Out & About #856 | Distillery Winter Village 2022

My eyes were set on Tree Lighting night, just they had been last year. The day actually played out similar to last year as well, in that I would be venturing downtown in advance of the afternoon rush, setting up a remote work station nearby, and trekking over as dusk fell upon the city.

​The primary difference was the bonus of being chauffeured, which enabled me to continue working throughout the commute, redirecting my attention from the sleepy polar bear's sometimes aggressive roadway maneuvers to the multiple databases and email panel before me. For this year, they had removed the ticketing requirement for the ceremony, reinstating complimentary admission for the event's first night of operation.

​Parking rates had, thankfully, not seen a spike since the rise in GTA-wide prices. The Cooperage garage remained at a $9 flat rate for any period over three hours. I proposed the location again due to its proximity to the market and outlet-equipped café.

At Dark Horse, I would continue my duties until the 4 PM mark. In the meantime, the sleepy polar bear, who had griped about my not requesting the day off to match (why would I?) but opted not to venture off solo, requested a Pumpkin Spice Latte for sipping. It was quite tasty, admittedly, in spite of the fall flavour's questionable track record in my books.

​We then began to make our way over to the Distillery District. The path was identical to that of the previous year, with the exception of more construction signage, closed sidewalks, and patches of slushiness. It was, most likely, the warmest year of any Christmas Market attendance. (Obviously, this didn't stop the sleep polar bear from complaining though.)

​Volunteers and other event staff had just started filing in at this time. The intersecting paths of bulbs were yet to be illuminated, but a faint glimmer could be observed on the premises: either the gentle flickering from the lampposts or the gleam of golden ornaments.

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​My priority had been scope out sustenance options and photo-ready attractions prior to the environment being cloaked in darkness. The sleepy polar bear, on the other hand, expressed greater desire to peruse the shops in the vicinity, despite not possessing any purchasing objectives. We ventured into GOTSTYLE first, which I hesitated not in noting Jackson and Jinyoung's 2016 stopover.

​While strolling within though, it dawned upon me that sunset was looming. I urged the sluggish one to quickly scan the spread for items of interest, as we ought be surveying the event-exclusive vendors as opposed to the fixed selection of shops. Even in past years, I hadn't bothered much with the shops, with the exception of occasional escapes from the frigidity.

​The cobblestone corridors were predominantly unoccupied before sundown. A few groups were observed perusing the grounds, but our path was generally unobstructed.

​By the Cluny Bistro was the trademark light tunnel. It once again served as an area of respite, being equipped with powerful overhead heaters. Appearing as a featured brand this year was Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc (780). Beyond the sparkling royal blue Eiffel Tower fixture were blue and white signage throughout the tunnel. Around the 5 PM mark, staff were still in the midst of booth setup.
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Past years' had comprised of well-illuminated backdrops for photos and benches for tired toes. This time, the tunnel was made narrower with the placement of a bar and small tables along the perimeter to encourage sipping and speaking. The sleepy polar bear and I had entered the tunnel later in the evening out of curiosity, and was surprised to find nothing more than a restricted area for alcoholic beverages. Our attempt to exit the tunnel from the south access was denied by a member of security, then again by a different member of staff as we re-entered to make our proper departure.​

​Resuming our hunt for "snacky sustenance", I noted the Christmas Dinner Grilled Cheese to be interest. Sandwiches had been prepared in advance and placed on racks within plastic, zippered casings. Upon receiving order requests, they were transferred to one of five panini presses.

​The Christmas Dinner was the priciest of the selection, reasonably so given its inclusion of meat. In spite of its description, "shaved turkey breast" was no more than a few slices of deli turkey. While the creation entailed a generous slice of Brie (measuring roughly 0.75 cm in thickness), the "cranberry relish" was barely discernible. Oddly pink and smothered scarcely between the sandwich's components, it was hardly detected until nearing the final three bites.

​Our footsteps trailed into SOMA Chocolatemaker soon afterwards. The visit would mark my first time at the Distillery outpost and third time at any SOMA location. Equipped with seemingly similar facilities to their King West storefront, this one appeared somewhat grander, with various rooms visible behind glass walls and minimalistic labels.

​I also had a good chuckle in response to the "Chocolatemakers Only" door situated immediately adjacent to the bathroom.

We continued exploring the scenic district into twilight, from seasonal sake at Izumi to vegan natas to a width-reduced variation of Case Goods Lane.

Hangriness seeped from the sleepy polar bear, who continually voiced frustrations over lineups and pies leading up to the Tree Lighting Ceremony. I had advised against any handheld purchases until after witnessing the illumination; the principle is often made in good judgement, as it keeps my hands free for photo-taking, and also my partner-in-crime's hands free for assisting.

​There was a significantly greater turnout for this year's event, leading all egresses to fill with eager attendees. It was undeniably busier than the year past, being uncomfortable to the extent of having no breathing space.
Moreover, crowds were ruthless, shoving and pushing past others in the narrow alleyways to navigate towards the tree. Given the disheartening news of Korea's Halloween stampede just a few weeks prior, the scene was absolutely horrendous to find oneself within.

Our original position was about 50-60 metres from the base of the tree. Our view was passable, but I aimed to inch a bit closer. Over a period of ten minutes, we succeeded in halving our distance, but had a treacherous view of the clock. The peak of the tree was not at all visible.

Delayed until at least the 6:10 PM mark, many members of the crowd were becoming restless. Then, suddenly, after a hasty countdown, the entirety of the tree flashed bright. A brief moment of "oohs" and "aahs" surrounded us. Then, as we expected, members of the crowd began to shift in various directions. We hurriedly navigated to the base of the clock, where I clung on for dear life should either of us be swept away in the chaos.  ​

​The same scenario would be experienced while navigating away from the tree, westbound along Gristmill Lane. Attendees that hadn't managed a decent view of the tree during the lighting surged towards us. Once again, the pushing and shoving continued.

Eventually, freedom was attained. We then headed over to Pastelitos, where the sighting of hand pies and a sample of Fruit Ponch had persuaded our return.

Two of the Venezuelan pies were secured from beneath the magenta storefront, along with a full-size cup of Traditional Fruit Ponch. Pulpy and sweet was the toasty beverage, with distinctly fruity notes of apple and cozy essences of spices. "Beer, peach, and raisin" had also been relayed as constituents of the drink, though I could barely perceive the buzz.

The palm-sized Pastelitos were offered in sweet and savoury varieties: Apple Pie and Guava Cheese on one side, and Chicken and Beef on the other. A small container of either Chili Sauce or Garlic Coriander Sauce would accompany the pies.
Aggressively biting into the first pie, the sleepy polar bear expressed frustration, "It's sweet!".
"It must be my Guava Cheese one."
"Oh it's sweet? I though it would be savoury because of the cheese."

​In response to the unfiltered lack of keenness, I grabbed the specimen for my own sampling. A jam-like substance gushed out of the opening, smearing itself mercilessly across my cheek. The profile was more viscous than my homemade berry jam, yet rather one-dimensional. The cheese component, while visually present, offered little to no variance in flavour profile. Garnering the greatest amount of disappointment was the pie shell; neither warm nor flaky, the pasty-looking pastry tasted just as it looked: bland and rigid, as if sinking one's teeth into three layers of unbleached flour wraps.

The Beef Pastelito was comparatively tastier. This remark was made independently of the pie shell and improved by the addition of the garlic coriander sauce, which we conclusively found as the best element of the purchase.

​Dior was the major sponsor for this year's event, and the constant presence of ads, "CD" logos, and gold stars positioned throughout the cobblestone alleyways were indicative of the brand's presumably substantial investment. Beyond a Wish Tree that was to be decked with golden paper stars, the lofty Christmas tree at the centre of it all had been elaborately fitted with a total of "70 000 custom-designed ornaments" and backlit "Dior" signs on both sides.

Nearing the west end of the market, at the now-closed Parliament Street access, volunteers eagerly distributed perfume samples: J'Adore and Miss Dior for women and Sauvage for men.​

​We returned to the tree after the raging wave had dissipated. Our steps slowed in comparison to one hour prior, for the volume of traffic had increased at least sixfold.

At Mill St. Brewery, I hesitated momentarily before succumbing to a four-pack of small batch exclusives. The decision had been made upon learning that the array would be unavailable at LCBO stores in the GTA. Each can also embraced an attitude of originality.

• The Blackstone Coconut Porter was crafted in collaboration with the Porter Brown Society, with $1 from each can being donated to the Blackstone Foundation Library.
• The Organic Coffee Porter had resulted from a partnership with local coffee roaster, Balzac's.
• Winter's Ale, which I had the opportunity to sample on tap, was a lightly spiced concoction ideal for welcoming winter and its breadth of festivities.
• Nightmare on Mill Street was a seasonal offering: an easy-drinking Pumpkin Ale with aromatic notes of pumpkin spice gracing every sip.

An impromptu craving for sausages swelled from within. The market's historic signature offerings of whole turkey legs, elaborately garnished hot dogs, and meat pies had been replaced with alcohol stalls - namely whiskey and cocktails - and individual handhelds such as pierogis, Pastelitos, crêpes, and lobster rolls. Raclette and pretzels had made follow-up appearances, with prices suffering the effects of inflation.

​We headed inside the building for public bathrooms, finding The Sweet Escape and its winding lineup along the way. I took to a Spinach and Feta  ̶Q̶u̶i̶c̶h̶e̶ Frittata once more, supplementing the protein/fat/iron content with a $2.50 addition of bacon strips. Equally as scrumptious as my memory had insisted, the portion was further topped with a crunchy portion of faux meat for a boost in gratification factor.

​More browsing ensued, as per the sleepy polar bear's unspoken desires. Frankly, my recollections of the Distillery District's retail spots are vague. Rarely had I made multiple stops except to reinstate warmth in my fingertips. This year was probably the first time I had undertaken such a thorough excursion of window shopping.

Concluding the evening was a spiked hot chocolate, though not of the format I had fathomed.

​Santa's Hot Chocolate was a stout cup of Kawartha Dairy hot chocolate mixed with a dose of cream liqueur, or rather Irish Cream. The result was milky, not very strong, and not very chocolatey. We acknowledged the potential of the pairing, mentally noting to explore variations of the beverage to suit our individual palates: the sleepy polar bear incorporating Baileys Irish Cream and my inclusion of Kahlua (should I bartend).

As a final stop, I picked up my four-pack of butter tarts of Tartistry. The purchase had been made within the first hour of our arrival, then set aside for claiming at the end of the night. And thank goodness I had opted for this route! The tarts would not have survived the tragic scramble of the Tree Lighting Ceremony.

​Of the quad, two were Butter & Scotch, one Pecan, and one Mince Meat. The Scotch flavour was unique to The Distillery District, and a far more appealing alternative than the Lemon Curd, Nutella, Coconut, and Cheesecake variations on display. Delivering the same dose of contentment as last year, it was declared the unanimous winner. Supple and decadent, the creation gained yet another layer of complexity via its fragrant, cinnamon-sprinkled bottle-shaped cookie.

Pecan, topped with an oak leaf cookie, was extremely buttery - so buttery that it could not be consumed in one sitting. The tart filling was primarily composed of butter, while pecan knobs resided only in the top quarter. It had been a sellout flavour last year, raising curiosity this time around. In review of my Pecan Pie-constructing capabilities though, this exhibit shall not be attempted a second time.

The Mince Meat, which had been anticipated to be savoury, was, in actuality, much sweeter with chunks of fruit embedded within. Spice-infused apple chunks aided in combatting an overall sense of heaviness, while faint specks of raisin wedged between provided subtle chew. Meat was not perceived at all, leading us to question whether the incorrect variety had been given to me.
"It tastes good though!" My household taste-testers agreed. "Like a Christmas fruitcake in the form of a tart."