Out & About #978 | Akko Delights, Eaton Updates + Free Dunkaroos

It suffices to say that sudden developments can cause strategically scheduled activities to come to a screeching halt. Baking has been postponed on the bases of fatigue and comparatively higher-priority issues. My ingredients are observed to wither with time, as does my soul and once non-exhaustible source of energy.

Collapsing into bed after a late Friday night, I resurrected some nine hours later and commenced chores. About the mid-day mark, I took to constructing an Espresso Martini as a pick-me-up. Equal parts vodka, cold brew, and Kahlua were instructed, prompting 1 oz. of each component to be poured into my go-to pint glass.

The resulting concentrate was obnoxiously sweet - likely intended for sipping as a post-supper dessert, but surely not for the average weekend afternoon. Not even a copious amount of ice, a greater proportion of cold brew (my own, of course), nor water could salvage the formula. A fellow coffee fiend recommended a shot of espresso, which I mentally slotted away for testing on the next opportunity.

​The following day came errands. Over the span of one week, I'd make my third Walmart visit.

Broken storage bins had led me to the department store's outpost in Oakville, the nicer area of Uptown Core. Customer service had been friendly and reasonable, albeit not particularly efficient. Upon concluding my mission, I retreated back to the parking lot, where an altercation over a stolen bicycle was witnessed. A middle-aged man and sweats-donning teenager tugged away at the red frame, eventually taking the brawl beyond the store entrance and onto the asphalt access path. Walmart security followed closely behind the duo. One of the teenager's two backpacks hit the ground with an audible clang, yet he batted not an eyelash and sped off with the bike.

It was an admittedly shocking scene to witness given the time of day, and even more so the neighbourhood reputation. The scene led me to recall the woes of a long-time, low-income resident: continual development of the GTA meant a gradual transition from the calm suburbs to the clamour of an urban city.

​Departing the area, I continued with errands at BTrust and, upon confirmation of cash on hand, Akko Cake House.

​The early hour ensured a wide assortment of buns for my plucking, in addition to fresh trays of egg tarts emerging during my brief stay. I emerged with a decent-sized haul, all for just $11.30.
Take note: Any paper boxes now incur additional charges. For commuters or careless consumers, one may wish to bring along a reusable container to ensure structural integrity, or risk dented buns and smashed egg tarts.

My picks included the following:

• Pineapple Bun
• Hot Dog Bun
• Butter Egg Tart
• Flaky Egg Tart
• Pineapple BBQ Pork Bun
• BBQ Pork Bun
• Pineapple Pastry (Fenglisu)

Devoured over the next few hours were the Butter Egg Tart, half of the Pineapple BBQ Pork Bun, and half of the Pineapple Pastry. The Egg Tart was silky, scrumptious, and gratifying, as expected of Akko. The Pineapple BBQ Pork Bun would earn similar commentary, surpassing the low bar set forth by Hong Kong Island Bakery's miserable oniony concoction and replacing the gustatory experience with delight.

​Boasting promising visuals was the Pineapple Pastry: golden on both sides and bearing the signature square-rectangular shape. The crumb was tender, yet not overly crumbly like Isabelle's from Costco; the filling adopted a golden, thready texture, but was one-dimensionally sweet and devoid of the distinctive acidic notes of pineapple. In conclusion, Akko's rendition was superior in terms of crust, but surprisingly not as flavourful as the wintermelon-based filling of Isabelle's. Naturally, it was also much, much better than T&T's.

The trend of storebought snacks would continue, for the unresolved stress-filled sequences clouded my mind, replacing creative freedom and boundless energy with worry and fatigue.

​Black Sesame and Peanut Glutinous Rice Balls from T&T were prepared as a post-lunch treat. Rock crystal sugar was used to form a simple syrup to pair alongside. While most Chinese-style dessert shops will offer bases of yellow rock sugar (possibly infused with ginger), our household version has often been clear 糖水.

​A healthier snack alternative was a ripe Del Monte pineapple. The tropical fruit is often procured on sale with variable quality. Too often have I sampled ripe but rotten ones, or those bearing utterly bland interiors. While this one was quite small with thick skin and a thick core, its golden, fleshy interior was absolutely splendid and delicious.

Other items consumed include: Frozen Broccoli, the last slice of Dr. Oetker Pepperoni Pizza, Stir-Fried Eggplant with Pork, Steamed Pork with Tofu, All Bran cereal with Banana, and, the pivotal bowel movement regulator of Restoralax.

In the blink of an eye, Monday came to a close. Downing a glass of Yuzu Choya before bed has been a poor choice on my part. The late consumption of sake or wine rarely leads to restful slumber.

​Admittedly woozy after just five hours of sleep, I made the trip downtown, only to find being in the office less productive than at home. In spite of the improved connection to the network drives, the floor had filled with a rowdy crowd. This group made for incessant noise levels, be it calls, in-person chatter, or meeting room celebrations.

I settled for my headphones in an attempt to concentrate, then later surrendered and opted for perusal of P1HARMONY tickets instead. With friend assistance, we successfully obtained somewhat budget-friendly tickets for their May concert in Toronto.

​Lunchtime would fill with rain and ominous skies, with a side of thunder and lightning. These vile conditions did not stop residents of the streets from lounging near vents and crosswalks though, for they appeared to embrace the distinctly above-seasonal conditions with glee.

​My mid-day saunter was brief as to accommodate for a 1 PM meeting. Errands were conducted at Atrium on Bay, followed by a quick gander at the concourse-level LCBO. There, I noted the availability of Sho Chiku Bai and the availability of Soon Hari soju domestically. Singha had also made a comeback to the refrigerated shelves.

Venturing to the Eaton Centre next due to need for shelter, I spotted Ahgabong Version 3 at Sukoshi Mart. It retailed for a whopping $99! Meanwhile, my own had been less than half of that price - thank goodness for overseas connections!

Other observations spanned the following:

• A sale at The North Face comprising of mainly men's jackets witb few options for women
• The Face Shop officially disappearing from the second floor, just two weeks after holding their clearout sale
• Signage erected for the former Richtree Market at the south end of the mall, indicating the new name of Queen's Cross Food Hall and its vendors
• A 20% off Friends & Family Optimum event at Shoppers Drug Mart, enabling a replenished inventory of hair treatment products (investment in Lindt Dark Chocolate Bunnies were resisted, however)
• A heartbreaking Buy 1 Get 1 Free offer on Sulley gloves at Miniso

I then rushed back just in time to attend my meeting. From my lofty window seat, I'd shudder at the tragic conditions beyond my window, drowning concerns in a Hidden Heart Pound Cake slice, Carrot Pound Cake (sans cream cheese frosting), and the last Isabelle Pineapple Cake from Costco.

​The next office day saw distinctly chillier temperatures and a staggering amount of complimentary office snacks.

First was none other than a cookie duo of Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Raisin from my fellow baking coworker. Both had apparently been based off of Sally's Baking Addiction in the form of a "blondie-like cookie"; having never seen success from Sally nor been a big fan of blondies, my expectations were immediately lowered.

Truth be told: the chocolate chip cookie lacked the crunchy edges and soft, chewy interior I had been anticipating. It was, disappointingly, not a far cry from the mushy, dismal Bear Claws I'd been offered from elementary school children in my tutoring days. Meanwhile, the oatmeal cookie was equally soft, reeked of baking soda, and satiating without little to no textural variation beyond the inclusion of raisins. It would seem that the oats had disintegrated over the mixing process or been pulverized into finer pieces in advance of compilation.

​Distribution of full-sized Dunkaroos boxes had been advertised heavily on social media. I was one of the few who had learned of the opportunity from the Union Station events page in the days leading up to the event, though marketing using short videos and FOMO tactics drew younger crowds to the transit hub for their fill of sugar. The line was likely the longest of any sample provision I had witnessed, snaking around at least four times before reaching the counter.

As with the patties of the previous week, the line moved quickly, and I soon departed with my own box of dunk-able cookies.

​After browsing Decathlon for gloves and socks, I returned to the booth hoping to see chocolate variations being gifted. My silent desires were not answered: a second box of Vanilla Cookies with Rainbow Sprinkle Frosting accompanied me back to the office. Each box comprised of six packets, the dip within ultimately proving too sweet to handle.

Oddly enough, more sustenance awaited in the shared kitchen. Chicken Pesto, penne, and mixed peppers originated from one team meeting, while Krispy Kreme donuts another.

​Shocking was the sudden overload of snacks.

​I proceeded to devour the last item from my Akko haul, their signature Pineapple Bun, and opted to set aside one Original Glazed Donut for later consumption.