Out & About #916 | Tempura Keisuke, LA Fitness Hurontario + Too Good To Go Impressions

Ever since I entered the workforce, be it a temporary placement (co-op) or permanent, post-undergrad experience, there wasn't a single year where I chose to work on my birthday. My latest job transition would, unfortunately, overlap with unpaid time off until the end of probation. As such, I opted to "cut my losses" and bear with the ill-fated timing.

Monday marked yet another trip into downtown - a quiet one, thankfully - accompanied by my new friend, LCBO's Summer Cooler Bag.

While past years marked at least two consecutive days of liberation, the same would not apply this year. After a sluggish morning, I made my way over to Eaton, where The Body Shop's Lavender & Vetiver Essential Oil Blend was finally procured with my birthday reward. Along the way, I made note of bucket hats (with strings!) trending, as well as Gong Cha's refusal to birthday drink redemptions.

I had strode out of the office around noon, much earlier than my usual lunch walk period as to facilitate lunch plans with a fellow July baby.

​Assembly Chef's Hall was my proposal, on the bases of proximity and assortment.

Tempura Keisuke had piqued my interest weeks ago, and I was glad to finally have an opportunity to sample the eatery. Originally seeking out the Gyu Don, a last-minute swap was made for Gyu Tendon, for it seemed unfitting to omit the shop's signature offering. The Gyu Don was priced at $19, and the Gyu Tendon a toonie greater at $21. All mains fell within the double-digit range, with the most economic being the meat-less options of Vegetarian Curry Rice (at $15), Kistune Udon (at $16), and Vegetable Tendon (at $17). An approximate seven-minute wait ensued after order placement, despite the absence of a lineup.

Meanwhile, my fellow July baby headed across the aisle to Pokito, where a bowl of dismal-looking Ahi Tuna poke bowl emerged from Pokito's counter within minutes. I hovered about the pickup area while in wait of my order, grimacing at the fumes originating from Charcoal Biryani nearby. The 2023 edition of Pokito was shockingly insubstantial in comparison to the colourful, flavourful combination consumed at their Queen West outpost seven years prior. The white ceramic bowl seemed to comprise of no more than steamed white rice, a scoop of (artificial) crab meat salad, and a cabbage-carrot slaw of sorts. Topping options of crispy onions and pickled ginger were positioned adjacent to the disposable cutlery, as were sauces in the condiment bar. Personally, the entire bowl may as well be compiled via a self-service bar at this point.

Upon receiving my order from Tempura Keisuke, we hurriedly navigated to a brighter, cleaner section of the upper-level dining floor. No more fumes!

​Having requested takeout packaging, I unveiled the contents of the plastic bag upon being seated. Neatly secured within was a small container of miso soup with scallions and wakame, an untainted napkin, chopsticks, and a plastic spoon. The entrée was filled generously with tempura: at least two ebi, one sweet potato, one sizable round of zucchini, and a few other vegetables I did not identify. Nestled underneath was a thin layer of short-grain rice, benishouga, and scrumptious strips of tender beef.

My personal preference still lies with a traditional gyu don, for the quantity of beef was rather meager. That said, the variety of components included within the order was well worth its associated price tag. Tempura items were impressively airy without exuding greasiness. Admittedly, they were a bit rigid for my injured tooth, but nonetheless boasted an enjoyable degree of crunch. The miso soup was flavourful as well, and did not exhibit the dreaded grittiness witnessed in typical sushi takeout spots.

Approximately half the meal was taken home and reserved for later consumption.​

To round off the meal, I proposed heading into the PATH, where The Alley could be found at the bottom of the escalators. Although a free drink redemption option had not appeared in the app this year, the staff were more than willing to craft my beverage of choice. Unlike Chatime, the beverage would not be subject to stringent restrictions: patrons had the freedom to choose any drink at any size with unlimited toppings. I took to an Iron Goddess Milk Tea with Grass Jelly, which the team was more than willing to split between two small cups for sharing.

​Chancing across a BOGO promo at the neighbouring Miniso, I couldn't resist taking to two Brown-themed Ampoule masks from Mediheal.

The next morning, I would undergo an identical commute. However, awaiting me in the office was a different scene altogether.

​My coworker greeted me with a cheery "Good morning!" followed by a checked gift bag. "Happy (belated) Birthday!"

Thrilled I was to have received the congratulatory message, but overjoyed was I to lay eyes on a tissue-wrapped present. Unravelling the package, I retrieved a mesh Cinamoroll pouch, likely from Miniso, and a sealed package that caused instant formation of an open-mouthed grin.

Known also as a fellow K-Pop fangirl, my coworker had succeeded to locating unofficial (and thankfully, non-Koreaboo-type) merchandise from GOT7's DYE, Keep Spinning, and Last Breath eras. Despite regarding the gaudy printed buttons with stifled laughter, I marvelled at the stack of stickers and glittery temporary tattoos. Though, my favourite of all was the acrylic keychain.

I had entered through the glass doors feeling weary and lifeless, but the surprise had brightened my day immediately. Truly, I couldn't have been more appreciative of the gesture - from a mere coworker no less!

The second day of the week also marked the launch of Caribana at Nathan Phillips Square.

​My memories of the bustling event are far from fond, conjuring images of chaos, the stench of cannabis filling the GO train passenger car, and overall discomfort and annoyance. In spite of this, I can appreciate the celebrations when observing the happenings at a distance.

Venturing about the space around 1 PM, I primarily witnessed primarily speeches instead of performances. The highlight was undoubtedly observing GO Bear donning feathery attire, apparently termed "mas", in honour of the event.

I steered clear of the jerk chicken and sugar cane juice stalls, traversing northbound on the east side of University Ave instead. By chance, I would encounter yet another outdoor festival - this time a marketplace outside the SickKids Foundation.

Farm produce, momos, and honey-based concoctions were spotted along the entrance, along with a complimentary solo musical performance.

A shaded pathway was sourced from south side of College Street, where shrubbery-filled streetscaping features lined the perimeter of the MaRS Discovery District. Continuing along this route, I trekked towards Bay Street and made a sharp left at the first homeless sighting.

The day was deemed appropriate for a visit to Sunny Taiwanese, a destination I had first bookmarked while scouring for Craig's Cookies. Given the availability of a cooler bag, a to-go order was placed, consisting of the following:

• Ham & Egg Sandwich (火腿蛋三明治)
• Classic Taiwanese Breakfast Milk Tea (臺式早餐奶茶)
• Winter Melon Tea w/ Soy Milk (冬瓜茶豆漿)
• Cheese & Sweet Corn Egg Crepe Roll (起士玉米蛋餅)

The duration between order placement and receipt spanned ten to fifteen minutes. Within this waiting time, at least two food delivery drivers entered the eatery: one for Fantuan and one for UberEats. Not a single dine-in customer was observed, though one member of staff was spotted resting atop thoroughly tattooed arms during her supposed break time.

Quite pleased was I to receive a meticulously knotted plastic bag (that did not entail additional charges). Both drinks sealed within clear, plastic cups and fitted into a drink tray, while food items were either presented in a paper bag or paper container with a plastic lid.

The Winter Melon Tea with Soy Milk was unveiled upon returning the office, proving itself as an incredibly refreshing combination to beat the heat.

Other items were revealed in the evening. The Ham & Egg Sandwich was constructed of two slices of tender, crust-less white bread and filled with thinly sliced cucumber threads. A wad of hot sauce caught me by surprise. The taste was akin to Sriracha, though leaned more towards a warm orange tone than the deep red of the Southeast Asian classic. The sandwich was tasty and, in review of market prices, absolutely affordable at $6.99. While I am by no means rushing back for more, any future visits will be supplemented with a "no hot sauce" clause of caution.

The Cheese & Sweet Corn Egg Crepe Roll was also found to be spicy, but on the peppery side. Toasting the rolled segments led to parched surfaces and stiff blobs of Kraft cheddar, while microwaving reinstated a chewy wrap-like texture and stringiness. High expectations had been extended towards this dish, though it suffices to declare that the $5.99 was not justified.

​Soothing my sore throat was homemade 杏仁蜜棗茶, while tending to my sanity were the ever delectable Two-Bite Brownies. To this day, I've yet to crack the code on their chewy, chocolate qualities.

Meals (and snacks) of the week included: Napa Cabbage Stew with Broccoli, Holiday Luncheon Meat, and Pork Shabu Shabu, Cream of Mushroom Soup with Homemade Garlic Croutons, bibigo Steamed Soup Dumplings, and Iced Nom Nom.

Follow-up Too Good To Go Visits were also executed.

The first was Chocolatta Brigadeiros, located within The Food District at Square One. Conflicting schedule arrangements had involved some degree of logistics planning: instead of merely proceeding with the pickup and returning home, individual agendas were coordinated such that I could complete the pickup and utilize gym facilities within a 75-minute window.

A Large Treats Bag presented itself in a rectangular paper box only slightly longer than palm's length. Regarding the taped carton dubiously, I approached the lady behind the cashier once more to confirm that I had indeed received a "Large". She responded in the affirmative.

​Immediately breaking the seal upon returning the car, twelve spherical creations were revealed. Their flavours were unknown, though I hypothesized the assortment to include Crème Brûlée, Strawberry Blossoms, and possibly Wild Orange.

Crème Brûlée was sampled first, for scorched sugar often results in condensation quickly. The mushy morsel shocked with an extravagant punch of sugar. Disgusted and gasping for water, the remaining halve was wrapped within a tissue for discarding. The unnamed sprinkle-rolled variation was next. It retained its shape well, but was still far too cloying for my sanity.

​The delicate chocolate curls adorning the Strawberry Blossoms was admittedly tasty. Regrettably, the interior was just as devoid of structure as the Crème Brûlée, and perhaps equally sugary. The chocolate-coated version was the least disappointing, and arguably decent overall, despite not being comprehensively pleasurable to consume.

​Web results later informed that brigadeiros was a Brazilian dessert constructed of condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder. The list explained the confectionery's distinct lack of texture and obscene amount of sweetness. Even just one brigadeiros in, my head began to pound from its atrocious proportion of sugar.

I was glad to have tried the treats via Too Good To Go's discounted portal, for they are normally priced quite steeply at $2.85 apiece (or upwards of ten dollars for a box of four. The dozen brigadeiros constituting the Large Treats Bag had set me back $11.99 plus tax - a significant reduction, but sadly not one that could be fully embraced and appreciated.

​​Subsequent Surprise Bags were reserved in the following days. Their locations were none too convenient for me though, causing me to adopt alternate logistics for my Friday evening schedule. A couple hours before the first pickup, I was notified that the store "had no surplus food". It wasn't the most shocking revelation, for I had read about such circumstances from other user reviews. Nonetheless, I was a tad annoyed that the Prepared Meal bag I had anticipated for dinner would be void; supper would need to be sourced elsewhere, likely at full price.

​My second pickup at Major's would not commence until 7:30 PM, and was restricted to a narrow slot of thirty minutes.

All Too Good To Go-inflicted excursions had brought me near City Centre, leading my fitness needs being taken to the LA Fitness location at Hurontario and Eglinton. The parking lot was treacherous, as it often is, but the surrounding arterials even more tragic with lane closures, rowdy drivers, and rush hour volumes.

At first glance, the gym appeared compact and, frankly, very small compared to my home location on the edge of Mississauga and Oakville. The size of asphalt lot was proportional to the building square footage, serving both the gym and its neighbour of Dollarama.

Upon entry, I was astonished to find a very welcoming interior. Spaces were clearly labelled and cardio equipment were neatly organized in rows. Next to the check-in desk was an unobstructed view of the pool, and next to the pool were vending machines and a Kids Klub play area. Business discussions were held directly behind the check-in desk in a lounge area furnished to resemble an office landing area.

​Of utmost interest to me were the changerooms and bathroom facilities. Clean, brightly illuminated facilities welcomed me. The tiled flooring was spotless - free of the hairballs, dried patches of gum, and lone paper towels that often adorn my home location. Similar commentary could be extended towards the washrooms, shower stalls, and lockers, which were not only largely unoccupied at the late afternoon hour but also included separators for shoes and bags. A complimentary hair dryer could be found on one of the locker partitions, next to outlet and USB charging ports. A full-length mirror was positioned by the entrance, acting as a final check for gym-goers before proceeding on with their daily exercise regime.

I heaved a disappointed sigh, knowing that this cleaner location was hardly convenient for me given the congestion and tumultuous driving environment of the surrounding intersection.

My positive commentary were revoked during my second visit though, when Friday evening madness had rendered the gym as congested and filthy as my home location. Ventilation was severely lacking in the group fitness room, though, the fans could easily be adjusted by users.

I had arrived early in anticipation of back-to-back Yoga and Zumba classes. To my surprise, the 4:30 PM yoga session would be led by an elderly man of (presumably) South Asian descent. He strode into the relatively empty group fitness studio in grey sweatpants, rolled out a towel and thin yoga mat, then began to lecture those that had taken spots towards the back of the room. "Why do you guys stay in the back?" He commenced, "You come here to learn properly, so come to the front and pay attention."

​The demanding tone transcended into commands, rather than easing the class into yoga fundamentals fit for one's fitness levels. Static stretches would form majority of the warm-up instead of dynamic stretches, and were often called out in a forceful manner. I had no issues with most of the movements, though suffered tremendously from back pain when we had been asked to rollover and maintain that position for extended periods of time. The sequence resulted in greater mid- to low-back pain and neck tension than release. There were also a number of positions that involved spreading and extending the legs away from the body, which were of utmost discomfort to execute in a co-ed class with mirrors.
The instructor had failed to provide a welcoming environment for individual progression, all while neglecting each participant's existing abilities and underlying biomechanical conditions. It was hardly an experience I'd be revisiting, though I did appreciate his offering of Fisherman's Friend after witnessing a terrible coughing fit - complete with phlegm - overtake me towards the termination of the session.

Zumba class would be delayed for at least ten minutes due to the instructor's tardiness, then conclude seven minutes early. The tracks were fun and upbeat, even incorporating Bachata, body rolls, and hard-hitting hip hop moves. That said, the class was found to be quite dense (minimal space between attendees) and less intense (read: less cardio-heavy) as desired.

Around 6:45 PM, I noticed a reminder from the Too Good To Go app for pickup. While browsing the app, I spotted a $4.99 Surprise Bag at cultures, then reserved it promptly. At around 7 PM, I'd make my way through the dreaded construction zone of the Hurontario LRT in the direction of Square One.

Entering the premises in a somewhat famished state, I took to a Carnitas Burrito from Chipotle while in wait of the pickup slot. The stall's lineup was amongst the lengthiest of the entire food court. Thankfully, having placed the order through the franchise's app, I could simply be served first by nearing the cashier and indicating my mobile order contents. A soggy, saucy Carnitas Burrito was handed to me in a foil wrapper that barely covered the roll. It was satiating, heavily seasoned, and resulted in minimal satisfaction.

After consumption of three-quarters of the burrito, I proceeded with a short trek through Miniso. The visit was short-lived, for congested aisles and a stroller-blocked entrance made for a highly displeasurable shopping experience.

Striding into Major's just after the 7:30 PM mark, I was greeted by the girl behind the cashier. My intentions were made known, to which she responded with, "You can just pick a bag off the shelf."
"Just one?"
"Yes, one."
I flipped over one of the bags. "But this is $7.99 - the same price I paid for the bag." My brows began to furrow. "Where is the discount?"
"Oh we're just testing the prices to see what sells. The labels are confusing, but the cookies are ten dollars a bag." The girl added, "We need to add the labels for the expiry date."

Shortly after this exchange, a duo of young men entered the store. The hoodie-donning staff member greeted them, then injected that "bags (of cookies) were just 'eight dollars'" in my presence.

​The utterance had me both perplexed and infuriated, for my understanding was that Too Good To Go was intended to source a home for excess products, not lure unsuspecting app users to making retail purchases at their original price. I, as an app user, had not received the promised twenty-four dollars' worth of merchandise, nor had excess food been salvaged in the process.

Moreover, the cookies tasted dreadful. Vegan cookies equated to an ingredient list comprising of coconut oil instead of butter, leading to a greasy, not quite soft-baked texture. Oatmeal, assumed included for use as a stabilizer, had absolutely no place in a S'Mores cookie.

​I would then hover about the space in wait of the next pickup: cultures at 8 PM. This venture was far more successful, for not only did I receive a well-rounded meal accompanied by sides of fusilli salad and broccoli, I was also provided a bottle of water. Neither the fusilli nor broccoli salad had been cooked to the doneness I preferred, though they were remained tasty even on the following day.

Not particularly fond towards ciabatta, I peeled away the buns to munch on the constituents of the sandwich instead: tomatoes, crunchy cucumber slices, sprouts, and deli meat (either turkey or chicken). Components of the biodegradable box would provide enough for two meals.

​The posts on Reddit had been accurate as far as using Too Good To Go in the suburbs. Given the unpredictability of the yield, pickup times, and pickup locations, the resource is often a hit or miss. Further testing shall be conducted in the dusty but pedestrian-friendly downtown quarters deductions are declared.