Out & About #579 | Collective August Visuals Feat. Japan Festival + The Night Baker

8/29/2019

Summer is drawing to a close, and, with its departure, should humidity excuse itself accordingly. The past two weeks have proved cooler than the predicted seasonals - not that I'm grumbling about that, of course.

Nevertheless, chilly mornings are the stealthy culprit of summer colds, as made evident by those around me falling victim to summer colds, one by one like dominoes on a playing board. A compact cardigan goes a long way, my friends.

Moving on to our regular run of feasting snapshots:

1) The Night Baker's insufficient grassy Mistachio prompted the seventh iteration of an old recipe on a relatively quiet Sunday afternoon.

Roasted peanuts remained an essential element in the dough, but white chocolate chips had been swapped for semi-sweet ones due to availability. This modification yielded a sweeter core, while the accidental increase in beaten egg resulted in overall softness.

2) Ice Q (Round 5)

Affogato is one the newest items to ease their way onto the menu, following closely after the café's introduction of crepe-and-coffee pairings. Having ordered an Americano to go in my past, as well as a Thai Iced Tea with a (pricey) shot of espresso, I didn't think twice about the quality of their espresso. It was surely better than whatever disappointing ration Archtop had offered.

The order included two scoops of vanilla ice cream - plain, in the absence of vanilla bean; a delicate drizzle of chocolate drizzle glazed the surface of the top orb, with dark chocolate curls dispersed for an added dose of texture.

Presented separately was a small pitcher of "Italian espresso", an aromatic presence of fine surface bubbles and minimal crema. Acidity was mild, though it mattered moderately, given the pre-existing profile of the ice cream and sugary profile of chocolatey condiments.

The combination was a match made in heaven: the fruit of bitter grounds gradually penetrating icy, sugary mounds, then finished with the tinge of semi-sweet crunch. I finished the creation with glee, foregoing any and all woes about becoming ridiculously roused for the remainder of the day. My surroundings appeared heavily saturated - and sharp, almost to a digitally enhanced degree - in the subsequent hours, which was a first for me. Thankfully, these stimulated perceptions of the world diminished during the later hours, enabling a restful evening of uninterrupted sleep.
All factors taken into consideration, this would be an option I wouldn't hesitate to order again, especially alongside a nectarous bowl of ice shards.

Oreo Bingsu exhibited a rather classic profile, without any particular elements to reinvent the chocolate cookie flavour.

3) Union Station gearing up for Fan Expo with a Star Wars display of LEGO Stormtroopers.
4) Revisiting an old friend who has, admittedly, undergone quite an overwhelming number of upgrades.

A post-walk coffee run followed. It ought to be noted that Starbucks' Iced Cappuccino with Cold Foam delivers nothing short of a jab of java, though falls flat in terms of depth and complexity. Bearing a consistency highly reminiscent of cheese foam (483) - aka the very substance that sent me into the ER (262) - the top layer of the drink initially sent quivers down my spine. However, the formula was neither rich nor strong in taste - merely extensively whipped milk that hindered the sipping process.

5) Appleby GO marks my newly-covered west limit of the Lakeshore West line.

6) McCafé Matcha Lattes are great, iced or hot, and succeed in filling the void for grassiness whenever called upon. So while Earl Grey is rarely my blend of choice, the London Fog appeared promising, given the franchise's existing track record.
Notes of bergamot were nonexistent, which, in my opinion, was a property worth commending. Vanilla was timid in presence, but nonetheless capable of being distinguished. The first few sips were on the cloying side, so I'd recommend swirling the beverage to incorporate the denser sugar syrup.

7) Miscellaneous visuals: a delicious but costly Be(et) Active and an uber adorable congratulatory card.
8) Strawberry Lattes are unparalleled equations of enjoyment.

9) Cactus Pear Mojito and Pomegranate Mojito from Basil Box are two summer-limited picks that ring in at only a toonie each. Although fragrant, the Cactus Pear quickly grew bland due to the considerable amount of dissolution. That said, I did appreciate the bubbliness of it.

10) Visiting The Rec Room a year later, it was observed that the games had been re-arranged in a more user-friendly manner: games involving throwing were no longer confined back-to-back in a dark corner. Pump It Up! - otherwise known as DDR - was also an addition that hadn't been present in the entertainment centre's early days.

11) Chipotle was obtained after the games run.

12) Chai Espresso + Iced Chai Latte from Hestia
13) Nori jam, anyone?

14) Premiere Ballroom & Convention Centre

The first of my wedding attendance frenzy commenced in Richmond Hill, not far from Inatei actually. Dilapidated in both in its interior and exterior, I wasn't expecting much from the overall experience.

That said, the quality of such ceremonies are tremendously contingent on the organizers (and their allocated budget). Guests were welcomed with leafy backdrop with LED lighting for Polaroid-taking, then swiftly ushered into the seating area. Tables were lined with a pristine white, chairs covered with gold jackets, and plates patterned and polished. At first glance, it appeared no different than your typical Chinese wedding. Scrutiny of its details revealed Western influences: candles, a floral centrepiece, wine glasses, and Stainless steel utensils (in addition to chopsticks) confirmed a localized composition.

For the most part, dishes were distributed in accordance to the run-of-the-mill Chinese dinner layout. Several modifications included the absence of jellyfish in the crispy pork appetizer, scallops in place of pan-fried bass fillet chunks, steamy bundles of minced crabmeat instead of individual fried crab claws, and cake slices served alongside "Chinese petit fours" and red bean soup. The selection hadn't skimped out on seafood either: supple pieces of abalone and generous portions of shark fin soup were, admittedly, a rarity to lay eyes - er, tongue - on.
Craft beer sourced from Kensington Market was another unexpected element, as were the shots of pineapple-flavoured (??) vodka, cognac, brandy, and other liquors that gradually made their way around the tables.

The reception was splendid, likely owed to the unwavering efforts of both families. I, in particular, appreciated the vast assortment of mellow tracks included in the playlist, some being renowned K-Drama OST tracks, while others soothing melodies from BOL4.
In regards to the Premier itself, service was prompt and efficient. Members of staff were constantly circulating the floor, with blazer-donning representatives scanning the crowds for raised hands and/or concerned glances. Lighting amenities were near nonexistent, for the evening's photographer and videographer had set up their own panels to capture the action. Gracing the dance floor was not even a single disco ball, let alone spotlights and coloured mood rays.

Washroom facilities also failed to match the degree of glamour set forth by the tone of the event.

All factors taken into consideration, it was a worthwhile experience that was further enhanced with the introduction of well-loved K-Pop tunes like Bboom Bboom, Bang Bang Bang, and DDU-DU DDU-DU.

16) Japan Festival Canada 2019

The inaugural cultural festival has returned to Celebration Square for another year of festive activities! With each passing year, the event sees a greater number/variety of vendors, more sophisticated performances, more social services and volunteers to maintain order, and, most importantly, more ways to participate in the action as an attendee.

Staff members bearing "End of Line" signs had been introduced since the catastrophic turnout of the first year of operation. Lineup control measures were also slowly rolled out to ensure food orders were distributed in a fair manner. A fire truck and ambulance occupied two sections on the pavilion - one at the east end, and the other at the west; police personnel were observed scanning the Beer Garden, in case chaos should materialize unexpectedly. The flexibility of accepting payments via Square was another factor I fancied dearly. This is uttered with the hope that, one day, cash only events shall become obsolete.

New to the vendor roster this year were Hattendo, Secret Tea Time (who shared a booth with the beloved Momo Tea), and Oomomo. Zakkushi's Curry Donut was another popular pick that sold out before we had the opportunity to order.

That said, my favourite fangirl and I didn't make it over to City Centre until after 5 PM. With just under two hours till the end of the event, many vendors were winding down, some even offering closing promotions.

With the acclaimed youshoku item of currypan off the menu, we strided past the booth's thirty-five-dollar wagyu steak towards Guu and Kinton. Ramen Ichifuku from Montreal offered five-dollar hot dogs with a fusion twist: in place of the typical ball park sausage was Chicken Karaage and Yakisoba; ketchup and mustard were substituted with Japan's timeless Kewpie Mayo. I opted for the Combo Pan, which emerged in the form of dry morsels of fried chicken and scraggly bits of pan-fried soba in a stale hot dog bun. Mind you, the portion size was quite decent for its size; it was also far more enjoyable than the Sahara bites from the CNE (link later). Fresh arugula contributed an wonderful astringency.

Takoyaki from Guu was deemed decent.

We perused the retail booths, with my primary aim being an inventory restock at Momo Tea. Take, Matsu, and Gyokuro in hand, we then shifted to Studio Honami's booth, gazing in awe at the handblown glass ornaments and wind chimes in all their understated beauty.

The evening concluded with a sampler of Izumi's Yuzu Lime Sake Collins, shichimi-speckled Karaage from Gushi, and Okonomiyaki from Yakikuza. Had I not been in a state demanding frugality, I wouldn't have hesitated in picking up a full-sized Yuzu Lime Sake Collins for fifteen.

My favourite fangirl's Karaage brought about much joy, as did my Okonomiyaki. The team of grilling yakuzas offered up plush batter brimming with crunchy cabbage and a single strip of pork belly, conveying ultimate satisfaction devoid of feelings of satiation. (Extra points were awarded for their witty name.)

16) Pasteis de Nata, otherwise known as Portuguese egg tarts, were discovered at an indoor Farmer's Market. The tarts were on the soggy side, though a toaster oven would have remedied that. Nothing's quite as lovely as fresh Nata though.
17) My favourite fangirl is not wrong when she notes "running late" as my daily source of cardiovascular activity.

18) Dense layers of morning humidity parted ways to reveal clear skies later in the day.

19) Izumi Distillery

An unexpected turn of events led to a lunchtime excursion in the Distillery District. I had wandered into Izumi aimlessly after spotting a sign for Sakekasu ice cream, then discovered the addition of information panels constituting a "self-guided" sake tour. It was a pleasant addition to the establishment that I don't recall being present during my last stroll-by.

Intrigued, I opted for a Green Tea Sakekasu ice cream before departing. The icy treat was apparently crafted from the byproduct of sake production, and had been poured into a small Styrofoam container to set. Available in Original, Lemon, and Green Tea, I adhered to the staff member's suggestion of the latter. (By golly, she had nice eyeliner.)

Rigid in its presented state, I took to the patio to better inspect the alcohol-infused delight. Much to my glee, the formula softened within seconds; enabling easy consumption with the provided wooden paddle. Delicate flavours were embedded into the milkiness, with only a tinge of fermented graininess towards the final scrapes of the ice cream. An adjacent party of three noted the fragrance of the Lemon version, which I immediately slotted into my to-try list on a future endeavour.

On a final note, the Yuzu Sake Collins was 26% pricier in the physical store than at Japan Festival, and this was prior to applicable HST. To keep things short: it's recommended to purchase at the pop-up. (Next year maybe??)

20) A beautifully crafted cup of Matcha Espresso from Hestia, which embodies far bolder personality than its iced rendition.

21) Rushing to the RBP Market first thing in the morning to secure my Ooh Bae and Mocha Chip. (I will add that there were slight regrets towards absence of Key Lime Pie and Pinata Colada, their new flavour that surfaced later in the day.)