Out & About #456 | Part 1: Koreatown Adventures Feat. Rustle & Still

I've recently been graced with orangecane's migration to the realm of all things alluring, addicting, and majestic - she has stepped foot into the world of fangirlism.
As days progress, no longer does she merely assume the role of a fellow blogger and munching companion, but an effusive comrade demonstrating never-ending commitment to her beloved K-Pop group of calling. In this case, it's BTS, which I fully approve, even if GOT7 doesn't even fall close in the equation.

This revelation has paved the way for combined eating-and-fangirling excursions. In dire need of a mane clean-up, I reached out to her to schedule a Koreatown trip following my appointment.

​The commenced early, prompting a caffeine pit stop upon subway disembarkment. Put A Cone On It, my initial intended  destination, happened to be operating at special hours during the week (3 PM instead of their regular 11 AM). It was apparent that Matcha White Chocolate Chip Cookies were not in the cards.
I stumbled onwards, eastbound towards Rustle & Still. The café was situated on the upper level of the property, just above Hancook.

​As its name suggested, the interior of the establishment was serene with heavy emphasis on shrubbery. Pale wooden panels, a plethora of leafy green species (faux or possibly not), and an abundance of natural illumination filled the café. Seating adopted the form of stools and small tables near the windows, along with high stools and booth arrangements in the dimmer compartments. A pillar near the cashier laid out the (likely) fixed drink menu, while a transparent display listed banh mi varieties and other light lunch fixes, such as Asian slaw.

​Unique to Rustle & Still are the Matcha Pandan Latte and Purple Sweet Potato Latte, which supposedly bears a lovely lilac finish. An avid consumer of the finely-ground Japanese green tea, I couldn't resist the appeal of pandan's complex tropical properties.  It is a rare ingredient to surface outside the Malaysia/Singapore region, and our last encounter was probably Kiin's decorative Iced Tea.

​Baked goods also seem a keen pick. Pastries, priced at $1.90 and beyond, were encased in display pedestals near the cashier. Cookies rang in at $2.00, and croissants at $2.70.
A Sesame Coconut Cookie and hot Matcha Pandan Latte were appointed as the to-go duo of choice. The cookie was handed to me in a paper bag; either a result of gluten-free stabilizer or an excessive dry-to-wet-ingredient ratio, it was found to crumble upon touch. By no means did this negatively impact its taste, though. Black sesame seeds provided subtle hints of crunch and nutty fragrance, while an ample amount of shredded coconut contributed an exotic sweetness paired with chewiness.

​The Matcha Pandan Latte did not fail to wow either: swirled amidst the milky, grassy beverage were bursts of pandan, interwoven between layers in the most cohesive manner possible. At $4.90 before tax, it was not an economic form of indulgence, but for those craving the refined fragrance of Southeast Asia's "vanilla" leaf with a sizeable dose of antioxidants, this creation merges the gap smoothly.

A cup of caffeinated contents in hand, I trekked over to Hair Bank feeling rejuvenated.
I had not specified a stylist for this visit but was slightly surprised when the stylist that greeted me happened to be the same platform-sandal-donning female that I had dismounted the TTC with. She appeared relatively new to the industry, which was amplified through jittery tendencies, inconsistent hair-washing steps, and the constant need to adjust the alignment of my head. Eye cover cloths were forgotten during the second hair-washing; water inevitably entered ears as well.

​In spite of this, along with not-yet-proficient English skills, she was extremely friendly and provided professional insight on my trim requests and fringe length adjustments, much like the salon boss who kept a watchful eye over her actions throughout the visit.

Snipping my frazzled ends only constituted half of the declared appointment time. From that point onwards, a hilarious contraption was secured onto my head for a hydrating Japanese hair treatment. It resembled a long, deflated hot air balloon, but, in reality, was a device that constantly pumped steam to enhance the effects of the repairing formula coating my tresses

​The 30-minute process, in conjunction with the distinctive mane cleanup, was successful in restoring tidiness.
(I was also repeatedly reminded of the availability of a one-hundred-twenty-dollar Korean hair treatment. The fifty-dollar price increase was supposedly associated a 4-step deep conditioning treatment capable of smoothing out even the most damaged locks.)

Shortly afterwards, I united with orangecane, who had been kooky enough to traverse the entire distance from Union to Koreatown on foot.

I made my second Rustle & Still visit of the day, where a second Matcha Pandan Latte was obtained to soothe the needs of my fellow matcha maniac.

​Neither of us were feeling particularly eager to order the Vietnamese sandwiches on offer, so I suggested skewers at Japanhako. Unfortunately, the restaurant did not commence operations till 4 PM. We roamed the area for alternative sources of sustenance instead.

​I settled for a slice of Reunion Tour pizza at Apiecalypse Now, given that my last attempt to try the vegan establishment was met with dismay.

A single portion was priced quite heavily at $4.25 before tax. Baby spinach, artichokes, tomatoes, and cashew ricotta cheese made up the veggie-centric medley. All components were delicious, minus the crust. Oil still proved to seep through the bottom, but the carby base itself was dry, rigid, and stale to taste. Moreover, it lost structural integrity with each progressive bite, failing to uphold its toppings.

​I didn't find myself longing for the stringiness of mozzarella, though perhaps this was owed to the texture of false ricotta. Protein sources such as diced chicken breast or sausage were sadly missed.

​Orangecane opted for Custard Taiyaki from Kevin's Taiyaki, then a solo Pork Loin with Cheese Katsu from Mr. Tonkatsu.

A three-pack of Madeleines were obtained from Hodo Kwaja before we made our way over to Yorkdale.

For reasons beyond normal levels of comprehension, we agreed to watch Deadpool 2 out of sheer curiosity. Gory fight scenes, and dark, lewd humour were dominant, recurring components of the two-hour film, neither of which we were too fond of.

"An emotional rollercoaster" had been the description provided to me by a fellow member of the K-Pop community, but it was really anything but that. At least it was Tuesday.

Read Part 2 HERE !