I've foregoed brunch for quite a while now. The day-to-day working routine favours quick, caffeinated breakfasts to fuel productivity. It then usually transitions into a late lunch, a later afternoon snack, and even later exercise periods and dinners. Weekends differ not too vastly, for the body has grown accustomed to waking within a range.
"Leisurely" is a manner by which I am unable to progress through my daily duties, for it is a constant race against time. With every patched hole, at least two new holes surface in the canoe of life. Resilience is gradually receding.
"Leisurely" is a manner by which I am unable to progress through my daily duties, for it is a constant race against time. With every patched hole, at least two new holes surface in the canoe of life. Resilience is gradually receding.
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A devastatingly demanding week sent me into a slump. I wished for rest, yet a slew of tasks awaited my consideration and organization. The sleepy polar bear offered to undertake an active approach on planning, allowing me to reserve energy for tackle my endless to-do list. I was both anxious and curious for the outcome, but accepted after evaluating levels of physical and mental fatigue - and even refrained from posing questions.
Around 12:45 PM, we arrived at Pür & Simple in Heartland. The brunch spot had surfaced on my feed countless times over the past several weeks, leading to familiarity with the name, though I hadn't investigated any further. Its location was interesting, nestled in the same plaza as Best Buy, Five Guys, and The Halal Guys; it satisfied a niche customer base unsatiated by the existing roster of businesses.
Around 12:45 PM, we arrived at Pür & Simple in Heartland. The brunch spot had surfaced on my feed countless times over the past several weeks, leading to familiarity with the name, though I hadn't investigated any further. Its location was interesting, nestled in the same plaza as Best Buy, Five Guys, and The Halal Guys; it satisfied a niche customer base unsatiated by the existing roster of businesses.
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Frankly, I was beyond surprised - pleasantly taken back, even. A social media favourite - free from greasy fumes! - was the last thing I expected.
The dining quarters were rather tiny, with tables placed relatively close to one another and incredible noise levels. We strolled in to a packed scene and were informed of an approximate forty-five minute wait. The hostess relayed the possibility of reservation cancellations, as "it always happens", with the next booking in ten minutes. I inquired further about a two-seater by the door and the probability of that table being available within a range of ten to forty-five minutes. She contemplated the question for a brief moment, then granted us the table without hesitation, as the pre-booked were "likely to cancel anyway".
We excitedly slid into the compact table, thankful towards her decision. Its positioning by the entrance wasn't ideal given the occasional gusts from the door opening, but it wasn't a big deal either as temperatures weren't that cold. Moreover, there was no wait time!
The dining quarters were rather tiny, with tables placed relatively close to one another and incredible noise levels. We strolled in to a packed scene and were informed of an approximate forty-five minute wait. The hostess relayed the possibility of reservation cancellations, as "it always happens", with the next booking in ten minutes. I inquired further about a two-seater by the door and the probability of that table being available within a range of ten to forty-five minutes. She contemplated the question for a brief moment, then granted us the table without hesitation, as the pre-booked were "likely to cancel anyway".
We excitedly slid into the compact table, thankful towards her decision. Its positioning by the entrance wasn't ideal given the occasional gusts from the door opening, but it wasn't a big deal either as temperatures weren't that cold. Moreover, there was no wait time!
Double-sided printed menus were placed before us, joining the monogrammed syrup bottle. Pür & Simple's menu was exceptionally diverse: my eyes glazed over a plethora of sweet and savoury brunch options, ranging from classics like Eggs Benedict and Breakfast Burritos to modern picks of Crepes and amped-up French Toast.
We took to sharing one sweet item and one savoury item, much as how a fellow July baby does.
No-Gria, the virgin rendition of a sangria, was requested to pair alongside our selection. Sprite/7-Up was substituted with carbonated water, keeping the drink refreshing without being too sweet. Fresh berries was a splendid addition for infusion. The paper straw disintegrated and unraveled over time, prompting a request for a new one about three-quarters through our stay.
We took to sharing one sweet item and one savoury item, much as how a fellow July baby does.
No-Gria, the virgin rendition of a sangria, was requested to pair alongside our selection. Sprite/7-Up was substituted with carbonated water, keeping the drink refreshing without being too sweet. Fresh berries was a splendid addition for infusion. The paper straw disintegrated and unraveled over time, prompting a request for a new one about three-quarters through our stay.
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Sharing plates were requested of our waitress, who was unmasked while serving, unlike the hostesses. An overhead conversation with our neighbours informed of her previous post at Cora's, as well as her grateful attitude towards Pür & Simple's lack of oil stench - music to my ears, honestly. The same waitress was also observed responsible for majority of the tables on one side of the bustling restaurant. Her attitude remained amicably, amazingly, and did not evoke expressions of exasperation or fatigue. In general, all members of the customer-facing staff were friendly and responsive.
The Mexican Skillet and French Toast Crisp arrived shortly, quickly occupying whatever table space we had left. Napkins, water cups, and maple syrup were shuffled about to accomodate the platter, ketchup, and tobasco.
Forks flew towards the Mexicana Skillet. Arranged within the not-so-scorching iron plate, we found well-balanced flavours: a subtle crunch from taters, the soft profile of black beans, butteriness from ripe avocado slices, satisfying strings of melted cheese, tartness from tomatoes, and the sturdy yet runny cross-section of easy-over eggs. A spoon was later requested to portion out the dish. Complaints of insufficient cheesiness were heard from across the table, though I personally found the assortment perfect and well-rounded. I was particularly appreciative of the mildness of the skillet, for even the salsa-like component was mild and free from the typical pungency of Mexican-themed fare.
Forks flew towards the Mexicana Skillet. Arranged within the not-so-scorching iron plate, we found well-balanced flavours: a subtle crunch from taters, the soft profile of black beans, butteriness from ripe avocado slices, satisfying strings of melted cheese, tartness from tomatoes, and the sturdy yet runny cross-section of easy-over eggs. A spoon was later requested to portion out the dish. Complaints of insufficient cheesiness were heard from across the table, though I personally found the assortment perfect and well-rounded. I was particularly appreciative of the mildness of the skillet, for even the salsa-like component was mild and free from the typical pungency of Mexican-themed fare.
The French Toast Crisp was panko-crusted for extra crunch. Three thick slices of plush brioche (brioche? a standard loaf-brioche blend?) were laid diagonally, drizzled with "English cream" (more commonly known as Crème Anglaise) and raspberry coulis, and finished with a swirl of whipped cream. This swirl did not melt under the residual heat of the French toast, which could only mean the presence of stabilizer in its composition. My bet was on roux at the time, though instant pudding mix may also seem plausible for efficiency's sake.
Each slice was slightly savoury, but then brushed with the sweeteness of cream and coulis and furthered in delectability with ample fresh blueberries and raspberries. The berries were neither damp nor mushy; spectacularly fresh, it was if they had been sourced from the farmer's market just that morning. An additional drizzle of maple syrup contrasted splendidly against its eggy centre. My only gripe lay with the screw-top bottle: without a spout, it was not pour-friendly, leading to stray syrup dribbles on the side if not wiped after use.
Each slice was slightly savoury, but then brushed with the sweeteness of cream and coulis and furthered in delectability with ample fresh blueberries and raspberries. The berries were neither damp nor mushy; spectacularly fresh, it was if they had been sourced from the farmer's market just that morning. An additional drizzle of maple syrup contrasted splendidly against its eggy centre. My only gripe lay with the screw-top bottle: without a spout, it was not pour-friendly, leading to stray syrup dribbles on the side if not wiped after use.
Washrooms were located on the southeast corner of the eatery, adopting the form of gender-separated single stalls. Inside was impressively tidy, especially given the customer volumes, albeit insanely chilly.
Leftovers were slid within biodegradable boxes for transporting home. One out of three French Toast Crisp slices remained, along with approximately a handful of taters from the Mexican Skillet. In hindsight, the meal had been quite pricey given its components. That said, it was a warranted treat - infrequent to be had in the future, but justifiable given the circumstances.
Leftovers were slid within biodegradable boxes for transporting home. One out of three French Toast Crisp slices remained, along with approximately a handful of taters from the Mexican Skillet. In hindsight, the meal had been quite pricey given its components. That said, it was a warranted treat - infrequent to be had in the future, but justifiable given the circumstances.
We proceeded to wander about the nearby Dollarama to assuage feelings of fullness. There, I spotted jumbo plastic badminton racquets and bubble mixtures - apparatus that would provide entertainment to residents of all ages.
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The accumulated ticket count on my wristband spoke for itself. While just about able to redeem any prize from the shelf, the cocktail shaker I had eyed some months ago had vanished. We spotted Harry Potter and The Simpsons editions of Codenames, both reasonable enough to be redeemed. Yet, we held off. Its variance from the classic edition was unknown, thus posing uncertainty towards its playing style.
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We then proceeded to peruse all corners of the mall, weaving through trails of other shoppers along the way. No longer were the corridors as peaceful as they had once been. Capacity restrictions had been lifted, and the retail scene had been reinstated to its pre-COVID, flourishing status.
In the Disney Store's successor of Mind Games, we were able to obtain further details on the Codenames variations. The shop was lined with more board games than I could fathom. Being not one to engage in static activities, it was bewildering to me that such a market had existed to begin with. More shocking was the very fact that I had entered the store at all! An afternoon of board games had altered this perspective slightly, though spending copious amounts of time on puzzles and sitting games would still assume the lowest rank on my list of interests, just alongside cleaning and repetitive manual labour.
In the Disney Store's successor of Mind Games, we were able to obtain further details on the Codenames variations. The shop was lined with more board games than I could fathom. Being not one to engage in static activities, it was bewildering to me that such a market had existed to begin with. More shocking was the very fact that I had entered the store at all! An afternoon of board games had altered this perspective slightly, though spending copious amounts of time on puzzles and sitting games would still assume the lowest rank on my list of interests, just alongside cleaning and repetitive manual labour.
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Everything Bagel Cookies returned to the Big Fat Cookies display. I queued up immediately, then recoiled at the price tag of $4.79 for stuffed cookies. Given the quantity of slow-moving patrons before me, it wasn't difficult to snap a photo and move on. My curiosity persists, but my wallet receives priority.
Inflation was no newcomer to my surroundings, however. Besides the steep incline in dairy costs at the supermarket, pre-made juices and smoothies were also seen hiking up from $5 to $7.50 and even up to $9! Parched from Pump It Up! yet unwilling to yield to the treacherous lineups and their outrageous price points, we persevered on our return route.
Rounding the corner of the former Godiva shop, juice samples were observed from beyond the display window. The lady behind waved us inward. We had chanced across a one-day pop-up for Wow Sorrel's juices. A total of four varieties lined the table, each emphasizing the health benefits of a different tropical ingredient. One contained hibiscus, while another sea moss. My preference lay with the June Plum formula, which was zingy from ginger yet tart from the plum-pineapple combination.
Inflation was no newcomer to my surroundings, however. Besides the steep incline in dairy costs at the supermarket, pre-made juices and smoothies were also seen hiking up from $5 to $7.50 and even up to $9! Parched from Pump It Up! yet unwilling to yield to the treacherous lineups and their outrageous price points, we persevered on our return route.
Rounding the corner of the former Godiva shop, juice samples were observed from beyond the display window. The lady behind waved us inward. We had chanced across a one-day pop-up for Wow Sorrel's juices. A total of four varieties lined the table, each emphasizing the health benefits of a different tropical ingredient. One contained hibiscus, while another sea moss. My preference lay with the June Plum formula, which was zingy from ginger yet tart from the plum-pineapple combination.
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It set me back $7 plus tax - not the most economic choice, but easily the most viable beverage option at the time. Moreover, it was delicious, introducing me to the incorporation of ginger in drinks and paving the way to construct concoctions of my own. A Jamaican Fruit Cake sample was also bestowed upon me. The advertised rum content was barely detectable; its profile was uniform and mushy overall, blurring the distinction between edge and centre.
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Escaping the scene of shoppers, we unveiled a fresh box of Codenames - purchased from Walmart, as it proved the cheapest of all sources. Cards were punched out and a brief two-player round was performed.
Dinner was obtained from I Love Pho yet again. The spread consisted of Grilled Chicken and Spring Roll with Vermicelli and Fresh Rolls with Avocado, Grilled Beef, and Shrimp.
Dinner was obtained from I Love Pho yet again. The spread consisted of Grilled Chicken and Spring Roll with Vermicelli and Fresh Rolls with Avocado, Grilled Beef, and Shrimp.
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These fresh rolls have become my go-to, yet each time I am reminded of the diner's too-sweet dipping sauce and the inability to preserve rice paper rolls for next-day consumption. Filled with a mashed taro-and-pork-bit-like filling, the spring rolls reeked of grease, yet boasted the crunch adored by the sleepy polar bear's household.
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