to commute to Kensington a bit early for some much-needed dessert TLC.

​Between ochungg and I, an Uji Tiramisu and Kinako Opera Cake were divided - somewhat evenly, might I add, based on personal preferences.

​Presented in a tasteful wooden box was the Uji Tiramisu. Appropriately named it was, for its vibrant surface was thoughtful of the green tea-producing municipality in Kyoto. The topmost layer was a striking green: a generous dusting of matcha powder that blended sweet grassiness with the optimal proportion of bitterness. Its middle layer was fragrant and creamy, though more reminiscent of whipped cream cheese than mascarpone; a thin sheet of red bean paste found itself immediately underneath the silky cheesecake blanket, followed by airy sponge cake.
The Japanese take on the traditional Italian dish combined the tried-and-true green tea-red bean pairing with lighter flavours to suit a more delicate palate. I deemed it a unique twist on tiramisu, but not nearly as indulgent nor caffeinated enough to curb cravings. Swapping the standard red bean layer for a matcha custard would have also solidified depth and intensity.
In the original recipe, ladyfingers are commonly brushed with a mixture of coffee liquor and/or simple syrup prior to the layering of the mascarpone layer; Little Pebbles' rendition was devoid of alcohol and only retained a minimal amount of syrup, leaving much to be desired.

< Pictured above and below: Uji Tiramisu, Kinako Opera Cake, Kinako Latte, Black Sesame Latte >

The Kinako Opera was a marvelous specimen to behold: wispy thin layers of biscuit and roasted soybean flour cream were gently pressed into an intricate slice. Although my dining partner-in-crime concluded dryness, I personally found great enjoyment in disecting the individual forkfuls. The roasted essence of injeolmi were present, and in a less intrusive form than Korean bingsoo. Astonishly elaborate presentation aside, the medley of nutty kinako and delightful creaminess was impressive and impactful. Even alongside a Kinako Latte, the cake did not bring about soybean overload.

For fans of kinako and injeolmi, the Kinako Latte is sure to induce a remarkable response. Slightly sweetened and swathed within dainty pockets of frothed milk, it was unmistakably addictive albeit the absence of caffeine. Occassional swirling would be recommended, as the powder does prove to settle towards the bottom of the cup over time.

​While Little Pebbles and their unique range of products reign as the main reason for my inclined visits to Kensington, the extreme compactness of the shop and limited seating restricts residing time. Moreover, the shop sadly does not offer any outlets to restore the performance of a constantly dying smartphone.

That said, I suggested CoCo as a destination for outlet hunting. Upon arrival though, the bubble tea shop was observed to be at max capacity,  forcing us to relocate elsewhere for juice.

Having instantly recalled Icha Tea's cozy tea room amidst the painfully slow trek through market central, we strode up the steps, only to find all outlets in use yet again.

​There were, however, two awkwardly-positioned spots in the waiting area alongside the main corridor. I gladly set my belongings onto the stools, plugged in the apparatus in question, and hopped onto their password-secured Wi-Fi network.

​The connection was instantaneously declared as sluggish, unsurprising given the incredulous number of laptop users within earshot.
But as a spot with bold-flavoured brewed teas - Roasted Oolong is a winner! - and sufficient heating, it was a decent destination to catch up before a chaotic evening.

​That is, until I laid eyes on the bathroom stalls.

The two gender-separated stalls were, by far, the most revolting scenes I had ever had the opportunity to see (and smell).
The women's washroom was almost always occupied, so I creaked open the adjacent men's stall to determine whether it was usable. Prior to even switching on the lights, all olfactory senses were ruthlessly slapped with an outrageously atrocious fume cloud. I shut the door to halt further infiltration of utmost grossness.
The only "safe" stall wasn't actually that safe either. The facilities were grimy and dusty, paper towels were in complete absence, and uncovered wastebins displayed exposed sanitary pads for all users to behold. The sheer contrast against the soulful aura dining area came as an immense shock to me. Even New Kennedy's bathrooms are more pristine in comparison.

Time flew by before we knew it, and we were in desperate need of sustenance before the show.

​With great speed, we marched westward to JaBistro, arriving shortly after opening hours.

​I suggested calling in advance to ensure a table, since, to our knowledge, walk-in seating is quite limited. The hostess who had answered my call was extremely pleasant, and her sole request was that we would need to terminate the meal by 6:30 PM. It was the ideal situation as we would need to be on our way shortly anyways.

< Pictured above and below: Aburicious, Nakaochi Temaki, Nashi Compote >

​Despite the hurried manner in which we placed and consumed our orders, service remained courteous while swift. The Aburicious was, as always, a stunning platter of supple torched specimens, while the seasonal Nakaochi Temaki oozed freshness with each bite. Hand rolls are generally challenging to craft as the seaweed wrapper is vulnerable to losing crunch with each passing second. A generous portion of fillings also means that users are more prone to unseemly appearances should the seaweed cripple under the influence of moisture penetration.

​The Nakaochi Temaki actually ruled out majority of our concerns, for the fatty bluefin tuna filling was supple and satisfactorily seasoned without causing its outer casing to become soft. Fillings were of a substantial size, and the impossibly thin string of scallions heightened its profile further. The overall product was reminiscent of a leaner variation of their Negitoro maki, presented in a grander manner.

​Hoji Brulee and Nashi Compote were the two dessert options on offer; the latter gave off a more refreshing vibe from its constituents. Centred atop two scoops of vanilla ice cream and a bed of corn flakes was a segmented pear with semi-transculent properties. Having been simmered in red wine, it had adopted a plum-magenta hue. Corn flakes, chocolate syrup, and vanilla ice cream are a no-fail combination - perhaps a bit casual for JaBistro though nonetheless enjoyable. 

The simmered Asian pear itself was refreshing with only faint hints of the grape-based beverage; this was to be expected given that majority of the alcohol would have evaporated following the slow heating process.

​Continue reading Part 2 (AKA THE CONCERT) HERE !