Out & About #497 | Taste of Korea Night + Crimson Teas

​As part of Korea Week hosted by the University of Toronto, a K-Pop Night & Taste of Korea event ​took place on the fifth and final day of the cultural celebration series at Nathan Phillips Square. It was heavily advertised within the office throughout the week, and, luckily, wasn't very far from our working quarters.

​The late afternoon hours proved chillier than we had anticipated; both of us were seriously under-dressed for the long lineups that awaited us.

​Two rows of food-centric vendors made up the free sampling display. One row featured traditional Korean classics from renowned festival frequenters such as P.A.T and Galleria, while the other comprised of fusion dishes such as Elk Tteokbooki and Pierogi with Kimchi.

We joined the lineup for the first row, and were handed paper plates, plastic utensils, and Styrofoam cups. These items were intended for sampling use throughout the course of the booth visits, but were later found to be a challenge to wield amidst frigid conditions and overbearing winds.

​On average, each booth provided two to three samples, ranging from rice cakes topped with coconut flakes to kimchi to mini bulgogi burgers to hodo kwaja. My personal favourite was eomuk - otherwise known as fish cake - in piping hot broth, for it was delicious and hearty in the simplest manner possible.

​Rehearsals for several K-Pop dance and vocal performances also took place. I had initially planned to stick around for the evening show; alas, our bodies proved too vulnerable against the alarming temperature drop.

We remained in the cold until completing the first run, then hastily retreated indoors for warmth. The next lineup was an expected thirty minutes plus, so we bid farewell to the venue and hopped on the streetcar in search of alternative sustenance.​

​A scheduled Mango Cheesecake pick-up led us in the direction of Kensington Market. Along the way, we passed Dak Lak's first foray into the downtown core on College St.

​Within the area were numerous eateries, though the number with red DineSafe infractions outweighed the number that did not. Upon careful yet swift review of the vicinity's offerings, I suggested Seven Lives for tacos.
When the storefront appeared too congested for my liking, I spun on my heel and pointed to San Cosme instead.

< Pictured below: Del Chavo w/ Roasted Chicken, Enchiladas >

My last encounter with the restaurant traces back to the fateful day where I had come face-to-face with a washroom rivalling the eeriness of a potential crime scene. It was clear that I wouldn't be heading down to the stall that was shared between San Cosme and The Dirty Bird. I had nothing against the brightly lit establishment and spacious bar seating, on the other hand.

​​I opted for the Del Chavo - one of the few choices whose description did not contain any fiery elements. It arrived in the form of a traditional Mexican "street style" sandwich, otherwise known as a Torta.
At $8.95 plus tax, it was a stunningly large portion. Mild regrets were uttered upon laying eyes on the subject. The bun appeared tough and dry, while its contents greasier than preferred. In order to succeed in consuming the monster, one first needed to rip off the edges of the bun. Either my mouth wasn't wide enough, or the bun was simply too sturdy.

Avocado slices and mustard were discovered on the underside of the bun. Further dissecting the specimen unveiled shiny, softened onions, a plentiful portion of cubed, roasted chicken, and a uniformly charred slab of mozzarella. The bottom half of the bun had been smothered with a refried bean paste, which consequently contributed to the concoction's moisture content.
Del Chavo was a decent sandwich, but my appetite was gradually diminishing. I only managed to polish off half before surrendering. As economic of a supper solution it was, I wasn't very hungry. It was a shame to see such a meal go to waste.

​The Enchiladas were served with a heaping ladle of salsa verde, refried beans, and sour cream. Its appearance was rather lacklustre, especially when viewed atop a disposable paper plate. Positive remarks were overheard in regards to the dish, though I wasnt very tempted to try it firsthand given the unfinished status of my own order.

​Our last mission of the evening was to find a decent bathroom.
Both CoCo and One Zo featured lengthy lineups, and thus we continued marching northbound until chancing upon a relatively empty Crimson Teas.

​Here we were served the silkiest cup of Hong Kong Milk Tea, boldly brewed, strained using a traditional "silk stocking" sieve, and mixed with the ideal amount of evaporated milk. Despite approaching closing hours, the middle-aged man behind the cashier displayed utmost enthusiasm at showcasing his products. Moreover, he was kind enough to offer samples of both the HK Milk Tea and Yuan Yang without a shred of hesitation (read: sans stinginess)

​The incredibly cramped unisex bathroom wasn't the most favourable of stalls: the chipped door was ridiculously cumbersome, while the compact sliver of a space meant constant fear of dropping items onto the floor - or worse, into the ground-level urinal.

Lavatory woes aside, I would return to Crimson Teas in a heartbeat for a proper taste of their hot Milk Tea. greasy odours aren't my cup of tea, though I have few reasons not to invest in a four-dollar cup of delicious milk tea. (Who knew bathroom hunts could lead to such interesting new discoveries?)

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