Out & About #586 | Weekly Roundup: Red Hair and Roti

​Resuming regular routine on Monday was rough. A hot matcha latte made thing more bearable, but appetite levels had hit a new low. Munchies weren't even enjoyable at that point.

With the prevention of keeling over on the forefront, I requested a work-from-home chance the next day. Prior to settling into hermit mode though, I took advantage of an open slot for hair maintenance at Hair Bank. ​The salon was actually quite busy, resulting in a thirty-minute delay. This was the sole appointment that hadn't been punctually executed, however I will admit that I was in too dazed a state to be concerned about my return time.

Remember:  Trust no one but Joy.

Also inevitable was a stopover for Hodo Kwaja treats - the inevitable inventory restock had inevitably befallen. (Honestly, I'm pretty sure they know me by now.)

​Sick days call for comfort food, which is either plain congee (for those really nauseous days) or a piping bowl of wontons. And for that, Wonton Chai is my hero.

The office was a recipient of chocolatey souvenirs from Czech Republic, whose constituents were further appreciated with the assistance of Google Translate. The Mléčná s chutí višní (milk chocolate with sour cherries) and ​horká were my personal favourites of the batch.

​Inspired by classic fall flavours, Pumpkin Spice Praline and Maple Butter Pecan donuts from the Innovation Cafe also infiltrated their way onto unsuspecting territory. The verdict, however, simply re-affirmed my previous statements regarding the venture.

​Tuesday's horrific humidity subsided in the latter half of the work week, yielding blue skies and deceptively sunny conditions.

Undertaking an utterly public transit-dependent adventure with neither a hood nor scarf proved deadly at near-frost temperatures. Divine rays of warmth occasionally peeked out from behind the clouds, though seasonal levels were sustained.

​Lunch was an unconventional choice of Caribbean cuisine, located in an industrial strip by Eglinton and Dixie.

​Parking was extremely minimal, with peak lunch hour volumes further worsening the challenge. The credit card-abstaining restaurant was an apparent neighbourhood favourite, which meant that securing a table was unlikely unless arrival was declared before the rush.
Chicken Roti Wraps - made mild since the house hot sauce is comburent beyond comprehension - were the default order of the party. And while I hadn't personally requested a platter, a portion was generously offered to me for the purpose of experimentation.

Trying roti was a first for me: the combination of potates, tender chicken, and, presumably, finely crushed lentils wasn't half bad. In spite of the gradually accumulating heat and oddly thick wrapper, the dish offered a sense of (cumin-laced) comfort.

​As mentioned earlier, the eatery operates on bases of cash and debit. Orders are placed at the front counter, then delivered directly from the kitchen according to cheque numbers. The system adds a personal touch, however the process can be anticipated to be chaotic depending on the restaurant's volume levels.

I made a beeline for the washroom upon entry - a single stall situated near the cashier. Contrary to my suspicions, it was surprisingly clean with dramatic green Cintas installations (and hooks!).

​Lattes bring about immense contentment with the steep decline in temperatures: CoCo's Tea of the Month and an Ovaltine Soy Latte were my personal picks.

​Going crimson for the upcoming fall season - because red heads have more fun!
Hair Bank did a splendid job of explaining the process in detail, while noting that the provided reference photos would require modifications to suit my hair thickness and texture.

​Back at Kindred Culture for another drop-in session, I witnessed a new style of dance by a different member of the local community. Heavy on the hip-hop vibes, this week's choreography was fluidity punctuated with precision. While I didn't depart having mastered the routine, great pleasure was found in observing and following (to the best of my abilities, anyway).

​Seeing that Shandra's Roti Shop had left me adventurous for more, I pulled into the Meadowvale North Shopping Centre with a purpose. Lena's Roti & Doubles had earned itself positive feedback on more than one medium, thus warranting a pop in. Additionally, the availability of a "Low Carb Option" was found appealing.

​I garnered questionable glances from the female member of staff, who implied my lack of familiarity of the cuisine via tidbits of trivia. The takeout order was processed quickly; not even a visit to their (again surprisingly) clean bathroom passed before my order was presented.
Initially thinking that the quantity would bear no deviations from the wrapped version, one could imagine my alarm at unveiling a microscopic portion of Jerk Chicken with even tinier sides of cucumber and tomato salad. Also neglected was my request for zero spice: as tender as the fleshy bits were, nothing could mask the headache-inducing flames that were about to ignite my entire body.

​Famished and pressed for time, I had no choice but to swallow the pieces that would instantly set my mouth ablaze. The sensation spread like wildfire, singeing the edges of my lips and sending quivers throughout.
​​​Ought to be known is absolute absence of a spice tolerance, and the remote prospect of going carb-less ever again. The likelihood of Lena's again is low; scrumptious chicken aside, the shock was just unbearable.

​Roti (and doubles) though, I may consider another attempt, but only when I'm feeling a bit more intrepid.

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