Out & About #631 | Week #6 Quarantine Update​ Feat. Wonton Chai, Bossam, and Hodo Kwaja

​I've said it already, though I'll state it again: Few changes have taken place in my day-to-day activities, minus the arduous ordeal that is hour-long grocery shopping trips.
But humans are dynamic after all, and so while "unprecedented times" are here, the theory of natural selection applies still

I'd like to think that I've adapted to the lengthy lineups and costlier checkout totals, as the outcome of these successive trips are expense reports, (food) trend forecasts, and the most important result of all - mitigation measures. Undoubtedly due in response to my efforts was a treat in the form of Wonton Chai.

Cravings are more or less kept at bay by the ability to reproduce a similar enough product in the comfort of one's home. Mild exceptions remain, with Pocky being one of them.

​Those that hadn't been on too friendly of terms with their kitchen haven been coerced into a changed mindset.
Yet those previously accustomed shall simply yearn for undertakings of greater difficulty.

Crafted from scratch were a series of lunch and dinner items, which sadly proved unsuccessful in lasting longer than several days.

Dish #1: Macaroni x Ground Beef x Sautéed 'Shrooms x Tomato Conpoy Compote Feat. Fried Egg

Seemingly effortless, there was a tremendous amount of preparation work involved. Other culinary techniques were also deployed, though somewhat subconsciously in my regard: boiling, marinating, sautéeing, pan frying, and, finally, broiling for a crunchy gratin-esque covering.

After a weekend of mayhem, I started my week off solid: An event known none other than GOT7's long-awaited comeback.

Oh, swear Not By The Moon.

Working from home has its privileges, for it's been quite some time since I've been able to dedicate uninterrupted periods of (moral) support. There was nothing quite like sleep deprivation from that of a highly anticipated comeback. Triple shot iced coffee and Ahgabong in hand, I patiently awaited the EP drop, as well as the subsequent V LIVE Showcase.

​Centred about an unfamiliar concept, it was a demure take on the septet's established charisma - one that oddly reminded me of EXO's debut MV.

The title track had instilled feelings of anxiety in many ahgase hearts, since its credits pointed towards head produced JYP instead of our trusted leader. Upon relishing in its delivery, however, my mind was put at ease. While JB is known to concoct with GOT7's colour in mind, it is undeniable that the founder of the entertainment company holds the upper hand at showcasing each member's individual talents - pigments, so to speak.

​AURA - Composed by our power vocal otter, this one is melodical yet vigorous. AURA is compelling and commands attention, much like Nobody Knows but gesturing towards a different end of the spectrum.

CRAZY - Honestly, I feel that this track sheds a bit of insight on JB's internal state of mind. Alternatively, it evokes the vibe of all GOT7 variety show appearances: consistently erratic, fun, and edged with a dose of composure.

NOT BY THE MOON - An exemplary exhibit of art encompassing an insane amount of detail and breadth of potential plot interpretations. Flawless in its distribution of verses, personal highlights include Jackson's prechorus verse (inclusive of its straightforward vocabulary), BamBam's groovy first rap segment (0:26) and sleek choreography, Mark's soft perm and danceable second rap segment (1:33), and the two final high notes by JB and Youngjae. It goes without saying that introducing the track with the angel that is Jinyoung was a well-informed decision. At this time, I will also note that I've garnered a liking towards Youngjae's smoky eyes (initiated during Crash & Burn) and BamBam rocking Lauv's platinum buzz cut better than the American artist himself. (Yes, I said it.)

LOVE YOU BETTER - Jinyoung's track, otherwise known as my favourite B-side of the EP, demonstrated a steady progression of complexity in his compositions. From the lullaby-like 그날 / The Day to the carefree My Youth, the mid-tempo LOVE YOU BETTER serves as the cloudy day tune I'd find myself reaching for to uplift dreary spirits (and dance around the room to). Moreover, I thoroughly enjoyed Jackson's starting verses and, admittedly, even squealed a bit listening at 5 AM in the morning. It is to no ahgase's surprise that the man has vocal abilities, however LOVE YOU BETTER is a testament to his own acknowledged confidence in singing, likely gathered from his countless solo releases.

TRUST MY LOVE - With credits owed to none of the members in the group, this one is dance-able, intriguing, and amusingly evocative of Bollywood pieces.

POISON - Addicting to both the visual and hearing senses, this track was appropriately termed and conveyed through the group's post-release performance stages. Suits, hankerchiefs, and choreography compiled by the Jackson-Jinyoung-Yugyeom trio are surefire elements for fandom fascination.

​Unsurprisingly, I became instantly inspired to craft a two-toned egg sheet at the conclusion of their showcase. It was ahgase patriotism at its finest, in all its holey glamour. (Steer clear of Miniso pans...)

Other creations of the week include: a two-faced Matcha Latte (with Momo's Matsu!) and a Grilled Cheese sandwich (intentions spurred by Tasty).

Dish #2: 魚滑釀茄子 (aka Dace Fish Ball Stuffed Eggplant)
as requested by another occupant of the household and originating from Hong Kong's 健康食平D

Dish #3​: Red Bean Soup - made thicker and beanier than previous runs.

 Dish #4: 보쌈 / Bossam, or really, 수육 / Suyuk 

since I did not have samgyeopsal on hand. This formula owes its roots to Future Neighbor and was explored after an insane blogilates livestream. (Think: Brutal Booty, Abs on Fire, and Quick Burn Arms all in one!)

Served alongside the tender slices of pork was a honey-ginger-lemon dressing not dissimilar to the popular jokbal condiment.

​Do not allow the stringy appearance of the slices deter you, for these bite-sized pieces were, by no means, as tough as they may seem.

​When cooking suyuk, ensure fridge space for broth encapsulation.

The Night Baker had rendered me aware of Hodo Kwaja's operations, thus on a Koreatown detour we proceeded.

I miss visits to this area dearly. Shall I be frank, the two aspects of pre-COVID-19 life that I contemplate on a near-daily basis are weekly badminton sessions and mane-taming activities at Hair Bank.

​Walnut cakes, cheon byung, and a substantial amount of hoddeok did go unpurchased.

I also stepped into Kung Fu's Koreatown outpost for the first time ever.

​The original POI was Yi Fang, before I recalled their closure. CoCo would have been the easy second choice, though I had, in my haste, forgotten the VIP tag...

Returning home with me were goodies from orangecane - including her infamous kalbi jjim! - and miscellaneous masks from a lover of stars and pigs.

Ultimate Banana Bread was repurposed into muffins for broadened surface area (read: crunchiness), then paired with Radical Road's refreshing Yuzu Pale Ale. The can's contents were crisp, light, and devoid of any overly invasive hoppy aftertastes.

​Last but not least: Perfectly circular frothed milk reminiscent of Not By The Moon's point choreography.