Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger
  • ~ Home ~
  • ~ What I Think ~
  • ~ What I See ~
    • Events
    • Food
    • People
    • Places
  • ~ What I Make ~
  • Blog Series
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer

Out & About #837 | Mississauga Munching Feat. Xe Kem, Hachigo + Yum's Kitchen

9/13/2022

0 Comments

 
The sleepy polar bear was, essentially, on standby for my announcement, and the minute I declared my availability, off we sped.

I desired coffee, and further investigations of the cute, compact space in the Mississauga Chinese Centre. Little had I known that the grab-and-go spot, while very Vietnamese in every vein of offering, did not offer Ca Phe Sua Da.
Picture
​We took to a palm-sized cup of Coffee Jelly cup and an even smaller Caramel Flan, both priced at $2.50. Within the Coffee Jelly were alternating layers of agar agar-stabilized solution. Its consistency was uniformly thin and slippery, as opposed to the contrasting gelatin-mousse mix I had been expecting.

​The Caramel Flan, on the other hand, was a much more enjoyable portion, despite its reduction in size. Creamy, silky, and with a fitting quantity of toasty caramel to offset its sweet, custard-like qualities, I proceeded to demolish majority of the cup, pausing only once such that the sleepy polar bear could sample.
Picture
Picture
​The unquenched urgency for coffee (and bathroom facilities) had us contemplating nearby establishments. Not quite inclined to visit Tokyo Cheesecake Cafe, nor adventurous enough to try royaltea's coffee-based drinks (though they were closed anyway), I proposed Dixie Outlet Mall for indoor plumbing services.
Picture
Picture
Frankly, I could not recall a time I had stepped foot on the premises. Decidedly less extravagant than Toronto Premium Outlets, the plaza appeared grim, dingy, and nearly warehouse-like.

We strode through the Nike Factory Store for mall access, finding Kin-Kin and Hachigo nearly instantly. Washrooms were used and stores browsed briefly. Then, we returned to the colourful stall for a closer look at their products.
Picture
Picture
Uncharacteristically vibrant, the stall stood out against its otherwise muted neighbours. A middle-aged lady proceeded to hand out samples of cheesecake slices and even individual portions of their faux-taiyaki Gogo Bits.
I had been keen on trying out the city's latest Japanese cheesecake contender - now six months old - for a while now. The sleepy polar bear was more intrigued in the animal-shaped pastries filled with tacky, starch-thickened custard, insisting that "No one could beat Tetsu" anyway.

The Gogo Bits bore too great a resemblance to Stuffies, towards which I had been equally unfond. The Original Cheesecake, on the other hand, succeeded my expectations. Achieving greater height than the likes of Uncle Tetsu, the cake was fluffier and lighter, even after overnight refrigeration. It was crumbly, yet not as extreme as Love Me Sweet. The cheesiness factor paled in comparison to Tetsu, which is robust in its eggy, creamy, and slightly savoury finish. Two days after chilling, the $12.99 cake emerged a bit dry; it wasn't an uncommon symptom of Japanese Cheesecakes, though my memory concludes Tetsu to remain moist for up to four days. The shiba inu and its heart-shaped nose is an adorable touch, though I'll most likely be taking my cravings back to more convenient grounds, in spite of inflation.
Picture
Picture
Back home, we finally (at long last!!!) succeeded in watching Minions: The Rise of Gru. After a failed attempt at securing last-minute tickets and several post-download struggles at adjusting the aspect ratio, the 87-minute long family-friendly film was completed.

Dinner adopted the form of Yum's Kitchen takeout: a Grilled Pork & Spring Roll Vermicelli (No. 20) for me and a Grilled Chicken Banh Mi (No. 07) for the sleepy polar bear. Indecisive had my mind been, as I debated constantly between getting re-dressed for dine-in or remaining at home for the completion of chores. The dilemma was resolved by an offer to undertake the run on my behalf, such that laundry and cleanup duties could be completed in parallel.
Picture
​The Grilled Chicken Banh Mi was informed to be phenomenal, achieving a perfect score in spite of its longer preparation time. My own Grilled Pork & Spring Roll Vermicelli, wherein the addition of a single spring roll entailed a one-dollar surcharge, was as fabulous as could be. An intoxicating aroma could be wafted upon unveiling the box's contents. Crispy were the spring roll segments and tangy was the pickled slaw, which included bits of mint for freshness. Supple yet crispy was the pork: adequately seasoned, tender, sprinkled with peanuts, and delectable. The underlying vermicelli layer was soft yet capable of retaining its length throughout the consumption process. A sweet and slightly acidic condiment was included inside the box; bits of finely chopped garlic floated within. Drizzling a tablespoon's worth would heighten the flavours further while cutting greasiness from the grilled and deep fried components.
Picture
Picture
​I actually returned to Yum's Kitchen a day later - this time, personally. Completion of an initial consultation with an utterly undesirable, condescending, and inadequate family doctor had prompted me to seek out a pick-me-up.
Picture
Picture
​A Regular-sized Jackfruit Smoothie set me back $5.25 plus tax. Creamy, tropical, and just icy enough to appease the embers that had formed within, I routed back home feeling less aggravated but nonetheless wronged for the disrespectful treatment.
Picture
Reverting to the work-from-home format for as long as I can manage, baking ventures were reinstated for weekday experimentation.

The third edition of the Oat Fudge Bar was commenced.
Picture
Drawing from observations in the first and second versions, the objective for this batch was to attain a slice-able cohesiveness without excessive rise. I took to one egg white in the oat base instead of a whole egg, hoping for the structural integrity witnessed in my granola products.
Picture
​Impatient, as I am known to be, the first slices were pried away from the loaf without sufficient cool time. The tongue was scalded, fingers burnt, and premature evaluations conducted. Sampled warm, the brownie layers was gooey, while the underlying oat layer reeking of baking soda. Allowing the slab to cool, the alkalinic odours dissipated, leaving a crunchy specimen with moderate crumbliness.
Picture
Picture
Though tasty, I am convinced that the journey has not yet concluded. When the next craving surfaces, I shall be:
  • Reducing the flour content
  • Swapping out all-purpose for whole wheat entirely
  • Potentially increasing the amount of egg white
​Leftover egg yolk was combined with an additional egg and unmeasured quantities of milk, sugar, and cornstarch. The sleepy polar bear's constant reminder that homemade caramel flan had been tasted on an earlier occasion in my absence had stuck with me. Crème caramel has been a favourite since childhood, though its construction process is often too tedious for my liking. For, as "easy" as it may be, it is time-consuming, and rarely do time-consuming acts align with my daily schedule.
Picture
Picture
I wasn't patient enough, nor diligent enough to conjure up one of the Internet's countless recipes for caramel egg pudding. The caramel, in which warmed half-and-half cream had been added too late, did not solidify. It retained the typically nutty, bittersweet properties of caramel, though took the form of a sticky sludge, complete with surface-layer film. The "flan" was far too rigid: a sturdy, SPAM-shaped slab indicating an excess of stabilizer and inadequacy of milk. Needless to say, jiggly and gratifying it was not.
Picture
​As I ready myself for my first concert since the onset of COVID, I munch away on homemade meals of choy sum, pickled daikon, and Cantonese-Style Ground Pork in Portuguese Sauce over steamed white rice.
Picture
Picture
​Decathlon's KIPRUN socks are tested for durability, proving themselves cozy, grippy, and impeccably white (for now). ​So far, they are superior to the cheaper Artengo selection.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Who Am I?

    Formerly an avid owner of several interest-based portals, Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger presents precisely the elements expected. From experiments in the kitchen to miscellaneous musings, from IGOT7 reflections to developments in transportation infrastructure, it's all consolidated here. Welcome to the raw, unfiltered side of Quirky Aesthetics.



    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013


    Categories

    All
    Ahgabond Adventures
    Ahgase
    Arctic Aquarium
    Atlantic Canada 2018
    Barrie
    Beauty
    Birthday Buddy
    Calgary 2023
    Chinese New Year
    Conquering COVID 19
    Daily Randoms
    Eyes On You World Tour 2018
    Food
    Friends
    Hallyucon
    Hamilton
    Hong Kong
    Iron Ring
    J Movie
    K Drama
    K-Drama
    Korean Beauty
    K Pop
    Los Angeles 2017
    Macau
    New York 2018
    Ottawa 2019
    Pilates
    Random Rant
    Restaurant Review
    Seoul
    Shopping
    SSMC
    Taiwan
    Vacation
    Vancouver 2013
    Vancouver 2014
    Vancouver 2015
    Vancouver 2016
    Vancouver 2020
    Vancouver 2022


    trazy.com

    RSS Feed


WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

Quirky =  a term that commonly refers to something/someone distinctly different and unique
Aesthetics = the visual aspect of things



Together, Quirky Aesthetics refers to the things, events, and happenings seen and perceived by this blog's creator - quirky perspectives in a visual form.

Contact ME

​Subscribe

Join our mailing list today!
Join Now
© Quirky Aesthetics. All rights reserved. Last modified: August 10, 2015.