Out & About #720 | Week #65 Quarantine Update Feat. Katsu, Coffee, and Cycling

A revolutionary realization was made this week, one that would defy the very reason for career selection and turn against preservation of productivity.
For once, I wasn't angry at congestion on the highway. The skies were a dazzling cerulean, though it wouldn't have mattered had they been drab and grey. I was thankful to be in traffic.

There I said it. I was thankful that my gaze could fall upon an element in 3D, in real-time, as a constituent of the present community. For all the days before a screen have accumulated over the course of the pandemic, rendering me blurry-eyed and migraine-ridden, furthermore despising tending to my own organizational trackers after work.

Every single morning commences with coffee, caffeine acting as the sole fuel source to combat daily vexations. Regardless of cold brews (or, in this case, Cold Foam Cold Brew), iced Americanos, or lattes, a cup is joe is non-negotiable. The instant pick-me-up is as essential as breakfast and snuggles with Larry, the most reliable best friend amidst modern-day struggles.

​The typical meal varies minimally from toast and bran muffins, however this week's saw the welcome addition of egg tarts and an XL Raisin Loaf from Lucullus.

​Salted Caramel Cold Brew and a Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew were obtained in the latter half of the week, following a series of unscheduled morning discussions. The evening saw a sudden urge for an active getaway, thus a long-time pal was roped into another cycling adventure.

On this early evening ride, I learned that not all MUPs were continuous, and that shifting from the SB to NB sides was, seemingly, perfectly normal. We ate dust along the downhill stretch, yet chanced upon some daisies by the QEW ramp.

​Around 8:30 pm, we found ourselves at Jack Darling - just in time to catch the sunset!

​I inched closer to the shore in delicate strides, striving severely to prevent sand collection in my shoes. Conditions were flawless, though timing was not. The end of the day loomed near, and sustenance was yet to be had.

​Our egress from the park was lined with the withered petals of dandelions - "summer snow", as my partner-in-crime had declared.

​Eventually, Harvey's was had. Two Jr. Crispy Chicken Sandwiches were devoured as we contemplated our options for the journey back: Can we just Uber it? No, the bikes won't fit. The return trip estimated roughly 50 minutes, so we gobbled down the saucy remnants and continued onwards.
Being fatigued and without reflective bands or bike lights, I was positively petrified. Designated bike lanes weaved in and out of the vehicle pavement markings along Mississauga Road, gradually diminishing to darkness as dusk turned to night. Each press of the pedal grew weaker, until the only noticeable feeling was tingling from excessive gripping of the handlebars.

But we managed it, somehow. Alas, I owe the driving force to a sense for survival rather than determination.

Creations of the week were, as expected, extremely few. It was a chaotic week, with only increasingly hectic ones on the horizon.

1) Pork Loin Two Ways: Katsu, Pork Chops

The incredibly lean pork loin that had made its way into the previous week's Wintermelon Soup had found a more fitting calling in the form of pork chops. The first was sliced into segments estimating palm-sized length and thickness. I followed in the steps for a Baked Katsu Don, deploying both my homemade panko and caramelized onions.​

Admittedly on the drier side, the recipe yielded the crispiest no-frying katsu I had ever experienced. Its distinctive lean-ness encouraged a saucy component to re-introduce moisture; we took to either ketchup, HP sauce, a drizzle of the radish pickling liquid, then followed with warmed caramelized onions and piping steamed white rice grains.

The second cut was far fattier than the first, almost obnoxiously so. Fully knowing that the marbled structure would fail to retain its shape in the baking process (and also since my DIY panko had been depleted), I took to pan-frying. Cast-iron lent a crisp edge to the pork chops, though removed a portion of the egg coating during its preheating phase.

​As expected, it was oilier in comparison, yet still delicious for the effort exerted.

2) Mini Peach Pies w/ Grape Jelly

I've had an extra pie crust in the freezer for some time now. It wasn't in a particular rush to eliminate inventory, because pie on demand is a fantastic thing. However, I was keen on attempting smaller-sized versions with newly acquired loaf tins - a purchase executed under the amazing alibi of upcoming events demanding portable portions.

​The crust formula was likely Smitten Kitchen (Oh, great SK!), while the filling was a last-minute mishmash of peach compote - seasoned with brown sugar and turmeric - along with filtered grape jelly.

​It was evident that I hadn't anticipated enough filling for these pies. Nonetheless, they turned out splendidly. The blind-baking process involved fifteen minutes at 375 F with crumpled mounds of parchment and foil as weight, then for another 5 minutes to remove residual shine. Fillings were smothered to the best of my abilities in the morning time crunch and returned to the oven for approximately fifteen minutes. A impressively flakey crust emerged, liberated from the dampness witnessed in all previous pie undertakings. A miracle had materialized.

​Easing into the weekend were sugary treats for sanity. Spotted in the hands of several young cyclists were popsicles from my childhood. Although nowhere to be found in the ice cream aisle at Loblaws, they reared their heads at the unlikely site of a nearby Circle K.

A pupil-less Spongbob and Apple Fritter-Chocolate Chip Muffin duo from Timmies served to curb hunger as we set out eastward.

​I was determined to replenish my hoddeok stash during this trip, appropriately naming Hodo Kwaja as the first destination. Succeeding the acquisition of brown sugar pancakes, madeleines, and mixed walnut cakes was a trip to The Alley. My go-to of Dark Knight saw the light, along with a seasonal Strawberry & Blueberry Tea with smashed berry peel.

We proceeded with one last stopover at P.A.T. for custard taiyaki, then bid farewell to the City.

Driving through the countless one-way streets, it was observed that distancing measures were maintained albeit lightened. Alexandra Park had transformed into a campsite of sorts, resembling the side streets of Thank U Coffee at a larger scale.