Out & About #568 | Weekly Roundup: Butter Baker + Ice Q

Only fools catch colds in the summer.
Or that's how the saying goes anyway.

So I've branded myself a fool, catching a bug and letting it wreck havoc on my entire being. A rapid recovery was made from a 101 fever - the actual kind, not the one catching fire in Korea - but a new hump arose after my round of unhealthy eats at Night It Up. I lost my voice instantly, and essentially transformed into a toad living in fear of inflammatory foods.

​1) Butter Baker goodies from my favourite fangirl

Matcha White Chocolate tasted better this time around: crisp and more bitter, but still very heavy in the floral department. Winning my heart in a heartbeat was the Triple Chocolate, whose fragrant aroma I warmed up to even while launching the most disastrous coughing fit of the season. It was an item that was easily polished off. Birthday Cake was the sweetest of the pack, and, admittedly, my least favourite. Its spreadability and high sugar content did not pair particularly well, in my opinion. Then again, I'm not one to prefer overly sweet treats.

2) Hestia
In The PATH underneath the TD Centre was a cafe find I hadn't expected at all. On the hunt for a turmeric latte, the name popped up in my results alongside nutbar at Assembly Chef's Hall. Nutbar's rendition was hefty at $6.25 before tax, and nut milks aren't generally my go-to either.

​It took a few loops for me to finally find Hestia, and I'm glad I persevered. The caffeine-less Turmeric Ginger Latte soothed the throat while reviving the senses. Its potency was evident in the slight tingling sensation experienced during consumption. Oat Milk, which I had requested in fear that dairy might worsen my condition, was an alternative that incurred an additional charge of sixty cents. That said, it was a sweet decision that I felt no remorse towards making.

​The same cannot be said towards Mos Mos' rendition. Named Latte Mumbai, the drink was 33% pricier and consisted yellow curry-tinted foam, instead of the silky saffron surface that Hestia had put forth. Graininess was kept to a minimum, as was potency. The London Fog, I was informed, was not bad though.

3) A complimentary Beef Brisket Sandwich has sparked my hankering for proper smoked meat comfort food. (So far this place is on my radar.) 
4) orangecane's electric fan to the rescue!

​5) There was not a Sulley to be found at The Disney Store, but a furry Lotso instead.

6) Ice Q Dessert Cafe

With the bubble tea market as saturated as it is, bingsoo spots popping up in the west side of the GTA have been a welcome change. Following closely the steps of Snowies and BnC is Ice Q, a cozy, quiet spot just off the 403 at Hurontario.

​The day of our visit was marked with a scorching heat wave, with humidity reaching an unthinkable forty degrees Celsius. Beyond the doors of Ice Q was a sharp gust of A/C that we couldn't have appreciated more in the given conditions.
Replacing a Rabba near a series of condo buildings, the dessert spot is pretty hidden from the arterials. That said, it is not a destination to be overlooked. Parking is ample, Wi-Fi is secured and speedy, and clean, accessible bathrooms are available. Plenty of seating, in combination with zero stickiness, yielded a gratifying sigh. Snowies has gradually grew syrupy with the passing of time, so it is with high hopes that this cafe remains consistent in their cleaning procedures.

​We strolled past the entranceway, which featured two old-school arcade machines - think Pacman - towards the counter for a better look at the menu. A straightforward selection of milk teas, frappes, and espresso-based beverages filled the first LED screen; the second and third listed the cafe's assortment of fixed and specialty bingsoo flavours respectively. In addition to the standard Mango, Matcha, and Injeolmi, unique items such as Milo, Cereal Crunch, and Thai Tea also made the roster.

View the full album HERE !

My favourite fangirl voted in favour of the Strawberry, while I pointed to the Thai Tea with no hesitation whatsoever. My initial thoughts towards ordering the Strawberry was not positive, as my previous interactions with the fruit in shaved ice were not recalled as being pleasant. Ice Q, however, proved my prejudiced suspicions wrong.

​I have always lived in fear of frozen strawberries coated in obnoxious amounts of sweetened condensed milk, but the item we received was something else entirely. Generously sprinkled about the top were plush pieces of sweet, ripe strawberries - fresh ones that were completely in season! Its presentation hardly differed from the promotional image on the menu. Between the layers of fluffy snow ice was a thin spread of pink-red, presumably strawberry syrup. Cascading down the cross-section was the jolly sight of Valentine's colours: red, white, and pink.
Full-fat whipped cream - or any non-pastry cream for that matter - wasn't an element I was too fond of, but I settled for pushing it to the side with the dainty spoons provided to us. I ended up enjoying the Strawberry quite a bit, despite my dubious speculations, and even returned for a few more bites after the Thai Tea had been delivered.

​Served in a similar fashion to Snowies' version, this bowl sported a snow-cap-like addition at its peak. Toasted almond slivers and a sprig of mint (that tasted like a garden plant with a lingering aftertaste of, dare I say, cannabis) topped it off. A small container of sweetened Thai Tea accompanied the bowl, enabling customers to adjust their desired degree of sugariness. Admittedly, the first few bites were a tad runny after sampling the Strawberry; a drizzle of the orange condiment instantly reinforced the distinct, spice-laced properties.
Once again, the whipped cream was an element I could have easily omitted. The components found most surprising were the mochi bits and grass jelly found sandwiched at the halfway point. Exclaiming in surprise, we dug away at these cream-coated constituents with glee.

​The style of shaved ice served at this location aligned most closely with my ideal moisture content percentage. Damp flakes tend to coagulate and dissolve rapidly, while dry specks pose a choking hazard, especially when served with injeolmi powder. The original milk flavour treaded the fine line between the two.

I'd also like to make note of the playlist: smooth (K-)R&B tunes that filled the space with a mellow, melodious vibe. A mix of recognizable mainstream and intriguing indie/up-and-coming artists served as solid BGM for laptop work or casual conversation.

​Towards the end of our stay, the lady who had taken our order checked in with us. She was even kind enough to offer milk tea on the house - tapioca included! - in exchange for an image circulation to our friends or family. I jumped at the offer, and we were soon rewarded with concoctions capable of rivalling Palgong. Perfectly chewy pearls and a balanced ratio of tea to creamer nixed the need for a CoCo run. (In hindsight, we should have probably requested less sugar, for the injected amount was shocking.)

All factors taken into consideration, it is without contemplation that consequent visits shall be planned for the remainder of summer. Milo and Cereal Crunch have yet to tasted still. I'm also curious as to whether my 갓부심 message will remain on their chalkboard pillar.

​7) Homemade French Onion Soup

​No recipe as of yet, but just know this was an incredibly impromptu decision to use up leftover onions. A Baguette Roll from ACE Bakery and small block of Swiss cheese also did wonders. Gruyère would have been the more authentic choice, though any hard, sharp-tasting cheese was ought to be sufficient given financial restrictions.

Beef stock was substituted for chicken broth from a can; fresh basil and thyme were swapped for dried, pulverized basil leaves and a sprinkle of rosemary. A splash of red wine was included in the latter parts of cooking, with a spoonful of rice wine vinegar to bring in a small dose of acidity.
​
While it's no Cafe Cancan, it was plenty caramelized and cheesy for a last-minute concoction.

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Bonus!

Artist Spotlight: WOODZ

While we (I) wait patiently to observe X1's contributions to the industry, I'd like to introduce WOODZ as the single solo R&B artist that has captured my attention.