The group had departed Zakkushi amidst zero-visibility snowfall, just to witness the absurdity of it to diminish overnight. Blue skies and amiable walking conditions greeted me in the downtown core the next day.
With Valentine's Day around the corner, retailers were eager to take advantage of the situation, offering up quick, accessible solutions to fuel the occasion's flushing festivities.
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With Valentine's Day around the corner, retailers were eager to take advantage of the situation, offering up quick, accessible solutions to fuel the occasion's flushing festivities. From Union Station's two-day exclusive Hershey's Kisses pop-up to Enchanted Rose-inspired compositions in our very own lobby, it was nearly impossible to forget the looming lovers' holiday.
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My week was more or less unvaried, with the exceptions of Cinnamon Toast Crunch (not a fan, by the way) and Maple Syrup French Toast Crunch (this was scrumptious!) "samples" from a certain prehistoric creature.
A Vanilla Latte from Dineen's Commerce Court location provided a wonderfully fragrant boost to the Mon(dane)day. Additional features such as Ritual ordering, prompt, cordial service, and a password-secured Wi-Fi network further elevated the experience.
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The flu has yet to pass completely; I'm not exactly certain whether Matcha Lattes (with espresso) and fluffy, rum-doused tiramisu are helping my case either.
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Orangecane informed me her intentions to venture to the halfway point between our residences one day, and for the sake of maximizing catch-up time, a nearby takeout spot was proposed for lunch break.
Alexandros World Famous Gyros - known on Google Maps as "Alexandros Take-Out" - was a family-operated eatery catering to the grab-and-go needs of the neighbourhood's busy working class, whether it be nearby office workers or labourers from the countless construction undertakings in the South Core.
The establishment could be characterized by snug seating and an open kitchen. Amidst our wait came a nudge from my ever-sarcastic dining partner: by the drink refrigerator was an ATM machine, an indication that Alexandros may possibly operate on a cash-only basis. Much to my relief, this was not the case.
The establishment could be characterized by snug seating and an open kitchen. Amidst our wait came a nudge from my ever-sarcastic dining partner: by the drink refrigerator was an ATM machine, an indication that Alexandros may possibly operate on a cash-only basis. Much to my relief, this was not the case.
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We secured our excessively charred Pork and Chicken Gyros Wraps and sat by the window for duck-gazing. The pita was on the crustier side, as the dill-laced tzatziki sauce had trickled through to the other edge of the wrap. Messy to devour but nonetheless a satisfying meal, the consensus was that we definitely still had room for The Krys' monthly special (and humourous event recaps) afterwards.
Given the challenge of restricting months of stories within a one-hour time slot, we re-convened upon the conclusion of the work day for continued tales and window shopping.
We parted ways after a whiff of Rose Prick's old lady perfume profile (Sorry Jinyoung!) and a Filet-O-Fish devoid of lettuce but accompanied by a wrongful ninety-cent upcharge.
We parted ways after a whiff of Rose Prick's old lady perfume profile (Sorry Jinyoung!) and a Filet-O-Fish devoid of lettuce but accompanied by a wrongful ninety-cent upcharge.
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In recapitulation of a chilly work-from-home day were: mediocre meals of stiff T&T sushi, an unlearned recipe for matcha cookies, and sickeningly sweet PB Oatmeal Cookies with only a minimal hint of coveted nuttiness. One ought to note that while obscene amounts of brown sugar do result in chewy cookies, melted butter should never, ever, be employed - unless sad, flat cookies are your jam.
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My own PB&B Oatmeal wasn't half bad though!
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Kindred's final Beginner Hip Hop/Urban class of the winter term brought down the curtain with a bang: succeeding a calf-burning Charleston warmup was a short but psychedelic sequence executed with maximum deftness.
Upon my return home, I was informed of an incoming delivery: Valentine's Visuals.
Behold my first-ever flower bouquet, and my first taste at Montreal's Félix & Norton.
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With only one outpost outside of the French-speaking city, the cookie shop has resided on my go-to list for some time now. That said, one can imagine the insurmountable degree of elation upon laying eyes on the charmingly wrapped magenta box.
A dozen mini rounds had been purchased in order to secure such packaging. It was, admittedly, quite the hefty number to stomach at first glance, however the portion sizes were smaller than the average cookie, weighing in approximately one-third of The Night Baker's volume.
A dozen mini rounds had been purchased in order to secure such packaging. It was, admittedly, quite the hefty number to stomach at first glance, however the portion sizes were smaller than the average cookie, weighing in approximately one-third of The Night Baker's volume.
Encased within was a medley of flavours:
- Ménage à Trois: A scandalously named specimen that brought about the greatest amount of joy, this one was on the sweeter side with satisfying chunks of milk, dark, and white chocolate.
- Caramelt, Bling Bling Salted Caramel: Crispier than they were sticky, the caramel-centric concoctions contained a similar degree of sweetness as the chocoatey renditions without being cloying.
- Very Berry, Lemon Delight, Oatmeal Raisin: Interestingly enough, the fruit-bearing rounds were heavier in granulated sugar than the others, making for less-than-ideal experiences.
Similar in their fundamental dough composition, each F&N cookie retained an unmistakably soft interior with crunchy, just-browned edges. While some were definitely slicker than others, I must profess that this sample has verified the bakery's potential for additional exploration.
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The delightful surprise also comprised of hand cream - quick-absorbing formulae to eliminate the excuse of "it's too greasy" - and never-before-seen Tsujiri creations.
A rigid Matcha Mochi Waffle and Matcha Mousse had also made their way over from the North York flagship.
The former was a rather rigid snack with tiny bites of mochi, while the latter a ridiculously silky round embodying utmost grassiness. At its base was a sturdy chocolate biscuit layer - seemingly 70% solid chocolate with finishing touches of consolidated chocolate wafer.
A rigid Matcha Mochi Waffle and Matcha Mousse had also made their way over from the North York flagship.
The former was a rather rigid snack with tiny bites of mochi, while the latter a ridiculously silky round embodying utmost grassiness. At its base was a sturdy chocolate biscuit layer - seemingly 70% solid chocolate with finishing touches of consolidated chocolate wafer.
Pleasant surprises harness enormous energy, enabling one to feel giddy for the remainder of the evening, and even into the next morning.
Long weekend plans failed to be executed, backup plans also fell through due to extenuating circumstances.
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Finding myself at home in the west side of the GTA again, I got to work baking up a storm. First came an empirical attempt at Walnut Soup, which may or may not have re-ignited my Chinese dessert kick.
Next came an unexpected success of stuffed PB&J Oatmeal cookies, topped with a few salted pumpkin seeds for a savoury crunch.
Filled with gooey peanut butter and almost-oozing homemade raspberry jam (maybe tone down the gelatin for this one), the nine-piece set may prove itself to be one of my most cherished concoctions yet!
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