Out & About #906 | Eaton Update, Hawaiian Butter Mochi + Exploring Platinum Drive

6/18/2023

Heading into the office on a rainy Monday morning was blissful:
Traffic was smooth.
The PATH was quiet.
The office was peaceful.

Without external interferences, I entered focus mode immediately. Exploring the vast array of resources made known to us, I came across the availability of Microsoft 365, currently restricted to the web version only.

Against my better judgement, I opted to move the entirety of my working files to OneDrive, in hopes that it would serve to provide more stable backup. Alas, seconds after verifying the files' existence, the cloud folder emptied itself. My files were gone.

Reaching out to IT in a frenzy, I stated my dilemma with urgency, then began evaluating my options for tomorrow's review deadline. The moral of story: Always make copies to be conservative, rather than using the "cut" function at every available opportunity. My attempt to be efficient and prevent unnecessary duplication actually hindered productivity instead of enhancing it.

Dreary skies and persistent precipitation continued into the early afternoon hours. As opposed to my usual outdoor trek, I crossed over to the Eaton Centre to explore the indoor facility, while simultaneously completing errands.

Despite its awkward, non-looping layout and homeless-heavy population, Eaton remains a top spot for tourists visiting the City, though the association may have resulted from its proximity to City Hall and the photo-ready "Toronto" sign.

For the average GTA resident, it is rarely the shopping centre of choice given more convenient, parking-equipped options elsewhere. However, seeing as the trip would mark my first foray in recall-able history since 2018, it was only reasonable to sync updates from the past five years.

The most obvious change was the commencement of Ontario Line construction, which had taken over the centremost section of the mall, where the gargantuan Christmas Tree had once stood for past Tree Lighting ceremonies.

Läderach unveiled its doors to the downtown public in 2019. While it isn't, by any means, considered "new" to locals, the name was definitely foreign to me. Like Lindt, it branded itself as a Swiss chocolatier. Instead of individually wrapped truffles with various fillings, their signature offerings spanned chocolate bark, truffle gift boxes, and chocolate-covered popcorn. The latter was of primary interest to me, though I simply couldn't justify the seventeen-dollar price tag for the teensy pouch.

Benkei Hime had made waves last year with its "integrated lifestyle" concept. Boasting a faux Kawara roof and flashy orange interior fitted with a multitude of LED lights, the store was an odd mishmash of overpriced bubble tea and uncategorizable merchandise.

The overall design appeared gaudy and excessive, and not very reminiscent of a café or typical bubble tea dine-in establishment.

Two doors down from Benkei Hime was Sukoshi Mart. It was likely the largest location known to me, with the second largest permanent outpost being in Square One. Yorkdale's floor area was probably larger, but served as a temporary space only.

Beyond K-Beauty products, I was surprised to find an expansive selection of K-Pop merchandise arranged on its shelves. From albums to collectibles to even official light sticks, the assortment was on par with Sarah & Tom in Koreatown. The store also included a photobooth; priced at $6 a strip, it was an acceptable compromise between the $3 at THEMUSEUM and $10 at Upper East Food Club.

kiokii and... was expected on the second floor of Square One in due time, but had landed in the CF shopping mall before its Oxford counterpart.

The unapologetically pink boutique retailed accessories and East Asian beauty products, along with a handful of displaced home fragrance items and beauty tools. The concept was arguably akin to M Brand, but included both Japanese skincare and Korean cosmetics.

There was even a handful of LINE and BT21 items available.

Upon retracing my steps back to Nordstrom, I chanced across the PLAY Line Friends store.

By way of signage posted in the entryway, I would be informed of its final weeks of operation and the associated 30% closing sale

A giant Sally could be spotted near one of the pillars, indicating availability of the original LINE Friends crew. That said, it was with dismay that the store was discovered to be primarily comprised of BT21 items.

Just prior to my departure, I debated the procurement of bubble tea, having experienced a lingering affection towards Don't Yell At Me's remarkably fragrant Osmanthus Coffee Latte with delectable Brown Sugar Pearls.

I had prepared myself to exit onto street level, but Google Maps advised that Gong Cha had opened up within the retail centre itself. Surely enough, the familiar logo was found in the basement-level Urban Eatery, next to McDonald's.

Eaton's Gong Cha operated as a very compact booth, manned by one member of uniform-donning staff and equipped with two self-serve kiosks to the left of the order counter.

Ultimately, I decided on Starbucks instead, settling on a Chocolate Cream Cold Brew. The drink was requested at half-sugar, though deemed ideal with two pumps of vanilla syrup, for the reduced sugar option did not offer the full extent of sweet, chocolatey creaminess. Needless to say, the Cold Brew undeniably less potent than independent cafés or at-home creations, but nevertheless a satisfactory, mid-day pick-me-up.

Raindrops had ceased by the time I arrived back in the west end of the GTA. After countless weeks of lane reductions, and even a partial intersection closure, the intersection of Erin Mills Parkway and Leanne Blvd/Fowler Drive was now equipped with bicycle signals and a fresh, new cross-ride.

The next morning, I headed into downtown once more. Since the office move, in-person team meetings had been scheduled on weekly basis going forward.

Bidding farewell to my soft friends, I lugged myself to the GO station, then weaved through the streets of downtown in the early hours of the morning. My northbound trek was joined by other office employees, as well as the all-too-frequent sightings of street residents. Between the previous day's downpour and gusty morning conditions, they were spotted huddled anywhere from under scaffolding to on top of sidewalk grating.

When lunchtime rolled around, I found myself undertaking a rather unconventional route to St. Lawrence, witnessing even more of the disruption caused by Ontario Line construction along Queen Street.

Third Wave Coffee had graciously granted me the title as their giveaway winner. Thus, it was without hesitation that I commenced the fifteen-minute trek for a complimentary bag of single-origin Tres Dragones.

The barista congratulated me on my win, and was more willing to provide additional details and brewing tips upon inquiry. He noted that the café exclusively used beans between Light and Medium roast, gesturing to one of the test tubes before the bar for visual reference. Tres Dragones was described as being kind of "funky", with chocolatey notes and also watermelon for a refreshing zing. Having experimented with both filter and espresso applications, the barista expressed that the variety was "good as espresso", but personally preferred for filter, like Pour-Overs. When asked about differences between hot and cold brewing, I was told that Cold Brew was great as well, and would emerge lemonade-like as a result of its bright and fruity profile. The descriptions had be utterly giddy, making me excited to experiment upon depletion of my recent Good Grief purchase.

My request for a carrying bag would be met with the beans placed laterally in a biodegradable plastic bag, rather than being upright in a paper bag as I had expected. A member of staff had double-bagged the beans before cautiously handing them over. At first, I hadn't questioned the intent, but later realized the issue at hand.

External conditions were warmer than the day before and lined with glorious blue skies, promoting walking outdoors amidst a calm breeze. The unplanned route led me up Church Street, along which I observed ceaseless construction and numerous boarded-up businesses.

Nearing Church and Gerrard, tree cover began to diminish, exposing pedestrians to blazing UV rays.

There were few establishments of interest about the intersection, so I merely checked out the storefront of Plearn before turning back. The menu had been easily accessible via a QR code posted on their front door; it listed unique concoctions such as Toron-ta-ro, Orange Carno, and Cloud Latte, but all rang in at $6.95 or greater before tax.

Traversing westward along Gerrard led me to IKEA. The narrow corridors were surprisingly chaotic at the early afternoon hour, leading me to depart with haste instead of sampling the Strawberry Soft Serve recommended by the Thai ahgase. Trekking further west did not reveal the entrance to the Aura Concourse Shopping Mall, and only later did I learn that the retailers could only be accessed from IKEA via a supposed hidden escalator.

Rounding the block, I detoured towards Bay and College, where the collective group of retailers had been named MRKTS @ 777.

What awaited me hadn't differed greatly from the assortment examined last winter, when I had made a brief stopover at College station for Le Génie. Instead of dallying, I resorted to NEO Coffee Bar across the street. Sunny Taiwanese was too far of a walk given that only fifteen minutes remained of my lunch break.

The interior of the coffee shop was identical to my last visit. Since the presumed passing of the pandemic, reusable tumblers were encouraged once more with a twenty-five cent discount incentive.

Customer volumes were at an all-time low, yet the staff seemed unbothered to near the cashier and take my order. When one of the ponytail-donning staff eventually approached the counter, she seemed annoyed to respond to requests for further clarification of the baked goods within the display case.
Could you blame me though? The labels failed to line up with the products, some of which weren't even available to start.

Without providing descriptions of any of the products, I was left to outsource any details on my own accord. I emerged with a Blackberry Blueberry Muffin and Black Sesame Mochi, each placed in a separate paper bag before being pushed across the counter. The girl whipped around before I could request a receipt, then appeared aggravated at the machine when her limited knowledge prevented her from printing one. While still in conversation with her coworker, the receipt was folded in half and slid in my direction. Not only was the interaction devoid of eye contact, but further exempt from any audible "thank you"s.

Not even five minutes passed before the same issue would prevail. With an exasperated sigh, I bunched the items together in the bag while withdrawing my own plastic bag to save the day. The compostable nature of the bag lacked functionality, continuing to shred itself to wispy strands with every step of the way.

Both items were unveiled upon my eventual return to the office.
Absolutely horrendous was the Black Sesame Mochi. The glutinous rice casing was thick and bland, offering rigidity instead of the wonderfully elastic qualities associated with mochi. Wrapped within was a milky, separated filling - it was grey, as black sesame products ought to be, but retained no nuttiness whatsoever.

The Blackberry Blueberry Muffin shattered like madness. Oats embedded in the top layer had crisped up in the face of excessive oil - not butter, for it was not fragrant at all - then proceeded to disintegrate as subsequent bites were taken. The body of the muffin was bland, filled with mushy berries, and exposed excessive rise in its base. The crumb was dismal and alkalinic instead of moist and tender.

I nearly wished to dispose of the duo entirely, though refrained from acting on this thought on the basis of funds relinquished.

Let it be known: I shall not be going back for their baked goods.

After two back-to-back days of cloudy skies, azureness filled the evening. I grudgingly made my way to LA Fitness, in spite of having completed comprehensive sessions with Well + Good at home.

Just before departing, it was observed that the two dysfunctional/semi-functional Stairmasters had finally been marked as "Out of Order". However, it is uncertain whether repairs will take place in a timely manner.

Meals of the week included: Braised Pork and Daikon with Choy Sum, Spaghettini with Pork Shabu Shabu Strips, and Hawaiian-Style Sweet & Sour Slow-Cooker Spare Ribs with Pineapple.

Breakfast was a reliable Marbled Banana Bread and Cold Brew - this time Good Grief in a Balzac's mug.

Numerous times have I declared the first cup of java of the day ought be black: a no-nonsense ration to kickstart the morning. Afternoons allow for more playfulness, be it in the form of DIY tea lattes or zesty refreshers. A ginger-infused Honey Yuzu Lemonade was crafted without our household's customary constituent of carbonation. The prepared drink was a tad too sweet for my liking, though the base formula of citrus, syrup, and iciness wasn't half bad when chilled.

Truth be told: The Keg's Vodka-infused Caesar was repulsive beyond belief. My summer go-to of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey Lemonade was much, much tastier.

Throughout the week, I was caught snacking on a greater quantity of dried mango slices than deemed healthy, as well as a handful of cherry gummies here and there.

Towards the latter half of the week, I re-invested my energy into new kitchen experiments.

1) Black Sesame Dessert (黑芝麻糕)

Originating from an inventory restock of black sesame paste, I decided to try my hand at a steamed black sesame dessert. Impatience paved the way for a failed, coal-coloured chunk of rubberiness. A few reluctant chews later, the "cake' was deemed a disheartening fiasco, only revealing itself stiffer with each passing minute.

2) Hawaiian Butter Mochi

The past summer, I dipped my toes into butter mochi for the first time in my baking odyssey. Trader Joe's Ube Mochi Pancake & Waffle Mix had proved itself effortlessly delicious in applications of mini butter mochi bites as well as pancakes. Crafting the formula from scratch was an entirely new beast, as I had learned from the earlier Black Sesame Brick and two counts of sapin sapin-making.

Origins of the treat traced towards Hawaii, a tropical destination known for its high population of Japanese immigrants. While glutinous rice treats are normally steamed to unleash their elastic, satisfying texture, incorporating butter into the batter and baking in an oven caused a crust to form along the edges and on the surface. This would, essentially, enable the best of the both worlds fused within a Western-Japanese fusion snack. Sourcing my ingredient ratios from a six-year-old tutorial of two Hawaii-based Japanese men, I scribbled down the US measurements and got to work the early next morning.

The remainder of the coconut milk from my failed experiment measured about 268 ml, approximately 67% (or two-thirds) of the 14 oz. can called for in the recipe. Reluctant to open a second can of AROY-D, I scaled down the quantities proportionally and converted to metric measurements for ease of scaling (with the exception of the glutinous rice flour, for the scale had suddenly powered off).

Though I had debated switching to a loaf pan instead of a square baking pan, I ultimately decided against the decision to prevent a raw centre. It was also, without a doubt, that Butter Mochi should be baked in a wide, shallow pan to increase surface area, consequently resulting in more crust.
Around the sixty-minute mark, I unveiled a golden square with a crackly top. A skewer came back slightly damp at the centre, but otherwise clean at the edges. Rather than baking for longer, I simply allowed the slab to cool, hoping that the centre would solidify just as cookies would.

Slicing it was still a mission, for strands of glutinous rice would adhere to the knife without remorse. That said, the yield was phenomenal: crunchy, buttery, and dangerously addicting.
Of course, the wispy surface would fade with time, especially after transferring to a plastic container. However, its thin crust and delightfully chewy qualities would remain, even exuding the same degree of decadence the following day. Unthinkable it was that such a tremendously scanty amount (48 g) of melted butter could result in such a silky, sublime mouthfeel.

3) Marbled Banana Bread

Almost as if constructed on a weekly basis, SK's Marbled Banana Bread reared itself in the form of two, coarse sugar-specked loaves once again. Half would be portioned out for Monday's office potluck, while the rest would be subject to standard treatment: individual plastic wrap casing and freezing.

With a morning of baking behind me, I readied myself for the long-awaited weekend mall outing.

An alternate ensemble would be donned for the recording of my second K-Pop in Public to Stray Kids' "S Class", otherwise known as the on-repeat, up-tempo track as of late.

Venturing to Square One after the ordeal was complete, I confirmed that kiokii and ... was indeed yet to reveal its interior to the crowds of centra Missisauga.

MyMy Chicken assumed our late lunchtime pick.

Given that the intent had been to sample items having garnered our interest previously, we took to the combination of Green Onion Chicken and Ginseng BBQ Bulgogi (Beef) Cup Bap. Out of curiosity, I appended a Korean Style Rice Corn Dog to the order, taking to the "Half & Half" variation involving a top segment of melty mozzarella and bottom of ball park sausage.

For the latter, I was asked if an optional granulated sugar coating was desired. Why not? I thought and responded, "With sugar." The trendy Korean snack would then proceed to be topped with every single sauce available at the station. Besides Ketchup, there were two squeeze bottles each of Honey Mustard, Teriyaki, and Spicy Mayo. It is worth noting that the bottles, as well as the station itself, was quite clean at this early afternoon hour. Grimy plastic bottles à la Costco had been expected, after all.
Since our last visit, it was also observed that the path from the seating area to the kitchen had been blocked with a rope barrier to prevent customers from directly grabbing utensils/napkins from the order table themselves.

Upon first bite, I affirmed MyMy's corn dog to be crunchy and gratifying, albeit quite filling. In the top half was exceedingly gooey and stringy cheese, offering tremendous satisfaction. Admittedly, the coating was on the thicker side, making it difficult to access the half sausage on the bottom. Nevertheless, thickness should not be associated with denseness: its cross-section revealed ample air bubbles, which translated to volumized batter when frying the dogs at high heat.
It didn't require much effort to remove the sausage from the skewer. Moreover, there were no unnecessary bits of potato included in an attempt to render an otherwise stiff corn dog crispy. The battered treat was considerably more delicious than the displeasing rigid, overpriced stalks from ChungChun and would definitely assume my top choice should I ever be in the mood for Korean-style corn dogs again.

The Green Onion Chicken was amongst the priciest of the chain's flavours, next to Gold Cheese Chicken. To my surprise, it was served in the same format as the Original, looking identical with its side of potato wedges. A member of staff would retrieve the rectangular box from the kitchen before sauntering over to the refrigerator for containers of sauce and shredded green onion. If the Original Chicken rang in at fifteen dollars, then it can be presumed that the addition of condiments had set us back one dollar each.

In place of the typical gochukaru-speckled sesame-soy sauce, MyMy's variation utilized a loose dressing reminiscent of Teriyaki in hue, yet tangy with prominent notes of mustard (without mustard seed) in composition. The shredded scallions seemed to have been soaked to remove pungency and dried thoroughly to retain its aromatic properties. Being shredded thinly assisted in preserving a toothsome texture.

The Cup Bap series had been one of the Korean-speaking staff's recommendations on our first visit. This time around, a Ginseng BBQ Bulgogi (Beef) Cup Bap was chosen to validate their claim. The bowl was an exceedingly generous portion contained within a paper bowl with a flimsy, clear plastic lid. Thankfully, unlike its name had proclaimed, ginseng undertones were minimal to nonexistent. Well-marinated strips of flavourful, tender beef had been included liberally, conjuring as much surprise as the presence of cream sauce. A small portion of kimchi was included as well, though rather fiery, even more so than the original Toppki. Cooked (stir-fried?) cabbage strips and japchae resided adjacent to the kimchi; the glossy sweet potato noodles was delicious and neither too greasy, nor too rigid - significantly better than Kibo at the same price point ($15) and a larger allocation to boot!

We spent the next three hours browsing the shopping centre. A few recent and up-and-coming store openings were noted, including Pi Co., the American Chick-Fil-A, and the imPerfect Fresh Eats bar across from our table in The Food District.

Square One was as hectic as ever, but boasted more walkability than most weekends - likely owed to Father's Day celebrations and Celebration Square events.

Nearly departing without visiting the Elemental pop-up fixture, one final trip through the lower level of the mall was made to interact with the characters on a partially scorched bench (not made for sitting).

Finally, we landed back in Erin Mills. The plaza at the corner of Eglinton and Ridgeway had expanded rapidly since my initial visit last year. Despite being denoted as "Erin Mills Centre", the title of Platinum Drive is arguably more suitable, as it is a standalone roadway that runs along the south perimeter of the business district.

Gong Cha's latest GTA outpost was found near the southeast corner of the lot, within minutes from Gotcha Tea and plentiful shawarma outlets.

Sunny, sweltering external conditions summoned an afternoon pick-me-up, preferably one with caffeine. Instead of my usual order of the 2J Brown Sugar Oolong Milk Tea, a Dolce Coffee Milk Tea was requested from their new lineup. The girl behind the cashier confirmed that it was comparable to my default pick in terms of sweetness, though warned that it was amongst the most sugary of the trio given its utilization of both sweetened condensed milk and brown sugar syrup.
I confirmed it to be unmistakably sweet, yet enjoyable with an energizing boost of caffeine. The Large size was served in a smooth, opaque paper cup, seemingly intended for hot drinks due to the affixed warning signals. Paper straws were provided for our use, resulting in a grimace and hardly stifled, exasperated sigh. However, it is with much glee that I report back with good news: The straws not only resisted dissolution in hot temperatures, but also maintained structural integrity after being submerged overnight! What a grand departure from the bendy monstrosity of CoCo and their crumbling paper cups!

The Milk Foam Coffee was quite delicious as well, and was noted to bear similarities to HK café-style iced coffee due to its prominent acidic notes. Though, these acidic notes swiftly disappeared as the milk foam was incorporated into the drink. Just as the girl behind the cashier had noted, the beverage wasn't too sweet, even at 50% sugar.

A staggering inflow of bubble tea-goers prompted our early exit from the establishment. By both vehicle and foot, we proceeded to explore nearby businesses and eateries. The "Coming soon" signage had disappeared along the southwest edge of the lot, welcoming a significant number of tenants.
Majority of the space catered towards Halal dining. Mount Sinai did not, but filled the void for Mexican street food by way of soft tacos, specialty bread, and signature churros.

Next to BeaverTails was an Egyptian Fish & Grill House. We assumed it to be an Egyptian take on Fish & Chips, and took note of the destination for a future visit.

"What is that 'Fresh Food Market'?"
I turned my head to find "Apna Farm" in a Serif font typically associated with insurance companies.

The specialty grocer was home to region-specific produce (think sour plums from India and fresh Za'atar leaves from the Middle East), halal meats, and various snacks and seasonings originating from Egypt, India, and Pakistan. There was even a prepared foods counter, where Mango Lassi was spotted retailing for $4.99 and assorted Indian dishes charged by the gram. The lady behind the counter offered us samples: long, stringy rice stewed with fatty beef and a potato spring roll-esque item bearing a greater herb and spice content than our bodies were capable of processing.
Nearby was a sweets shelf, where anything from baklava to nut-topped cookies to Bread & Salt (607) specialties could be found.

Evaporated milk, instant Karak Tea, and Taza-branded Palmier cookies were procured during this visit. Although the assortment was found to be steeply priced, it was with a sense of bewilderment and wonder that we gazed upon the aisles of unfamiliar names. Mississauga, as a city, was generally diverse in the spread of specialty grocers available. In this sense, Apna Farm was similar to the now-shuttered European market occupied by royaltea beside Chicken Plus.

At long last, we made our way to the northwest corner, where Baskin Robbins resided.

Beyond emanating the vanilla-tinged warmth of waffle cones from every corner, the store was bright, colourful, and stocked amply with an expansive assortment of scoops and pre-packs.

Samples were graciously provided at this store, unlike the location at Village by the Grange, in the franchise's nostalgic pink micro-spoons. Ube Coconut Swirl consisted of scrumptious bits of shredded coconut and the purple root vegetable's signature somewhat-sweet-potato-y-and-somewhat-floral fragrance, attaining a spot on the take-home list.