Out & About #920 | Barbie + Gyu-Kaku (Round 2)

The last time I found myself in a theatre was probably for the redemption of a soon-to-expire voucher, amidst the physically-distanced COVID era no less. Venom hadn't been all that enthralling, speaking quite frankly - neither had my company at the time - and even less the prolonged duration of mask-donning, which had introduced dehydration in addition to discomfort.

From that point onwards, I had sworn against further visits to the cinema. My ever-hectic, evolving schedule played another part in extinguishing any eagerness. Why be limited to showtimes that prohibit pausing and washroom breaks when one can watching the comfort of one's home, ideally while foam-rolling?!
Despite the rise in popularity of Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and more, not all shows are released onto a digital platform. Months would pass before movies would eventually make their way to each production studio's exclusive streaming service. For foolproof evasion of spoilers, in-person viewing was mandatory.​

​A great deal of trouble was suffered using Cineplex's online booking system, for it neither synced seamlessly with Scene+ nor encouraged advance seat selection, made known in its $1.50 per ticket booking fee. Promo codes were tried, then Perkopolis vouchers, the latter ultimately leading to non-refundable packages that cost more than simply purchasing via the Cineplex website sans-promo. The experience was aggravating to say in the least.
Alas, booking in advance was highly recommended, for Saturday showings of new movies sold out quickly, especially on opening weekend.

​Barbie was the movie in question.
It wasn't that I had loved figures throughout my childhood - quite the opposite really, for board games and hard, plastic contraptions had always taken a backseat to soft, huggable plushies. But the trailer had appealed to me in its juxtaposition of the vibrant, flashy "doll world" and bleak, desaturated setting of Santa Monica. Cinematography was another interesting element, for placing humans in a dollhouse environment while evoking a sense of relatability is no easy feat.

We arranged for a late morning screening at Cineplex Junxion, intending to have the visit double as our first experience at the new theatre. As always, punctuality wasn't my forte, and we pulled into the asphalt lot around 11:34 AM. Dashing inwards, we zipped past the arcade games, dining area, and concessions to find the auditoriums. Washrooms were located just outside the auditoriums, before reaching the check-in podium - placement that differed from the Square One and Courtney Park locations.

At 11:39 AM, we entered into the auditorium, just as as a magenta pink Warner Bros. logo emerged on the screen. It was starting!
Seats were allocated extremely spaciously. I had braced myself for popcorn-filled grunts for when we were to inch towards our seats, but experienced no such issues. Even in the full-reclined position, there was ample space to navigate between the rows. Sinking into our spots, we too soon rejoiced in the cushiony comfort of patent leather (?), a swivel side table (complete with drink holder!), and unthinkably roomy lounge chairs

SPOILERS AHEAD!!

​Barbie was, conclusively speaking, a comparatively loaded movie than one would expect from its previews.
As one would predict, the setting would embrace a colourful palette centred about shimmery sequins and solid splashes of rose, magenta, and fuschia - a scene that would appeal to as many children as lovers of pink. However, the content largely catered towards viewers with voting power, starting off with rather typical messages of empowering women and creating equality, then gradually unveiling other popular topics of debate in modern society. It was painfully apparent to have "ethnic diversity" shoved in my face by way of Simu Liu's annoying, unattractive presence. (His acting is well below subpar and neither his styling nor attitutde ever changes, but that's another rant.) I had no qualms towards the remainder of the cast, for they delivered in their roles, regardless of size or racial background.

Source: Official Trailer (https://youtu.be/pBk4NYhWNMM)

​Hidden within the film was a tremendous amount of promotion for the Mattel brand, along with tidbits of Barbie's creation and rise to household name status throughout the decades. Admittedly, there was also a great deal of feel-good factor embedded within: flashbacks experienced by Barbie had been conjured by past memories of playtime. The fondness of mother-daughter bonding time was illustrated with clarity, further serving as the foundation for a restored relationship.

Source: Official Trailer (https://youtu.be/pBk4NYhWNMM)

The contrast of a male-dominated American society and women in power in Barbieland was successful in depicting the extremes of either gender being in control, though personally too complex for the average family-friendly film. The power of determination and motivational speaking was also demonstrated well, for the scene of undoing the Barbies' brainwashing was pivotal in realizing Stereotypical Barbie's underlying desire for self-discovery.

​Overall, the movie was whimsical and touching, yet contemplative. Hardly the type to enjoy heavy topics in mainstream media though, I was greatly appreciative of the humorous musical elements strategically weaved throughout for comedic relief.

Source: Official Trailer (https://youtu.be/pBk4NYhWNMM)

For those wondering, there were no post-credits bonus footage.

​An exciting aspect of the all-pink experience was the audience's ability to unite on the basis of attire: Pink apparel was the primary pick, namely flamboyant fuchsia or glitter-specked rose.

​Naturally, we would also prepare ourselves accordingly. The ensembles could then be modelled within a replica of the life-sized Barbie box featured in the film - a fun alternative to the typical promotional posterboard.

​We had arranged for a late lunch at Gyu-Kaku following the viewing. Our arrival at Sussex Centre was made just ten minutes after 2 PM, the time at which our reservation had been planned. But the tardiness was of minimal concern, for there were no more than a handful of diners at the early afternoon hour.

The host, a seemingly inexperienced member of front line staff, acknowledged our entry through the doorway, then fumbled with the tablet for a few minutes while verifying our OpenTable booking. After the ordeal, we were led to one of many booths along the west perimeter the dining floor. This one, unlike the compact two-seater granted for our dinner service, was spacious enough for four, adequately illuminated, and further offered a street view of Kariya Drive.
I plopped into the booth nearly immediately, then jumped up at the sighting of greasy seats and stray grains of fried rice. The host was notified of my discontent towards the lack of cleanliness, which extended beyond flying grains of rice to sauce splatters near the headrest area - how they got there we shall never comprehend. He responded to the concern by reappearing with a bucket, washcloth, and spray bottle, then scrubbed away at the areas of disgust, adding "Not sure who cleaned the table."

Several moments later, our server appeared to introduce himself and answer any inquiries regarding the menu that may have surfaced.
At this point, it was affirmed that Hitachino Nest brews were wholly unavailable and Kocha Umeshu would only be retailed by the bottle. When asked about cocktails, he admitted that they were "all pretty sweet", even the ones that utilized sake as a base. Whether the comment has originated from personal preference or data acquired from other patrons, I was appreciative of his honesty. (It was almost as if he knew of my aversion towards sugary drinks.)  Ultimately, he recommended Sapporo or Asahi, both on tap and featured prominently on the front of the drink menu. In spite of having average experiences with the canned variation, I accepted the suggestion of Asahi. Peach Up, a virgin alcohol comprising of peach syrup and Sprite, was also requested.

​They arrived in record time, perfectly chilled and flavourful. Peach Up was brimming with peachy essence and garnished with a vibrant bulb of maraschino cherry. Asahi was admittedly refreshing on tap, and perfectly portioned in its matching, brand-bearing glass.

​Components of the set meal arrived with impeccable speed - unsurprising though, for the dining floor was near vacant. From what we could observe, there were no more than three tables assigned to each member of waitstaff.

​Since our first visit, adjustments to the BBQ Course options have taken place, primarily to reflect inflation but also with minor tweaks to the included assortment. The 2023 Chef's Choice set is nearly identical to the 2021 edition of Chef's Favourite, with the exception of Garlic Shio Cabbage removed and a four-dollar price increase. Instead of merely repeating the experience, we opted instead of the Meat Lovers set, a two-person set that rang in at ninety dollars, with options for upgrading to picks from the Chef's Choice selection.

​Starters included familiar items such as the Gyu-Kaku Salad, Miso Soup, and Gyu Sushi. Salad dressing had been requested on the side, and emerged in the form of a creamy-tangy-nutty formula divided between two shallow containers. Salted edamame pods made an appearance with the more budget-friendly meal sets; they were interestingly crunchy within, though otherwise bland following extraction from their casing.

​Much to our surprise, the Karaage was quite delicious, especially when drizzled generously with lemon. Had I not had the luxury of sampling Musoshin's rendition the previous evening, I would have likely indulged further.

​White Rice had been upgraded to Beef Sukiyaki Bibimbap for an additional three dollars. The portion was as flavourful as we recalled, yet suffered a reduction of marinated beef slices. Resulting from an insufficiently hot stone pot, the coveted morsels of crispy rice failed to materialize. Nonetheless, the dish was scrumptious - the ideal companion of well-seasoned meat and fresh, leafy greens.

The first four trays to arrive spanned Bistro Hanger Steak, Sirloin, Yaki-Shabu Beef, and Toro Beef, two of which were to be cooked for 30-45 seconds per side and the other two for 45-60 seconds per side. These cooking instructions proved accurate in the face of a functioning grill. All were tender and enjoyed immensely. The Toro Beef, bearing a high degree of resemblance to samgyeopsal, was set aside by yours truly for later sampling, as to prevent reaching stomach capacity too soon

Subsequent platters of Umakara Ribeye and garlicy strips of New York Steak were delivered after the first round of plates had been collected. The staged arrival, whether intentional or not, was a considerate gesture to prevent the table from become utterly cluttered.
Slightly peppery was the Ribeye, while thick and chewy was the New York Steak. Being thicker, wider cuts of meat, we were advised to grill each side between 60-90 seconds to ensure doneness.

A foreboding sense of warmth began to creep up on me. In order to properly combat the heating properties of beef, I appealed for a glass of iced green tea. Our server responded that green tea would only be served hot, and alternatives would mean resorting to Arizona-style, sweetened iced tea.
"Would you be able to give me green tea with a lot of ice in it?" I asked.
"I can try." He responded.
Minutes later, I was graced with the welcome sight of room temperature green tea in a plastic cup.
"The ice melted." Our server began.
Frankly, he needed not to apologize, for I merely sought a cooling fluid that could consumed quickly without fear of scalding myself. The cup's contents served the intended purpose sufficiently.

View the full album HERE !

Towards the end of the meal, we reminded our server of the reason for our visit. Birthday celebrations, as we were told, would entail complimentary ice cream - either vanilla or green tea. Once again, I turned towards the latter, because cooling foods weren't optional when faced with a meal exclusively constructed of beef.

​I was met with the most pleasant of surprises when my birthday treat came with not just a candle and bonus S'mores, but also a paper crown with cow horns and a celebratory performance! Three members of staff approached our table with flashing tambourines and a large "Happy Birthday" sign bearing the Gyu-Kaku logo, singing "Happy Birthday" while presenting the my complimentary dessert. Absolutely delighted by the unexpected congratulatory event, I grinned from ear to ear and thanked the team earnestly for making my day.

​Our server came around a few more times afterwards: twice for the delivery of takeout boxes (one additional trip for a forgotten miso soup container), once for the bill and to introduce the Gyu-Kaku mobile app, and yet another to supplement takeout portions of S'Mores, given that he had omitted them from our BBQ course and turned the stove off upon our request. The forgetfulness was rather amusing.

Similar to before, diners could obtain up to four hours (a significant upgrade from the two-hour period previously!) of complimentary parking by requesting a validation ticket at the reception desk before departure.

We ventured over to Square One afterwards in an attempt to walk off feelings of satiation.
While the weekend was indeed upon us, the mall was far busier than we had fathomed. Barely two steps could be taken without being ruthless bulldozed by other mall visitors. People were zipped left and right at every possible angle, filling every possible inch of space with their lethargic, heat-generating presence.

A queue had formed outside the shopping centre's latest opening of kiokii and... Within the store were more patrons than the aisles and cashier could accommodate. I was glad to have found somewhat affordable earrings, for Cocomolo is, at best, only accessible on an annual basis. The expanse of Japanese, Korean, and Chinese beauty brands was impressive, though the random knickknacks and snacks were ill-fitting and distributed erratically.

The checkout line spanned roughly ten minutes. It was only until after payment that the cashier returned a receipt bearing red text on it: "Final Sale". This status had not been advertised whatsoever within the store, nor informed verbally at the time of purchase - a poor practice lacking transparency if I do declare.

I meandered my way towards Sephora, a visit stemming from the misfortune of product depletion. Pushy, unruly crowds and tedious lineups were braved for a single innisfree purchase.

I meandered my way towards Sephora, a visit stemming from the misfortune of product depletion. Pushy, unruly crowds and tedious lineups were braved for a single innisfree purchase.

New openings in the mall included Fox Home, Abbey's Bakehouse (replacing the baked goods window adjacent to REDS), and the nooks (previously seen at Metrotown).

Beside Simons, I caught sight of "Baking Soon" signage: Saint Germain was coming to town!

​Back in the calmer parts of the city, I acquired a Mango Green Tea with Strawberry Popping Pearls to pair alongside the remainder of our beefy leftovers. The drink was a tad excessive even at 30% sweetness; the portion of toppings was incredulous, however hardly an element of affection.