Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger
  • ~ Home ~
  • ~ What I Think ~
  • ~ What I See ~
    • Events
    • Food
    • People
    • Places
  • ~ What I Make ~
  • Blog Series
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer

Out & About #560 | Something About Simcoe DAY 2 (Pt. 1): The Shack Eatery + Café Seoulista Preview

6/21/2019

0 Comments

 
​The first day had terminated with  a restless night of overheating, terribly soft pillows, and maximum stuffiness. I awoke to a different issue every two hours or so, then eventually to the buzzing tune of Morning Flower.

There was no time to lose. Glancing outside at the sunny skies - with tufts of fluffy clouds like outstretched arms - I prepared a relatively familiar breakfast, in a relatively unfamiliar residence.
Picture
​My participation in an AquaFit session spanned forty-five minutes. Water aerobics was an activity I hadn't tried before, especially not the morning classes with my sordid sleeping patterns. It was fun and engaging: a low-impact, resistance routine that felt like play time at the pool.

Feasting locations had been researched the night before, thus there was no hesitation towards our lunch destination. Such plans entailed a drive to Orillia, where we would reside for the remainder of sunlight hours.
Picture
​The Shack Eatery had surfaced on my radar; depicted as a wonderful spot offering comfort food in the form of ribs and pulled pork sandwiches, we inputted the address and off we went!
Picture
​It was a shack, in the most literal sense. Even with the assistance of navigation technology, I had managed to zip by without batting an eyelash. There was a drastic difference between expectation and reality. Having said that, to dismiss the restaurant as a result of its gritty gravel parking lot or unassuming storefront would have been a loss on our parts.

Being located at the corner of a busy intersection (West Street S and Hwy 12) meant a solid scene capable of appealing to both travellers and workers of the nearby industrial businesses, and we were about to discover just exactly what the restaurant was capable of delivering.
Picture
Picture
​The menu was straightforward - just as advertised on its website. Fuss-free "Shackwiches" and "Shack Plates" were the only two options available, and, frankly speaking, the only ones necessary in leaving an impact. Smoked Sausage, Pulled Pork/Beef/Chicken, and Smoked Ribs were the primary focus of these orders. Sandwiches could be ordered solo or in combo format to include a side and (soft) drink, while Plates included up to three sides.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
​< Pictured above and below: Pulled Beef Bun and Pulled Chicken Plate >
​Generously portioned between two halves of a soft kaiser bun were tender sections of slow-cooked, seasoned beef. The roll was lightly dressed with a mild sauce (though one could have opted for medium or hot), horseradish (optional), and the most mindblowing moiety of sweet caramelized onions. The Pulled Beef Bun hit all the right notes, leaving us feeling utterly satisfied.
Picture
​The Pulled Chicken Plate consisted of several components: a lightly-spiced combination of chicken and softened green pepper, roasted potatoes with a variation of aioli, coleslaw, and soft, saffron-toned grains otherwise known as The Shack Rice.
Delicious nonetheless, my preference lay with the Pulled Beef Bun, for the higher fat content worked in favour of enhancing meat texture.
Picture
​With the exception of American Express, The Shack was open to both physical and digital forms of payment.

We were served by the owner himself, who had undertaken the assembly and checkout processes upon himself for the weekday afternoon. A few words were exchanged, and it was unveiled that The Shack had been situated at its current coordinates for about three years.
Picture
​Despite being advertised as a takeout restaurant, the interior also housed several tables for dining within. A few picnic tables were also spotted outside, but many took shelter within with the arrival of raindrops. Ginormous paper towel rolls adorned two of the tables; plastic forks were made available at another section of the establishment.
Picture
Washrooms were found behind the cashier area, separated by gender and inclusive of red Cintas fixtures. Truthfully, the stalls were a lot cleaner than expected, even with the handful of dust bunnies and dead fly. Decorative elements such as tiny circular mirrors and wooden trims were other unexpected additions.
Picture
​Disposing of our Styrofoam containers, we headed back to the car in preparation of our next stop of the day in Downtown Orillia. Amidst a southbound turn out onto West Street S, a tiny sign caught my eye: it was none other than Cafe Seoulista. Slotted into the itinerary under the "if there's time" category, it was quite the surprise to catch the name without so much as exerting a shred of effort.
Picture
​My image-capturing device and I garnered a bit of attention as we poked our heads into each of their individual spaces. Initially wary of our unannounced intentions, one of the two staff members behind the counter spoke up, questioning our motives. She had every reason to be defensive, as we had trumped onto her territory without the aim of dining.
Picture
Picture
Picture
​However, when told that I had stumbled upon the café's page while restaurant-researching, she was more than willing to tell the tale of the establishment's founding. A couple hailing from Toronto (and with origins in Korea), the husband-wife duo had moved to Orillia with beaming entrepreneurial aspirations. The two proved to be very kind people, and extremely enthusiastic about explaining their business prospect and product selection. The expansive assortment of desserts ranged from Korean shaved ice (bingsoo) to brick toast to cheesecake slices to a Coffee Bean Bread specially crafted in-house. Specialty drinks such as Matcha Lattes, espresso-based spin-offs, sparkling Refreshers (made available with the same SodaStream model occupying my own kitchen counter), and Korean Fermented Tea - a homemade exclusive - were also on offer. A limited supply of croissants, savoury sandwiches, and cookies were also spotted.
Picture
​Seating was dispersed along the perimeter of the interior, with a few bar stools in a small room that faced out to the parking lot. Within this small room were also two 2-person tables and a dispenser of lemon-infused water. Cozy, lovely furnishings and a password-secured Wi-Fi connection made for the ideal hangout/workplace destination. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
​Considering our pulled meat consumption from less than ten minutes ago, we hadn't anticipated purchasing any dessert to try. But the introductions of the Premium Korean Tea and Coffee Bean Bun had us quite intrigued. The Homemade Korean Fermented Tea, in particular, was an interesting, health-centric alternative employing a concentrated blend of fermented fruit. Besides the option of ordering single cups in store, the cafe also offered the concoction in glass to-go jar. The fifteen-dollar jar also came with a sheet of brewing/mixing instructions.
Picture
Picture
Picture
I took to purchasing a jar of the Grapefruit rendition, but instead of waiting until I was back home, I requested for a sparkling version to be made for immediate sampling. While informed that this wasn't the norm, my request was granted.
Refreshing without being excessively sugary, the beverage soothed and revitalized. It contained a touch of bitterness from the peels, and a zing from the citrus fruit. Most compelling to me was the texture of the rinds: neither soft like marmalade nor entirely rigid, they could be masticated with minimal effort, yet somehow retained a distinctive crunch. A bubbly aftertaste - similar to the one felt after beer consumption - was also apparent.
Picture
​Shaped like a coffee bean, the Coffee Bean Bun was sweeter and softer than anticipated. Its profile was similar to that of Hodo Kwaja's infamous walnut cakes, except free of fillings and extremely aromatic. A tad touch of toastiness wouldn't have been bad, to be honest; one can rarely ever go wrong with a crisp, nutty exterior.
Picture
Picture
Next was a brief tour of Downtown Orillia.
Picture
Picture
Frankly speaking, the stretch wasn't very long - about half the length of Port Credit, but with arguably more amusing shops.
Picture
Picture
Traversing southbound on Mississaga Street, we chanced across two comic-centric boutiques, bicycle-themed street art, and even a Rexall retailing the limited edition Canada Day Cheetos. Parking, like the waterfront segments back home, induced meter charges.
Picture
Picture
​Conveniently situated near the termination of the path was Mariposa Market & Café. The decorated local establishment was gargantuan, totalling three shop spaces and one basement level. The main store was a bakery/cafe hybrid that carried everything from colossal Texas Donuts to freshly-baked quiches to coffee and The Great Canadian Frappuccino; towards the back was a dining area that even extended up to a second floor.
Picture
Picture
​To the left and right of the bakery/market were touristy knickknacks and gift-able kitchenware; underneath was a fudge vendor that also carried a small selection of (more) steeply-priced touristy goods and a few boxes of Chelsea Chocolates. It supposedly operated as an independent entity.
Picture
Picture
Picture
​We made a brief stop at the all-in-one shop, but ultimately opted to return for afternoon snack after our planned cycling trip.
Picture
Picture
Read Part 2 HERE !

Mariposa Market Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Who Am I?

    Formerly an avid owner of several interest-based portals, Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger presents precisely the elements expected. From experiments in the kitchen to miscellaneous musings, from IGOT7 reflections to developments in transportation infrastructure, it's all consolidated here. Welcome to the raw, unfiltered side of Quirky Aesthetics.



    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013


    Categories

    All
    Ahgabond Adventures
    Ahgase
    Arctic Aquarium
    Atlantic Canada 2018
    Barrie
    Beauty
    Birthday Buddy
    Calgary 2023
    Chinese New Year
    Conquering COVID 19
    Daily Randoms
    Eyes On You World Tour 2018
    Food
    Friends
    Hallyucon
    Hamilton
    Hong Kong
    Iron Ring
    J Movie
    K Drama
    K-Drama
    Korean Beauty
    K Pop
    Los Angeles 2017
    Macau
    New York 2018
    Ottawa 2019
    Pilates
    Random Rant
    Restaurant Review
    Seoul
    Shopping
    SSMC
    Taiwan
    Vacation
    Vancouver 2013
    Vancouver 2014
    Vancouver 2015
    Vancouver 2016
    Vancouver 2020
    Vancouver 2022


    trazy.com

    RSS Feed


WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

Quirky =  a term that commonly refers to something/someone distinctly different and unique
Aesthetics = the visual aspect of things



Together, Quirky Aesthetics refers to the things, events, and happenings seen and perceived by this blog's creator - quirky perspectives in a visual form.

Contact ME

​Subscribe

Join our mailing list today!
Join Now
© Quirky Aesthetics. All rights reserved. Last modified: August 10, 2015.