An ambitious undertaking after an extended weekend of ails, I managed to persuade a certain prehistoric creature to proceed with our long-awaited post-work plans as scheduled.
My condition had fluctuated over the course of the day, from tilting surfaces to general cloudiness in the head, though it sufficed to say that neither symptom convinced me from adhering to the itinerary at hand. We set out to the infamous Distillery District to catch the annual instalment of the Toronto Light Fest.
 |  |
During daytime hours, natural illumination permits marvelling at the 19th century buildings and strips of individual shops in all their copper-toned cobblestone glory; come sundown, strings of bulb lights and flashing attractions are the thieves of attention.
 |  |
With a common ground as photo junkies, we had initiated this proposal for the sake of experimentation and lens testing. Late afternoon times granted us with a comprehensive view of the gargantuan installations, while the diminishing appearance of our solar system's largest star enabled a surreal effect to befall our surroundings.
 |  |
View the full album HERE !
I guess I didn't quite understand the orange astronauts. Then again, art is more a matter of interpretation than logical apprehension.
 |  |
For once, I had my own personal photographer in tow - one displaying matched eagerness towards capturing specific moments with strategic technological application.
 |  |
Our looming reservation time was the sole critter that nudged us to get going, driving aside our desires to dwell amidst the duskiness.
And so to Waterfront we went for Winterlicious, the dining event hosted by the City of Toronto on a bi-annual basis.
Past experiences - or should I say experience? - of the limited-time prix fixe occurrence were/was limited to participation in Miku's 2017 lunch offering. The menu hadn't evolved drastically in terms of selection, but had inflation had clearly done its way.
Past experiences - or should I say experience? - of the limited-time prix fixe occurrence were/was limited to participation in Miku's 2017 lunch offering. The menu hadn't evolved drastically in terms of selection, but had inflation had clearly done its way.
 |  |
Yawaraka, depicted as a "soft and gentle" Junmai Ginjo, was a light starter bearing no prominence of any specific flavour. It was a small sample that I personally found to be average at best, neither liking nor disliking its profile against the raw starters.
Second course was a "rich and savoury" Junmai Kimoto. Taiheizan was, indeed, noticeably savoury in its finishing notes and most definitely an acquired taste. On this observation, it was certainly not mine; I pushed this bold one aside.
The "luscious and sweet" aroma of Hakkaisan later captivated our senses upon first whiff. Intense in hue yet delicate in its execution, the Kijoshu Aged Sake provided the mellow grace to finish the meal with noblesse.
Second course was a "rich and savoury" Junmai Kimoto. Taiheizan was, indeed, noticeably savoury in its finishing notes and most definitely an acquired taste. On this observation, it was certainly not mine; I pushed this bold one aside.
The "luscious and sweet" aroma of Hakkaisan later captivated our senses upon first whiff. Intense in hue yet delicate in its execution, the Kijoshu Aged Sake provided the mellow grace to finish the meal with noblesse.
View the full album HERE !
Our starting plates were accompanied by two variations of soy sauce, which were introduced to us (but not elaborated on) by the server. Distinguishing qualities nor recommended utilization were not named, though a vague memory heeding enjoyment of aburi species sans-sauce could be recalled.
 |  |
The Signature Sushi Selection comprised of a compact array of the restaurant's signatures. Aburi Salmon Oshi earned the title of the best item, single-handedly with its luscious, gratifying texture. Lime zest and a creamy topping garnered positive feedback for the Aburi Ebi Oshi, a sashimi style I generally possess no fondness towards. Other specmens such as the Red Wave Roll, Aburi Nigiri, and Coal Harbour Roll (and its negi topping) were delicious albeit pricey. (Yes, TORA-pricey.)
Beautifully arranged on a dusty pink plate was the Sashimi Platter: salmon, white fish, hotate (scallop), and a singular aka ebi were the colourful constituents. Red wakame and shiso were fine additions to the piece.
Beautifully arranged on a dusty pink plate was the Sashimi Platter: salmon, white fish, hotate (scallop), and a singular aka ebi were the colourful constituents. Red wakame and shiso were fine additions to the piece.
Reasoning behind restricting the entrée choices to cooked foods only is beyond me, given Miku's status as an upscale sushi establishment. Scrunching our noses at the Cauliflower Steak, our unanimous decision(s) lay with the Saikyo Miso Baked Sablefish and Soy Braised Beef Shank.
The former had earned itself a lasting impression of ineptitude during my first visit, so I had mild reservations this time around. In general, it was tender and flaky - as fish ought to be - but it was no JaBistro. Accent elements were more to my liking, surprisingly. Miso sundried tomato, otherwise merely known as "tomato relish", perfectly cooked mushrooms, and an unidentifiable baby broccoli-like floret were the highlights of the plate, since, while the Butter Poached Lobster Ravioli was tasty, it was a far cry from being memorable.
The former had earned itself a lasting impression of ineptitude during my first visit, so I had mild reservations this time around. In general, it was tender and flaky - as fish ought to be - but it was no JaBistro. Accent elements were more to my liking, surprisingly. Miso sundried tomato, otherwise merely known as "tomato relish", perfectly cooked mushrooms, and an unidentifiable baby broccoli-like floret were the highlights of the plate, since, while the Butter Poached Lobster Ravioli was tasty, it was a far cry from being memorable.
In contrast, the Soy Braised Beef Shank was a composition warranting commendation. From the unbelievable tender meat to the carrot dashi purée, and from the umami-dusted baby potatoes to the red vein sorrel accent, amazement radiated from within. Pan Seared Foie Gras was less to my liking, on the other hand, and was promptly shoved aside (much like Taiheizan).
 |  |
Dessert adopted the forms of Green Tea Opera and Passion Fruit Soy Milk Panna Cotta.
A classic contender at Miku, the seven-layer creation was exquisite as ever, in spite of being tinier than ever. The only aspect causing eyebrows to furrow was a streak of blue food colouring in the matcha ice cream - an indicative element of artificial colouring in homemade concoctions.
A classic contender at Miku, the seven-layer creation was exquisite as ever, in spite of being tinier than ever. The only aspect causing eyebrows to furrow was a streak of blue food colouring in the matcha ice cream - an indicative element of artificial colouring in homemade concoctions.
 |  |
The coconut caviar advertised in the Passion Fruit Soy Milk Panna Cotta was simply just sago, but the bottom-residing orange yuzu marmalade and sable crumble were scrumptious. Also notable was the dollop of honey mint oil, an innovative ingredient for escalated complexity.
Service was attentive, naturally, with the waitstaff being prompt in removing empty plates and meticulously removing splatters with a clean wipe.
All factors taken into consideration, one can conclude that though the dining experience has persisted in quality, the portions are microscopic at the given price points. As someone with a notoriously shallow appetite, I could perceive oncoming cravings for a McD's Vanilla Cone shortly after exiting.
All factors taken into consideration, one can conclude that though the dining experience has persisted in quality, the portions are microscopic at the given price points. As someone with a notoriously shallow appetite, I could perceive oncoming cravings for a McD's Vanilla Cone shortly after exiting.
 |  |
The evening concluded with more light photography, taking place just outside the neighbouring RBC building.
 |  |
With audio clippings and illuminated flipboard-like stories embedded within each ring, Loop was advertised as an interactive exhibit for perusing while visiting the South Core.
RSS Feed