​Out & About #535 | Elephant Grind Coffee

​I rolled into a peaceful Saturday morning with "Morning Flower" reverberating throughout my room. Still dazed from returning late the previous evening, I grudgingly peeled away the covers and swiped the alarm. It was time to get dressed for my first Zumba class.

Stenoodie and I had actually planned the date two weeks prior, and despite my initial concerns about a double cardio hit on the same day, I was excited. Of course, the eastbound trip was not without obstacles. I zipped along the 401 with ease - a rare situation to even fathom - but then got caught behind sluggish muttonheads on the 404. Ah, weekend drivers.
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The morning dance class was held in the gym of the St. George Antioch Orthodox Church Centre, instead of a standalone plaza as I had expected. I sped past the entranceway, then was forced to loop around the residential areas until a path to Bayview could be found. A separate event was being held at the venue at the same time, thus locating parking was another nightmare. It also did not help that many drivers had decided to take up two spaces instead of their allocated one. By the time I entered, twenty minutes of the class had already passed.

​I joined the ahjummas (and a lone ahjussi) for the remainder of the class, then attempted to render myself presentable using the extremely limited space that a team of high school volleyball players had spared for me in the bathroom. Exiting the premises, I caught sight of the substance inexperienced drivers feared the most: snow.

Frankly speaking, a light dusting of flakiness never hurt anyone. However, automobile operators on the east end tend to fear all weather conditions, and this particular case was an obstruction by means of reduced speed limits. Advancing past the scaredy-cats, I pulled into the 16th and Wilmot plaza, snagging the first available spot in the strip. Our brunch destination of choice was already brimming with customers.

​I had slotted Elephant Grind Coffee onto my list of unbounded to-go spots after receiving positive feedback from ochungg. The scene that lay before my eyes was not so different from Alchemy: snowy external conditions, a bustling interior, and an unbelievably dreadful lineup. Having called in advance, I was informed that the wait would average 15-20 minutes for a party of two. This seemed reasonable, but dismaying information was provided upon my arrival; estimated wait times had surged to 30-45 minutes.

Ravenous at this point, I suggested to partake in a meal at any of the other nearby establishments. The plea was refuted by my dining partner, who dove inside to keep an ear out should our names be called. I remained outside, for feelings of claustrophobia were aggravated at the mere sight of the closely-packed diners assimilated about the doorway.
True to their word, our names - or rather, mine - was called at the thirty-minute mark. A sigh of relief sweft over me: Elephant Grind was already proving different from Alchemy, where I had waited well upwards of their thirty-five minute estimation before obtaining a stool.

​Sustenance orders were placed and paid for at the front counter, though table service was in effect for the rest of the meal. The menu was quite vast, and diverse given Markham's regular selection of offers. I took to the Elephant Grind Sandwich - a conservative bet since the cafe had embedded their name on the very item - along with an Iced Coffee. The drink menu spanned flat whites, Nutella lattes, hot chocolate, and steamy cups of Sloane tea, yet there was not a Cold Brew option in sight. This was odd to me, given that Hatch, their roaster of choice, had attained fame for this specific beverage.

Nevertheless, my Iced Coffee was refreshing with a only a subtly acidic starting note.

​Should one be in search of an innovative twist on the classic banh mi, the Elephant Grind Sandwich fills the void seamlessly. Pickled red onions and julienned carrots stimulated the senses, while an airy tofu and goat cheese emulsion contributed a sense of cohesiveness akin to pâté. The house cha siu was a leaner rendition of pulled pork - ideal for those looking to increase intake of red meat without the unnecessary lard (aka me). Roasted baby potatoes lay to the side of the sandwich, crisp and delectable. They had escaped the all-too-typical, heavy-hand salting and paired wonderfully with the gochujang mayo.

An element that I particularly enjoyed was the presence of greens throughout the dish: arugula and cucumber were found in the sandwich, while an adequately-portioned side salad assumed the opposite end of the plate. Noteworthy was the proportion of dressing to veggies: bound to each forkful was an invigorating zing that did not overwhelm the integrity of the leaves.

​Stenoodie also expressed enjoyment at devouring her Chicken & Waffles, which I cannot extend any comments in regards to due to the simple reason that I did not try it.

A grand total of three front-line employees were managing the discord of the decorated diner at our time of visit. Amongst these three was the owner, who was spotted delivering freshly-crafted lattes from the bar on numerous occasions. We were served with patience, amiability, and utmost attention, despite the peak hour atmosphere. The female staff member, in particular, promptly followed up on our requests for water refills and even my sudden inquiry of the origins of Elephant Grind Coffee. She returned in a matter of minutes to enlighten us on the source of the name: a combination of the owner's son's favourite animal and the intermediate step of espresso production.

​I only began to take in my surroundings once the grumbling had subsided. Shielding us from the elements was a high ceiling, from which hung netted light fixtures. One wall was made out to be brick, reminiscent of School (without the clocks), another plain and partially tiled, while the cashier area tiled and wooden. A chalkboard menu à la Saving Grace was affixed near the cashier for easy access at all times during the consumption process.
There is little to be noted of the bathroom, for my memory of it is strangely faint. The absence of a water dispenser was a more pressing concern to me. Given that the staff was swamped to begin with, installing a water station would greatly alleviate their load.

​As a resident of west GTA, few and far between are my northeast voyages, especially on weekend mornings. Elephant Grind's coordinates are, candidly speaking, utterly inconvenient. Flawless as they were in their execution of brunch, I am not convinced that similar sustenance cannot be found within closer proximity. Moreover, a trip downtown would open up the opportunity of fruity, sparkling mimosas.

It would also spare me the hassle of having to tolerate local weekend drivers.

​While not exactly en route home, I decided to pay orangecane a visit. Truthfully, it was mainly for Tofu.