Out & About #889 | Pecan Chocolate Chip Rice Krispies, Pho Big Bowl + Gym Again

I've only ever been asked once "How are you so busy?". The utterance genuinely brought about confusion, which further transcended into frustration and identification of ignorance. The second time I had felt such aggravation was when I griped about the seemingly endless tasks on my plate, and was provided a response of "So what? Why does it matter? Why does it matter if you do anything?". The abstract answer did not incite me to contemplate the "meaning of life", but rather how one could be so blind to the happenings of society and the respective roles that ought be fulfilled by each member within it.
For, as young adults adopting increasingly prevalent positions in the workforce, there comes a degree of responsibility: to be aware and considerate of those surrounding you, which may or may not occasionally requiring placing personal gain behind for the greater good. By placing yourself in the shoes of another, the bias is lessened; respect is sustained.

​Interestingly, budgeting, a skill as pivotal to adulting as social awareness, is less often overlooked due to survival needs. Homecooked meals (and, more recently, purchasing end-of-day surprise bags from select vendors) are one method of slashing expenses. However, my personal take is that handcrafted sustenance is not only quicker and cheaper, but easier to customize.

I depleted the remainder of my Mango Passion Fruit Tea from H Mart Calgary, mixing it with a heaping teaspoon (or three) of lemon juice and 250 ml can of Perrier. Next to be sampled will be T&T's Citron Drink With Passion Fruit.

​Meals of the week included leftovers of Udon, Miso Soup, Fried Rice from Congee Queen, Steamed Pork in Fermented Bean Curd, and Pho Big Bowl.

Having spotted the eatery after our TRAPPED adventures, the destination instantly floated into mind when faced with a suppressed appetite.
A small No. 22 House Special Pho rang in at an economic $11.95, while No. 45 Vermicelli, Spring Roll, Grilled Pork Balls & BBQ Pork and No. 82 Pad Thai Style Stir Fried Noodle with Egg, Shrimp, and Chicken were a tad pricier at $14.95 and $15.95 respectively.
Self-identifying as a pho restaurant, I expected nothing less of their noodle soups. A part of me desperately hoped that it'd be tastier - if not at least comparable to I Love Pho; both travel time and wait time were a fraction of the central Sauga favourite, and budget-friendly as well. Immediately obvious was the looser consistency of the broth. It was noticeably less savoury, yet nonetheless flavourful with slightly gelatinous qualities emerging the day after. Raw beef strips and brisket were of a decent portion, though I observed only a singular beef ball, thumb-sized section of tendon, and tiny bunch of tripe constituting the rest of the toppings. That said, the bean sprouts and lime wedges were distinctly fresher - a nice change from I Love Pho's frequent inclusion of wilted greens and yellowy limes.

​No. 45 comprised of a substantial amount of chopped vermicelli strands topped with sauce-smothered pork strips, four sturdy Grilled Pork Balls, and one spring roll snipped into three sections. A handful of lightly pickled cucumbers and carrots were positioned at the corner of the box, next to a tangy-spicy dipping sauce. While its presentation varied minimally from Yum's Kitchen, the flavours were more balanced overall. The condiment, albeit a tad fiery, was superior to Yum's rendition, which I've found to be more sugary than tangy; the spring rolls were wider in diameter and boasted a greater filling-to-casing ratio, bestowing a better bite while maintaining a mild crunch. The Grilled Pork strips were relatively devoid of structure - in other words, mushy and unappetizing. Though, the Grilled Pork Balls were quite delicious: stiffy but meaty, containing more flesh than filler.

​Re-purposing the flat rice noodles commonly served with broth, Pho Big Bowl compiled a stir-fried, protein-laced rendition with bits of chicken and shrimp. Cilantro and zesty lime wedges - and a single slice of tomato - contributed an invigorating accent to the normally greasy dish, enabling it to be consumed without satiating aftereffects.

My Rosso purchases are in the midst of being steadily exhausted. Earlier (883), it was confirmed that Kilimbi was a fabulous pick for filter coffee, emanating notes of blueberry as vibrant as its aroma. Repurposing the last of the 340 g for espresso, the Rwanda single origin was tested with and without milk.

​Hoddeok (even the burnt ones gushing sugar syrup) and an Iced Latte make for a spectacular pair. In this particular application, milk tends to overwhelm the sweet-sticky flavours of Kilimbi, yielding an overall bland profile. An Americano allows the entirety of the bean to shine, though its undertones remain bitter; the quick extraction process also tends to lend an acidic aftertaste.

Lover Boy, just like Kilimbi, is refreshing and, frankly, even a bit addicting in filter format. In espresso format, it emerges a bit odd-tasting without milk though.

​Making the most of my membership privileges, I attended a Tuesday evening yoga class (basically identical to the Sunday sub).

Then, I followed up with a Fresh Taro Milk Tea from CoCo, seeing as their QQ Milk Tea was sold out at every location within the 15-kilometre radius. Countless inversions had taken a toll on me, so I ended the evening with two packs of Koala's March and a packet of Tylenol.

​For the past two weeks, I had prioritized attendance in group fitness classes at LA Fitness, and reasonably so given the timed nature of my guest pass. But while I worked to maximize the access entitlement, my enthusiasm for dance workouts and choreography was stifled as a consequence.

​It wasn't until my carpooling partner warned of the illogical mindset that I gained a sense of consciousness. Ultimately, the decision was mine and mine alone, irrelevant of fees relinquished. Combining at-home cardio and in-gym equipment routines was one solution, albeit a physically taxing one. Despite my reluctance to lug myself to the facility, I was reminded of my pending CN Tower Climb. Training on the Stairmaster was, unfortunately, a necessary evil.

The final training session took place in the Ladies-Only Area within the gym. My hope had been that there would be fewer members using the space, thus a reduction in griminess filling the air.

​Behind the doors were the same equipment as the co-ed floor. As expected, there was only a handful of users within, meaning that foul odours were kept at bay. Having mirrors installed at the front and side of the room also allowed for form check while utilizing the cardio equipment - not possible in the general space.
​​The sole downside was the frequency of maintenance: one of two Stairmasters was faulty, while the other failing to function in its entirety. Beyond this, I appreciated the judgement-free zone and its proximity to the women's changeroom.

Despite having already engaged in over sixty minutes of dance cardio at home, I grudgingly lugged myself to the gym. The CN Tower Climb date was looming; it was now or never.

​The initial plan was to complete at least half of the 1776 steps I would undertake come Saturday. But, an amusing Daebak Show episode kept me going. Even while maintaining a relatively slow pace, I succeeded in climbing 1800 steps without much effort. Consolidating the stats from past practices, I presumed a completion time of forty minutes on the day of, given that I'd neither have access to audio entertainment nor constant ventilation. 

​Weekdays witness pop-ups for athleticwear and protein supplement vendors, and Wednesday was no exception. Instead of full-sized samples though, I merely obtained bite-sized pieces of a "Birthday Cake" bar and dainty shot of vitamin water.

​Creations of the week included:

1) Rice Krispies w/ Toasted Pecans and Mini Chocolate Chips

​Rice Krispies cravings led to the compilation of a chocolate-infused variation of the classic childhood snack. An unmeasured quantity of salted butter and mini marshmallows were dumped into a saucepan, then allowed to coalesce. Puffed rice cereal, toasted, chopped pecans, and a handful of mini chocolate chips followed suit. An unexpected turnout of this step was the near-instantaneous dissolution of the chocolate chips, causing formation of a marbled effect. A small amount of these atypical additions were reserved for sprinkling on top, permitting preservation of intact chocolate chips.

With each iteration of customized Rice Krispies, I find myself regretting skipping the scale. Too much butter leads to greasiness, too many marshmallows excessive sweetness, and too generous a handful of cereal tooth-shattering brittleness. Notwithstanding this observation, the squares were scrumptious - fragrant with the incorporation of nuts and decadent with chocolate present throughout.

2) Dalgona (again)

In an attempt to recreate the Iced HK Milk Tea with Traditional Ding Ding Candy from Cafe de Hong Kong, I set out to craft my seventh - eighth?? - batch of dalgona. The intent was to obtain a honeycomb-like topping similar to the popular dining spot, rather than perfect the stretchy, maltose-based traditional treat.

​Alas, the first attempted ended in vain. Once the sugar syrup had reached 170 C, I added in my 1/8 tsp of baking powder, only to witness none of the anticipated foaming. Upon re-reading the instructions, I found my error, as if I hadn't committed the same mistake prior (Oops). The same steps were followed for a second batch; baking soda ensured a caramel-toned frothiness that eventually settled into a slab with rounded edges. But the honeycomb texture within wasn't quite perfect. Between the sharp shards of baking powder dalgona and crumbly fragments of "proper" dalgona, the former was more suited as dessert decorations. The latter was ideal for mixing into drinks, especially coffee.

After two dalgona attempts, my brewed HK milk tea was lukewarm. I omitted the milk foam out of lack of patience, and instead topped the black tea base with ice cubes and dalgona shards. Potent and gratifying was the outcome, yet not chilly enough for my liking.

Brewing the tea in advance is recommended, for it allows chill time before serving. Evaporated milk is the standard choice of accompaniment, though, in its absence, I utilized a mixture of sweetened condensed milk and my old friend of Coffee Mate (an expired but never opened tin).

​A follow-up attempt was made shortly afterwards, adhering to exactly the aforementioned recommendations: Pre-brewed tea for chilling, evaporated milk for creaminess, and a hint of condensed milk for sweetness. Milk foam was included this time around, though a tad too runny for my liking.

​Nevertheless, I was quite pleased with the turnout: a potent, gratifying glass of Dalgona-topped HK Milk Tea.

It was purely coincidental that my in-office presence would be met with sweltering, mid-summer temperatures. Ungloved hands on TTC escalators? Unthinkable!

​Breakfast comprised of Marbled Banana Bread from the freezer, while five "loaded" Rice Krispie squares supplemented morning energy levels.

​As I entered onto the concrete walkways surrounding Yonge-Eglinton, I was met with the sight of homeless residents removing their socks and the instant regret of forgetting my hat at home. My scalp burned, as did my neck. Ruthless UV rays and above-seasonal mercury levels had stimulated my sweat glands. In the absence of in-boulevard trees, I ducked into an accessory shop for cover, then reluctantly exited back outside to continue my southbound trek to Gong Cha.

The Davisville location had opened to the public at long last!

​Its interior was empty, prompting me to wonder whether interest levels had been suppressed until their BOGO promotional period. The bespectacled girl behind the cashier informed that all items listed on the menu, from Croffles to Bubble Waffles, were available, but that the BOGO promo only applied to purchase of the Top 8 list and redemption of the Top 10. It was, without a doubt, a peculiar discount.

​I hurriedly took to the west side of Yonge street for the trip back. While one to habitually avoid scaffolding from hearing countless stories of collapse, I opted for the opposite this time around. Being devoid of sunglasses and a hat meant I'd take to whatever means possible to acquire shade and protection from the elements.

Routing about the southwest corner of the intersection, I resorted to ascending and descending down several flights of stairs to avoid the outdoors. Those on the northwest side, who had seemingly just emerged from the air-conditioned Yonge-Eglinton Centre were gleefully licking spoonfuls of ice cream. Summer weather had arrived early, but unlikely was it to stay.

​I, too, rushed into the building, for my layered ensemble could handle no more. Instead of ice cream, I took to entertaining myself with Indigo's ever-abundant assortment of plushies.

A visit to Booster Juice was made, likely marking my first since downtown days (or was it post-VYbE?).

​Strained muscles had incited a newfound consideration for protein intake. These musings prompted the purchase of Regular-sized Pomegranate Punch Superfood+ Smoothie, a tasty yet costly blend ringing in at a whopping $9.59 after tax.

I liked their purple straw, but despised the fact that it was paper - the blasphemy of it all!

​At Laura Second, I discovered one-dollar chocolate bunnies, presumably discounted with the passing of Easter long weekend. Both the Milk Chocolate and Milk Chocolate & Puffed Rice variations were a mere loonie each.

​Later in the evening, when we eventually returned from the city after an hour-long commute, I hurried off for pilates class. The Thursday evening session, while led by the same instructor, was notably lower intensity than the Sunday version. Neither deliver an adequate amount of activity for me, personally, but the weekday evening class definitely entails less of an isolated burn.

​I continued testing sources of protein leading up to the CN Tower Climb. Of the three I had been presented with, I took to sampling one for good measure. It was absolutely revolting, to say in the least. Compacting a greater amount of protein by mass and lower amount of sugar than the complimentary samples from LA, their profile had plumetted proportionally. Three bites were suffered, then I wrapped the rest in plastic wrap.

​Deep slumber and a mid-afternoon massage awaited me the morning after the climb.

My BYT therapist was an odd one, turning me onto my side to pry further into tense areas in my neck and shoulder. She also departed twice from the room in the midst of treatment, leaving the door open for passerbys, if any in the corridor, to peek within. The method of massage was decidedly un-RMT-like, though she was a pleasant woman to converse with.

Upon returning home, I turned to UberEats to satisfy long overdue oyakodon cravings. From In A Bowl, the following were obtained:

• Kimchi Beef "Poke" Bowl  with Half Purple Rice, Half Salad
• Oyakodon (of course)
• Chicken Karaage

​The combination of kimchi and beef possessed visual appeal, but, more importantly, would keep well in the fridge unlike salmon or tuna sashimi. Crispy was the topping of fried onions and exceptionally generous was the portion of beef. Much to my relief, the kimchi lay on the tangy/pickled end of the spectrum, rather than the fiery side with aged kimchi. Edamame and sliced green peppers offered crunch, while corn kernels a hearty sweetness. The purple rice was softer than expected, but paired well with the comparatively more flavourful toppings. It was with a tinge of disappointment that I discovered the "salad" portion to simply comprise of chopped lettuce, rather than a spring mix.

​Oyakodon was scrumptious, retaining a crispy cutlet underneath a dashi-filled, egg-and-onion topping. Beni shouga were positioned at the edge of the bowl for a sparkling palate cleanser.

On the other hand, the Chicken Karaage was average in all regards. Lemon and spicy mayo were swell additions, though the battered pieces were mediocre on their own. Although crunchy, the deep-fried morsels lacked depth.

The spread was paired with Waterloo Brewing's aromatic Passionfruit Wheat.

Satiation overwhelmed me into the late evening hours, rendering me stagnant and unable to stomach any sustenance.

That is, until 雪菜肉絲米粉 came to the rescue. Warm broths are often the key to restoring appetite, while pork strips supply iron and rice noodles are easy to digest.