The "spring forward" portion of Daylight Savings is not one many anticipate, sheerly on the basis on losing one hour of sleep in the process. Notwithstanding this inconvenience is the gradual gain of natural illumination during waking hours, which is usually appreciated by most, if not all, of the working class - natural night owls excluded, of course.
My browsing companion was running late and arrived nearly thirty minutes later than scheduled, a rare occurrence given our prominent differences in punctuality. Our arrival at First Markham Place was delayed by roughly the same duration, extended even later by an impromptu stopover at LCBO.
My browsing companion was running late and arrived nearly thirty minutes later than scheduled, a rare occurrence given our prominent differences in punctuality. Our arrival at First Markham Place was delayed by roughly the same duration, extended even later by an impromptu stopover at LCBO.
Hailing from yours truly, the proposal had, surprisingly, resulted in a brief visit devoid of purchases. For once, the assortment before me failed to spark curiosity. Moreover, my sake stash had been replenished not too long ago.
With flurries flittering about First Markham Place, we braved the gusty trek across the asphalt lot and dove into Oomomo. My roster of to-buy items was limited: a coffee filter case, plastic pouch, and compartmentalized jewellery case were the primary items of interest.
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Instead, I walked out with a far grander amount than the aforementioned trio. Cookie rolling rulers of 5 mm thickness, piping bags of various sizes, piping tips, a lavender storage bin, noodle ladle, and silica gel packets had also made their way into my basket. Asahi Dry Zero Free was nowhere to be spotted.
Meanwhile, my browsing companion had a blast roaming the aisles, also acquiring a handful of unplanned purchases.
Meanwhile, my browsing companion had a blast roaming the aisles, also acquiring a handful of unplanned purchases.
Navigating between the kitchen and craft sections, we bumped into my Birthday Buddy on the hunt for a "bag strap". The encounter marked my second instance of chancing across a highly familiar face far from home.
Our second session at Dal Pilates had been scheduled for 5 PM as opposed to the 7 PM slot of the previous weeks. As such, we were required to make haste and depart York Region within minutes of the clock hitting 4 PM. Naturally, this meant that desires for egg waffles, HK Milk Tea, and claw machines would be postponed till a later date to prioritize my companion's browsing needs. The earlier slot also meant relinquishing slightly pricier parking fees (as the day maximum rate wouldn't persist until 6 PM) and laying eyes on the studio surroundings during daylight hours.
At the time of our departure the previous week, we had been informed that the instructors guiding our trial session and first class would be returning to Korea. Consequently, our third visit (second "official" session) would be taken over by a different instructor. The receptionist had expressed that class assignments were the responsibility of the owner, and that it would be difficult to confirm the information until our arrival.
With an approximate twenty-minute buffer period for changing and washroom breaks, we earned ourselves dynamic warm-up time before the instructor revealed herself, smiling with a medium length balayage half-updo. Consistent with our experiences thus far, she did not introduce her name; that said, she did provide a warm welcome with an opening statement of "I am your instructor today." (Though, it still remains somewhat surprising to not be inquired of existing pain or injuries before starting the class, for the question was posed consistently at Sum Pilates and Studio Bon.) I later learned that her name was Jin, short for "Jinyoung" (!!!).
From the getgo, the most apparent difference was her frequent cueing and direction. Demonstrations were also conducted on the Reformer for clarity before starting. She was exceptionally friendly, with a gentle, soothing tone of voice which led me to believe that she would be great working with kids as well.
In order to simplify the inhale/exhale counts and link the breath to the appropriate movement, she would produce exaggerated breathing sounds while also incorporating gestures to describe the exercises and prompt imagery. This was particularly helpful as it removed uncertainty towards the breathing aspect and pace of the sequence.
We commenced sitting on the Reformer, with one leg draped over each side of the frame, feet gracing the floor. With hands placed on the footbar, the arms would be extended, pushing the Carriage away from the footbar. In the extended position, one was to draw the chest close to the Carriage while preventing the hips from lifting. This was intended a combined upper back and hip stretch. After a few reps, we would hold the extended position and rotate the body in either direction on the exhale to improve upper body mobility - a facet emphasized in my beloved standing mobility workout from Well+Good.
While executing this exercise, I couldn't help but grimace at the sight of hair stuck wedged into the gear bar slot. More dark strands seemed to surround the Reformer, ultimately falling upon the platform extender underneath. At witnessing several attempts to blow the hair away, the instructor apologized and slipped away to grab a dyson vacuum for quick cleanup. The gesture was greatly appreciated, for I had found myself exuding tension while restraining proximity from the human fibres in question.
With an approximate twenty-minute buffer period for changing and washroom breaks, we earned ourselves dynamic warm-up time before the instructor revealed herself, smiling with a medium length balayage half-updo. Consistent with our experiences thus far, she did not introduce her name; that said, she did provide a warm welcome with an opening statement of "I am your instructor today." (Though, it still remains somewhat surprising to not be inquired of existing pain or injuries before starting the class, for the question was posed consistently at Sum Pilates and Studio Bon.) I later learned that her name was Jin, short for "Jinyoung" (!!!).
From the getgo, the most apparent difference was her frequent cueing and direction. Demonstrations were also conducted on the Reformer for clarity before starting. She was exceptionally friendly, with a gentle, soothing tone of voice which led me to believe that she would be great working with kids as well.
In order to simplify the inhale/exhale counts and link the breath to the appropriate movement, she would produce exaggerated breathing sounds while also incorporating gestures to describe the exercises and prompt imagery. This was particularly helpful as it removed uncertainty towards the breathing aspect and pace of the sequence.
We commenced sitting on the Reformer, with one leg draped over each side of the frame, feet gracing the floor. With hands placed on the footbar, the arms would be extended, pushing the Carriage away from the footbar. In the extended position, one was to draw the chest close to the Carriage while preventing the hips from lifting. This was intended a combined upper back and hip stretch. After a few reps, we would hold the extended position and rotate the body in either direction on the exhale to improve upper body mobility - a facet emphasized in my beloved standing mobility workout from Well+Good.
While executing this exercise, I couldn't help but grimace at the sight of hair stuck wedged into the gear bar slot. More dark strands seemed to surround the Reformer, ultimately falling upon the platform extender underneath. At witnessing several attempts to blow the hair away, the instructor apologized and slipped away to grab a dyson vacuum for quick cleanup. The gesture was greatly appreciated, for I had found myself exuding tension while restraining proximity from the human fibres in question.
Shortly afterwards, we transitioned into a lying position in preparation for leg extensions (Reformer squats). The movement would commence with both feet together, then later transition into a turnout position and feet placed parallel at shoulder distance apart. Both of us were urged to "engage the inner thighs". To assist in execution of proper form, a pilates ball was summoned from the props shelf and placed between our legs, just above the knees. Naturally, this would involve spacing the feet slightly apart, however helped tremendously with activating the correct muscles. This was precisely the utilization of props I had expected from last week's instructor, contrary to placing hands before knees and fists beside thighs.
From the lying position, we transitioned into Hundreds variations with the feet, specifically the "ball" of the foot, fed through the tension straps. The legs would be extended outwards from tabletop position, with the instructor noting a neutral spine in the lengthened position and an imprint spine in the "return" position. On a number of occasions, she'd urge me to "shorten the distance" between my ribs as a way of effectively engaging the core, all while drawing her fingers close for visual impact. The first round involved an "Inhale to prepare; exhale to extend" breathing sequence. Interestingly, she swapped the breathing afterwards to "Inhale to extend; exhale to return" after 8 counts. We also did thigh openers and Double Ds - in both directions - with the head rested down.
Next, the tension straps were transferred to the hands. From there, we executed slow crunches into tablestop position before transitioning to a brief upper body routine. Straight arm pull-downs required engagement of the lats ("Use your armpits!"), while lateral raises were a true testament of control. Where I had been instructed to prevent the Carriage from moving while moving in and out of the V-shape arm formation, my neighbour was reminded to keep the pelvis still. Unsurprisingly, the latter was the harder variation for me, though the tension straps had been adjusted to the appropriate level of challenge, unlike The Pilates Body, which is often too heavy on the upper body, too light on the lower body, and too heavy for warm-up with the Cardio Tramp.
Concluding the core series was a two-part routine starting with a tabletop crunch, then a hold and inhale to prepare, followed by extending the legs to a 45-degree angle while exhaling. If the previous moves hadn't already challenged one's stability, this combination move was definitely successful in rendering a core and leg burn. Astoundingly clear instructions on WHEN to breathe and WHAT type of spine position was especially helpful.
From the lying position, we transitioned into Hundreds variations with the feet, specifically the "ball" of the foot, fed through the tension straps. The legs would be extended outwards from tabletop position, with the instructor noting a neutral spine in the lengthened position and an imprint spine in the "return" position. On a number of occasions, she'd urge me to "shorten the distance" between my ribs as a way of effectively engaging the core, all while drawing her fingers close for visual impact. The first round involved an "Inhale to prepare; exhale to extend" breathing sequence. Interestingly, she swapped the breathing afterwards to "Inhale to extend; exhale to return" after 8 counts. We also did thigh openers and Double Ds - in both directions - with the head rested down.
Next, the tension straps were transferred to the hands. From there, we executed slow crunches into tablestop position before transitioning to a brief upper body routine. Straight arm pull-downs required engagement of the lats ("Use your armpits!"), while lateral raises were a true testament of control. Where I had been instructed to prevent the Carriage from moving while moving in and out of the V-shape arm formation, my neighbour was reminded to keep the pelvis still. Unsurprisingly, the latter was the harder variation for me, though the tension straps had been adjusted to the appropriate level of challenge, unlike The Pilates Body, which is often too heavy on the upper body, too light on the lower body, and too heavy for warm-up with the Cardio Tramp.
Concluding the core series was a two-part routine starting with a tabletop crunch, then a hold and inhale to prepare, followed by extending the legs to a 45-degree angle while exhaling. If the previous moves hadn't already challenged one's stability, this combination move was definitely successful in rendering a core and leg burn. Astoundingly clear instructions on WHEN to breathe and WHAT type of spine position was especially helpful.
The instructor had expressed a desire to include one more core exercise, though admitted that we had run out of time for the session. Similar to the previous class, a hip flexor and hamstring stretch was performed with one leg on the ground and one foot against the shoulder rest. Again, I could not avoid having my pelvis positioning rectified. But the approach to form correction varied vastly from the prior session: a milder warning that incited understanding for at-home practice. Afterwards, we would rotate to face the wall parallel to the Carriage. One foot would be placed against the frame of the Reformer in a slight turnout position, while the other would be positioned against the shoulder rest. Keeping the standing leg still, the leg on the Carriage would bend and extend, introducing much-needed movement to the hip area after core work. In spite of its seemingly easy appearance, the move demanded an incredible amount of control for isolation of the inner thigh (extension and contraction) as well as engagement of the glute med to maintain one's balance.
Throughout the class, I had forgotten to take note of the spring tensions used. Not only had the instructor been observant, but she was also swift in her movements, an indication of experience. That said, the exercises performed provided a good deal of challenge, despite resulting in minimal soreness. The pace was slower than the standard group class, but retained a familiar vibe. Surprisingly, there were no pulses whatsoever! Admittedly, there was greater emphasis on mobility and range of motion, while staying in control of one's body.
Following the session, we were asked to confirm attendance by providing our initials. When presented with the option to keep our current instructor, Jin, going forward, I eagerly responded with the affirmative. Her method of teaching resembled the group classes to which I had grown accustomed and enjoyed dearly, while her instructions proved as precise and informative as that of a private class.
While my pilates partner reverted to casual attire, the receptionist and I began to exchange opinions over her studio playlist. The conversation quickly progressed into excited squeals over MONSTA X and her bias Shownu. Needless to say, I also couldn't resist exposing my love for GOT7 and Jinyoung, which led to a discussion of his breathtaking presence in Yumi's Cells.
Throughout the class, I had forgotten to take note of the spring tensions used. Not only had the instructor been observant, but she was also swift in her movements, an indication of experience. That said, the exercises performed provided a good deal of challenge, despite resulting in minimal soreness. The pace was slower than the standard group class, but retained a familiar vibe. Surprisingly, there were no pulses whatsoever! Admittedly, there was greater emphasis on mobility and range of motion, while staying in control of one's body.
Following the session, we were asked to confirm attendance by providing our initials. When presented with the option to keep our current instructor, Jin, going forward, I eagerly responded with the affirmative. Her method of teaching resembled the group classes to which I had grown accustomed and enjoyed dearly, while her instructions proved as precise and informative as that of a private class.
While my pilates partner reverted to casual attire, the receptionist and I began to exchange opinions over her studio playlist. The conversation quickly progressed into excited squeals over MONSTA X and her bias Shownu. Needless to say, I also couldn't resist exposing my love for GOT7 and Jinyoung, which led to a discussion of his breathtaking presence in Yumi's Cells.
With external conditions growing windier by the minute, we proceeded to trek northbound towards my supper pick of the day: Midori Ramen. Chilly days call for entrées of hot broth after all.
Entering into the space through their glass double doors, guests were welcomed by a large red LED sign. The Kanji could be interpreted as "soul", aligning with the eatery's slogan of "Soul in every bowl".
Entering into the space through their glass double doors, guests were welcomed by a large red LED sign. The Kanji could be interpreted as "soul", aligning with the eatery's slogan of "Soul in every bowl".
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Seating adopted the form of wooden tables situated along the north and south walls. Near the entrance was a rectangular bar counter featuring a bonsai centrepiece and mirrors along the side. Although we had initially been offered seating at this location, my dining partner opted for a two-seater immediately adjacent the kitchen. The decision had irked me slightly, for being next to the food delivery corridor meant potential spills, frequent passing of staffing, and inevitable exposure to cooking fumes.
The tables were positioned with minimal space between them. Slippery, low back rests risked jackets and belongings plummeting to the floor (which mine did), though patrons have the option of using baskets underneath the seat for temporary storage. Some booths even offered outlets underneath for charging.
The tables were positioned with minimal space between them. Slippery, low back rests risked jackets and belongings plummeting to the floor (which mine did), though patrons have the option of using baskets underneath the seat for temporary storage. Some booths even offered outlets underneath for charging.
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Between us, appetizers of Takowasabi and Aigamo Tataki would be shared. The duo, which rang in at $6.99 and $8.99 respectively, had been chosen over the three-piece Appetizer Flight on the bases of uniqueness and portion size.
The izakaya staple of Takowasabi is no newcomer to the table of any Japanese restaurant. Over the years, I've sampled renditions from MeNami, Katsuya (both in-store and takeout), Kinka (both on Bloor and at York/Harbour), and Zakkushi. Most are passable bordering on tasty, with a handful erring on the side of being excessively sodium-laden. Midori's variation also included an evident handful of sodium, but wasn't overly salty. Rather, the tacky mix of chopped octopus, celery bits, and one stray strand of carrot was potent, causing the eyes to swell with tears involuntarily. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable starter, and paired wonderfully with crisp, adequately-sized sheets of nori for wrapping.
The izakaya staple of Takowasabi is no newcomer to the table of any Japanese restaurant. Over the years, I've sampled renditions from MeNami, Katsuya (both in-store and takeout), Kinka (both on Bloor and at York/Harbour), and Zakkushi. Most are passable bordering on tasty, with a handful erring on the side of being excessively sodium-laden. Midori's variation also included an evident handful of sodium, but wasn't overly salty. Rather, the tacky mix of chopped octopus, celery bits, and one stray strand of carrot was potent, causing the eyes to swell with tears involuntarily. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable starter, and paired wonderfully with crisp, adequately-sized sheets of nori for wrapping.
Aigamo Tataki constituted five slices of skin-on, sous-vide duck breast served with ponzu and fresh scallions. The brilliant rings of emerald had likely been blanched in hot water for a few seconds before immediately being plunged into an ice bath to remove pungency, easily earning my stamp of approval in the absence of sore throat symptoms. Notably more delicate than the standard duck breast, the dish was a delicious, palatable introduction to the protein source due to its distinct lack of gamey-ness.
While reviewing the drink menu, it occurred to me that Asahi Black was no longer available. Godspeed Yuzu had been sampled previously and left a weak, forgettable impression; meanwhile, Godspeed Ochame was refreshing, but not exclusive. Process of elimination led me to inquire of the ramen house's "House Sake". The waitress expressed uncertainty, as did other members of staff.
"It's just our house sake. It comes in a bottle and we pour it out for you in a sake flask." A man with a sleeve tattoo attempted to explain.
Of course I know that. I geared the subsequent question in hopes of achieving clarity, "Do you know what brand it is? Am I able to see the bottle?"
As the serving staff retreated to the kitchen, a man perched nearby with his bubble tea piped up. "You know soju?" He said, his glasses sliding down his tanned face just slightly, "It's like soju but not Korean. Sake is just the Japanese version."
Too stunned at his obvious declaration to speak, I merely winced and managed a meek "Ah, yeah." while "No duh. Do you think I'm stupid?!" echoed in my mind.
"It's just our house sake. It comes in a bottle and we pour it out for you in a sake flask." A man with a sleeve tattoo attempted to explain.
Of course I know that. I geared the subsequent question in hopes of achieving clarity, "Do you know what brand it is? Am I able to see the bottle?"
As the serving staff retreated to the kitchen, a man perched nearby with his bubble tea piped up. "You know soju?" He said, his glasses sliding down his tanned face just slightly, "It's like soju but not Korean. Sake is just the Japanese version."
Too stunned at his obvious declaration to speak, I merely winced and managed a meek "Ah, yeah." while "No duh. Do you think I'm stupid?!" echoed in my mind.
When the bottle eventually emerged from the back, Gekkeikan was determined as Midori's House Sake of choice. Having not stocked my household with the particular variety, I was quick to request the 90 ml portion.
The flask arrived filled to the brim. Despite pouring carefully, a splatter of sake on the table could not be avoided. Responding briskly, the waitress - this time a seemingly more veteran one - offered napkins for our use. Gekkeikan featured a profile comparable to a lager in beer terms: light and easy to pair alongside a variety of dishes without influencing their intended properties. Of the $8.99 serving, I likely depleted six to seven dollars' worth.
The flask arrived filled to the brim. Despite pouring carefully, a splatter of sake on the table could not be avoided. Responding briskly, the waitress - this time a seemingly more veteran one - offered napkins for our use. Gekkeikan featured a profile comparable to a lager in beer terms: light and easy to pair alongside a variety of dishes without influencing their intended properties. Of the $8.99 serving, I likely depleted six to seven dollars' worth.
Deducible from its chicken head logo, Midori Ramen was known for Paitan (白湯), a milky, white broth brewed from chicken as opposed to the typical tonkotsu (pork bone). As such, our picks strayed not from the signature broth: Tori Buta with Thin Noodles for the one across me and Signature Tori Paitan with Thick Noodles (upon the waitress' recommendation) for myself. Identical in both bowls was the broth base of paitan, scallions, pork chashu, ajitsuke tamago (ramen egg), and scallions. However, Tori Buta would feature six pieces of pork chashu, while Signature Tori Paitan housed two to three pieces of pork chashu and chicken chashu each. Supplementing the latter would be gobo (burdock), Aosa sea lettuce, and red onion (excluded in my case).
The bowl housed a sizable serving - likely a meal and a half for someone of my appetite levels. At its given price of $18.99, I was quite pleased with the generous inclusions of protein as well the ramen egg, the most important topping for me. Creamy and delicious, the paitan was an unmistakably complex and flavourful formula capable of delivering satisfaction without rendering feelings of satiation. I thoroughly enjoyed the broth, even more so with the wonderfully aromatic additions of crumbled sea lettuce and textured bites of burdock. Shimmering and supple was the pork chashu. On the other hand, the chicken chashu was noticeably leaner, being slices of chicken breast, but still impressively tender and smooth. It was, frankly, unlike any chicken breast I'd sampled before, and most definitely more enjoyable than my blanched specimens at home. Perhaps the treatment process used a salt brine to start?
My sole gripe was that the exterior of the yolk was fully cooked, causing the yolk to detach from the white. Albeit a golden, gummy centre, the whites hadn't been marinated at all, consequently surrendering umami potential. Sweet corn kernels would have been a nice addition as well.
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For once, my dining partner began rushing me while capturing photos. As I poked away at the toppings and paced myself through the broth, the composition one-and-a-half feet before me vanished rapidly. "Thin noodles are better" I was informed, yet the opportunity to sample had been surrendered in my quest for leisurely consumption.
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Notwithstanding the sake setback, Midori had succeeded in providing a comprehensively wonderful meal. In particular, the chicken broth assumed the highlight, possessing robust qualities while proving eliminating the sickening aftereffects of tonkotsu broth (think Kinton).
Washrooms were situated on the lower level of the establishment, a remarkably clean and newly renovated basement. The stalls were equally pristine, with a modern-looking black sink and powerful dyson hand dryer. Doors were even equipped with wave-to-open accessibility pads!
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For the rest of the evening, we would continue exploring businesses in the vicinity until sundown.
In addition to K-Jimi, Upper East Food Club was observed to welcome a Japanese Curry Stew kiosk by the name of Stuu Stuu.
In addition to K-Jimi, Upper East Food Club was observed to welcome a Japanese Curry Stew kiosk by the name of Stuu Stuu.
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M Brand was explored once more, this time free of parking violations. A'Pieu's Green Tea and Freesia roll-on fragrances were met with instant intrigue. Each stick retailed at $9.99, prompting purchasing contemplation. For the time being, I resorted to conserving funds and evaluating Freesia worn on my browsing companion instead.
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A visit to Don't Yell At Me is best executed after the skies have dimmed, for it allows customers to relish in their intentionally hazy lighting setup.
Brown Sugar Ginger Tea and Maple Ceylon Milk Tea were taken to go. While the first was utterly gingery and preferable to The Alley, the second beverage was seriously aromatic and filled the space with maple.
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Stopping over at H Mart at Yonge/Church, we laid eyes on costly day-end Coffee Kaya Buns, Korean energy drinks, shabu shabu rolls, and $1.99 Melona bars.
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I voiced desire for the Pistachio edition, and we took to reviewing the dessert within the warmth of Empress Walk.
Amongst the better flavours from the chain (with coconut being a close contender), the treat was creamy, nutty, and not particularly cloying. Once my freezer clears, I vow to obtain a box for my own enjoyment.
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