Out & About #447 | Mother's Day at Kariya Park + Lake House

​Closest to home yet rarely ever explored during this time of year is Kariya Park.
​While a prior trip with orangecane had proved fruitless in terms of cherry blossom sightings, Mother's Day was the perfect excuse to traverse across the densely-populated grounds again in search of pretty pink petals.

​Vastly more diverse in hue and species, the buds on display ranged from innocent white to baby pink to rich magenta. The trees weren't particularly luscious, as it seemed that the flowers were nearing the end of the blooming period, but there were enough shrubs to draw a decent-sized crowd to the park.

View the full album HERE !

​Temperatures were, admittedly, chillier than expected. A light jacket was proven essential whilst exploring the area in the shade.

​Many families had taken advantage of the occassion to capture family photos and immerse themselves in spring flower-gazing. Our visit was probably shorter in duration than many other visitors, for after numerous image-capturing attempts, we grew exhausted with the constant photobombing and retreated back to the car.

​Time was ticking, so instead of relocating to a cozy cafe in Downtown Oakville (or swinging by Port Credit for artisan ice cream), I prompted a stroll through the nearby shopping centre.

A Cold Foam Cappuccino and Cold Foam Cascara Cold Brew were secured from the Starbucks Reserve shop, followed by a ridiculously sweet Maple Pecan Cinnamon Chimney in a Golden Glaze Cone. Wait time was minimal given the crowds that surrounded the shop. But after tending to the messy specimen, I couldn't comprehend why leaking soft serve and a super firm, syrup-drizzled cone had accumulated such popularity amongst mall-walkers. ​ (To be fair, Eva's was better than OG Chimneys.)

​In the early evening hours, we headed to Lake House in Vineland. A reservation by the window awaited us.

​The venue was positively brimming with eager dinner guests as we made our grand entrance. Several parties had taken a liking to the outdoor patio, which, despite quite nice on balmy afternoons, had become a feasting ground for mosquitoes as the sun began to settle across the horizon.

​A series of "holiday" menu items were available for the day - er, night. We glanced over our options while Ginger Ale and Sparking Mineral Water were delivered to the table. (As a side note, soft drinks ring in at approximately $3.50, while one single bottle of fizzy water involves a charge of $7.25. Yikes!)

​Our server recommended the Seafood Paella for Two, noting that the portion size would be exceptionally generous even for two patrons. We followed suit with this recommendation, adding on a Baby Spinach Salad for the sake of having greens.
The standard basket of warm bread rolls came some moments after these requests were processed.

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​The Baby Spinach Salad was unmistakably on the smaller side. The white ceramic dish on which the oil-doused leaves sat was approximately twice the diameter of the portion plated. A handful of pecans, thinly-sliced red onion rings, and crumbled goat cheese had been tossed uniformly throughout the green mix.
Pungent was the addition of onion - the bold presence of enzymes was an indication of the vegetable's freshness. Whole pecans contributed crunch, while dried cherries - that bore a suspiciously similar resemblance to Craisins - provided a jolt of fruitiness. Quite frankly, I could have done without the onions. The goat cheese, on the other hand, was unexpectedly creamy and airy, with just enough sodium to combat the slickness of the oil-based dressing.

​Seafood Paella for Two retained a description fit for seafood- and Spanish cuisine-loveres alike. Distributed along its perimeter were P.E.I. mussles, and incorporated thoroughly among the rice mixture were seared jumbo scallops, chewy calamari, just-cooked shrimp, and bits of roasted chicken and chicken chorizo sausage. Two awkwardly-situated lobster tails bearing blackness at their tips were positioned at the pinnacle of the large, shallow pan.
My personal favourites were the scallop and sausage: as shellfish tend to be the dominant constituents of the Valencian dish's traditional variations, the inclusion of other types of protein was welcomed. In addition, the stringy, spinach-like greens was appreciated.

​Given that scorchingly spicy food was the last thing an impossibly sore throat yearned for, the words "creamy saffron rice" had sounded unpleasant at first. I had been dubious until the sight of soft, plump grains came into view. Emerging before us was a comforting bed of warm, amber-toned goodness that was velvety to the point of risotto-like consistency. It welcomed our curious appetites with open arms, shoving aside qualms of supposed spiciness; in fact, it was completely mild!

​The pan consisted of at least two more meals' worth of sustenance, so we opted to take its remnants back home. Just as the napkins were set onto the table, dessert menus swooped in for the final kill.

​Bidding summer waistlines farewell, a hefty slice of Key Lime was ordered to conclude the meal.

​Another recommendation from our waitress, the zesty fraction of pie was an indulgent yet invigorating way of concluding the Mother's Day meal. A thin graham crust paired with a creamy, citrusy filling, and whipped cream was a no-fail combination. The contrasting viscosities of the adjacent cream layers was well received, as was the dusting of toasted coconut flakes.

​My sole complaint was in regards to the presentation of the dish: the dessert had been served atop a severely scratched entrée plate devoid of decorations (except fresh fruit). Even as little as a trail of fruit compote or candied lime wedges would have increased aesthetic appeal. The most irking aspect was the serving dish, as well as the countless battle scars in accompaniment.