Out & About #444 | Part 1: Papa Giuseppe's + Spring at Kariya Park

5/2/2018

Those that attempt matcha latte art together, stay together.
Especially if mutual post-creeping takes place between them.

Ever since the spark of our intense latte-crafting discussions, orangecane and I have been sharing our corresponding methods and trial results. When she noted that her matcha stock was progressively depleting, sourcing from Momo Tea was my immediate response.
Two weeks later, we settled on a dining journey on the west side of the GTA.

When I suggested a leisurely late lunch in Port Credit to better suit orangecane's westbound commute, two Italian restaurants were amongst the proposed options: Papa Giuseppe's, a well-loved neighbourhood classic, and Posta Italbar Cucina, the scenic district's fancy, cheese wheel pasta-possessing newcomer.

At the mention of the former, I was quickly confronted with a "Is that the place where you got garlic bread?".
Indeed. Indeed it was, my loyal reader.

The asphalt lot adjacent to the library had filled up faster than expected, thus we resorted to the strip of spots on the west side of the bridge. A brief walk through spectacularly muggy conditions ensued afterwards.

Peak lunch hours had come and gone, so patio seating was able to be obtained with minimal effort. We were guided through the dim, air-conditioned strip of tables in the enclosed dining area towards the back of the establishment. The area featured a roof, which worked to shield diners from the blinding rays of the sun (and possible precipitation), yet was exposed on the sides to ensure a feeling of togetherness with one's outside surroundings.

Patio chairs were plastic and adopted the colour scheme of: red, white, and lime green. A decent amount of dirt/dust had collected on the backs of them, though failed to be brushed off prior to the seating of the next party. Having been gestured to a tiny two-person along the perimeter of the patio also increased our vulnerability to flies that hovered near the brick pillars. In addition, the arrangement posed a challenge for the comfortable consumption of our orders. It could barely fit our water glasses and dishes, let alone offer enough space for eating.

The restaurant was relatively quiet at this point, with only two members of waitstaff on the floor. One of these was a jolly, middle-aged lady with a striking red bob; the other was a male of imperceptible age who barely looked customers in the eye whilst cleaning tables.

We took to choosing the Insalata Zucca (for its attractive description of honey roasted pumpkin) and Nonna's Pizza (because banana peppers would not agree with my weak spice tolerance). Guests were presented with the option of having the salad delivered prior to the main dish, or arriving simultaneously. We chose the latter, then proceeded to struggle with the lack of table space when sharing.

Popular at Papa Giuseppe's is their selection of Authentic Stone Oven Pizza - coined "La Tradiziona" on the menu. Little did we know that the dish was served on an extra-thin crust.
In fact, its foundation was so thin that scissors were provided to distribute the slices instead of a pizza wheel. The snipping process was slower than the usual roll-and-go, but enabled customers to determine the precise width of their desired ration.

Nonna's boasted a delicate, crisp crust that held up well on the edges, but fell limp when inching towards its centre. Relative to the thickness of the crust, an adequate amount of toppings was provided; in comparison to other pizza establishments though, there wasn't a particularly generous portion of chicken pieces nor roasted red pepper strips. Artichokes hearts and bufala were distributed uniformly across its surface, though there was no stringiness to be observed.
These factors aside, both of us enjoyed the pizza tremendously. There was a decent amount of cheese, minimal greasiness, and a variety of textures and individual punches of flavour. Moreover, the house blend of pomodoro sauce was tart and refreshing, eliminating feelings of satiation and paving the path for further consumption.

Insalata Zucca was a solid salad dish in theory: baby spinach, red onions, and a heaping handful of crumbled goat cheese made for a great combination. The highlight of honey roasted pumpkin was another stellar touch. Sadly, the dish turned unfavourable when each and every forkful turned out to be greens camouflaged in a slick coating of oil-based dressing. The advertised "Italian vinaigrette" tasted of a 70/30 oil-to-vinegar emulsion, which we would have honestly preferred on the side instead of sloshed throughout in excess.

Two washroom stalls were situated between the patio and interior dining hall: one extremely compact, and the other larger to accommodate accessibility needs. The stalls featured cozy decorations in warm tones and were decently clean. An element that amused me was the distinct contrast between the modern, high-speed electronic hand dryer and the limited capabilities of the aged flushing apparatus.

Service was friendly, albeit inefficient (read: slow at times). Be sure to keep an eye out for the Vicinity stickers, as the restaurant enters every dollar spent before tax as points.

Originally, the intention was to take a short trek along Lakeshore for touristy purposes, though the stickiness of the atmosphere was enough to deter me into heading back into the comfort of my breezy vehicle.

The next stop of the day was Coco - quite the obvious choice given its orange colour scheme. While I did not manage to convert one of The Alley's most loyal patrons to the more vivid side of the bubble tea spectrum, all hope is not lost.
One day, the cross-over shall happen.

Driving by Kariya Park, it appeared as if pale pink blossoms had appeared on the lawn of Japan's sister city. We stopped by for a brief walk, though were unable to find anything beyond the scarce few buds near the park entrance.