Out & About #984 | Mystic Muffin, More Thai + Air-Fryer Bacon

​Few things are more enthralling than good food and a well-executed exercise session, except, of course, a GOT7 comeback or world tour maybe.

The Mini Stability Ball has proven a wonderful addition to my roster of pilates props, exceeding usage rate of the pilates ring significantly. Acquisition of a proper cloth resistance band was also fruitful, for it yielded soreness like never before - and at just $0.99 plus tax!

On my first office day, I ventured downtown with a breakfast of oatmeal and banana in tow. A few packaged snacks were also slipped into my container, though I hadn't bothered with defrosting my existing freezer stash. (I'll blame the inconsistent spring-summer-winter climate for this decision.)

​The chilly morning was expected to transition to balmy conditions in the low teens in the afternoon, making clothing choice a travesty. Eventually, I settled on my go-to look of black pants, black sneakers, and long-sleeved shirt and Taiga zip-up vest

While searching for budget-friendly finds on the World Wide Web, I chanced across a Reddit thread. Embedded within the comments, I discovered Mystic Muffin. Its location at Richmond and Jarvis was deemed feasible for the lunchtime walk - after all, I've made it Third Wave Coffee a handful of times without issues.

Advertised - not once, but twice! - on its storefront as a business in its 30th year of operation, the long-time diner had somehow went unnoticed despite my passing through the Y-configuration intersection of Richmond East and Jarvis many times.

​The interior was as Google Reviews had depicted: a cozy space with checkered tiling, casual seating, and ample space for circulation of takeout customers.

During my brief visit, I was definitely not alone in the store. A few middle-aged patrons, nearby office workers in their early thirties, and even a good number of young faces joined me. The younger crowd, along with myself (whom I do not really consider youthful enough to file into this category), must have seemed perplexed, for the couple manning the counter clarified the different sections of the counter for all in presence: Baked goods to the left and meal items, such as hummus, falafel, and salads, to the right.

I opted for seemingly the most popular item on the menu: Apple Cake. Astoundingly, its price of $3.00 had not been altered since 2019, as per user-uploaded data on Google anyway. A sign by the cashier noted availability of a Half or Whole portion of the cake, while merchandise along the store perimeter read "Mystic Muffin - The Apple Cake Generation", further confirming its coveted status.

Cash, debit, and credit constituted the acceptable methods of payment, however surcharges of 25 cents and 50 cents would be present for the non-cash options of debit and credit respectively. This wasn't unreasonable, for Mystic Muffin appeared to be family-owned (leased?) and -operated. Naturally, I paid in cash to avoid the charge for my small purchase.

I observed in awe as the woman behind the cashier obtained a sizable slab of Apple Cake for placement into a paper bag. Was it really just three dollars?! Upon unveiling it in the office, I learned that it was not only larger than my standard sampling plate, but approximately the same length as a disposable fork. A border piece has been bestowed upon me, blessing my taste buds with the most glorious, crispy edges! Soft chunks of apple provided nice textural variance, but possessed minimal aromas. The cake featured a cinnamon-y interior lighter than it was dense, with a semi-tender crumb and not a hint of baking soda in the aftertaste whatsoever. The surface was sprinkled with sugar for a crunchy top.
My fellow baking enthusiast of a coworker would have loved it as well, first for its serving size and second for its scrumptious palatability. It wasn't difficult to see how the treat had garnered such a loyal following.

​Proceeding northbound along Jarvis towards Gerrard, the next stop of the day involved IKEA for free coffee and more dishcloths at $1.99 each. In hindsight, I ought to have added ice to my insulative tumbler before streaming in the scalding hot brew.

​New items around the store were perused. Their Signature $5.99 bag of coffee appeared to be the only whole bean option in the store. While the grind indeed produced a splendid cup of filter coffee, be it cold brew or pourover, the results were on the acidic side of medium-dark and not quite harmonious with my usual breakfast spread. Despite being a refreshing change to the usual Balzac's Farmer's Blend, the portion was costly in comparison to Costco and lacked the tasting properties required for versatility and longevity.

​Continuing to explored new openings in the area, OHYO Spree was spotted just south of Elm.

The location marked the second outpost of the claw machine venture in the GTA, with this one likely drawing countless students towards the adorable plushies. The inclusions of chips and tea as prizes perplex me, for far more appealing are fuzzy cobs of bow-tie-donning corn.

Without dropping a dime at the game facility, I continued on my way.

Taking note of new and soon-to-come establishments in the area,

• Moolan Lanzhou Beef Noodles has replaced Mou Gou Yan on Yonge, while offering the same style of cuisine
• T&T would be opening on Edward Street between Bay and Yonge in Spring 2025
• Roywoods would be taking over Uncle Tetsu's long-vacated space at the northwest corner of Bay and Dundas

​The day concluded with some degree of frustration, for it appeared that March Break had introduced sluggishness across the GO platforms as well as the station egress points. Already intolerable on weekends, slow walkers and lane-changers are  shall forever be the bane of my existence.

My browsing companion is not one to advocate for variety in sustenance. Beyond Chinese, Japanese, and fast food, there seems little else of interest. Thai restaurants are often excluded on the basis of a deadly allergy, leading me to settle week-long cravings on my own terms.

More Thai, which has rebranded from Mo Thai, was requested from UberEats. The lunch spread comprised of:

• Green Curry (Kheaw Waan) with Chicken
• Chef Mo Pad Thai with Shrimp & Chicken
• Tom Yum Soup with Tofu

Excluded from the order was the quintessential Thai Iced Tea. Spicy, aromatic curries pair heavenly with the sweet, milky beverage, though I saw no benefit to relinquishing $5.95 plus taxes, service fee, delivery fee, and tip for a product I could, in essence, recreate effortless at home.

Courtesy of the Thai ahgase, my household possessed tea leaves imported directly from Thailand. My newer formula has been also been adapted for swifter yield of a single person portion. The approximate measurements would be: 1 cup (250 ml) of concentrated Thai tea, 2 tbsp of golden yellow sugar, 3-4 tbsp of Coffeemate. Albeit my initial reservations towards the shelf-stable milk substitute, the creamer does wonders for ensuring a smooth mouthfeel without loss of dimension.

Looking to re-experience the piquant profile of my Roasted Tomato & Garlic Soup, Mo Thai Roti Pancakes had been swapped for an appetizer-sized Tom Yum Soup. The soup was sour, delectably tangy, and definitely packed a tart punch. For those capable of handling the heat, the starter was a wonderfully refreshing starter and the ideal side for cutting the grease of stir-fried dishes. However, for the spice-intolerant crowd like myself, the formula caused instant shock and coughing. The inclusions of tomato chunks and mushroom were welcome; tofu was present in the form of tofu puffs, rather than medium-firm or firm tofu. When initially recognized, the cheaper alternative brought dismay. After sampling, one could affirm that the tofu puffs worked surprisingly well in terms of textural contrast and readily absorbed the flavours of the soup for heightened impact. That said, we could barely manage more than a few spoonfuls of the national broth before raising the white flag.

Green Curry, similar to the previously requested Khao Soi, was luscious and extremely fragrant, boasting a coconut cream base tinged with Thai basil. Crunchy broccoli florets (supposedly an abomination in curries), chopped red bell pepper, bamboo shoots, and substantial chunks of eggplant had been included alongside strips of chicken breast. Worth noting was the general tenderness of the protein pick and the structural integrity of the eggplant (read: not mushy). The bowl's contents emerged spicier with subsequent bites, but was incredibly addicting nevertheless. Like the ear pain-inducing Som Tam, I was captivated, even though its innate spice level was well beyond my physical tolerance. 
The dish was served with soft Jasmine rice - thankfully not the rigid grains that often accompany Korean bentos, as I had feared. 

​Chef Mo Pad Thai would assume the singular, spice-free selection of the trio. For an additional charge of three dollars, a mixture of shrimp and chicken would be included. The decision had proven to be a stellar one, for the noodle dish boasted an abundance of shell-on shrimp that even I, one not particularly fond of seafood nor crustaceans, enjoyed thoroughly. The entrée would also utilize thinly-sliced tofu puffs; pan-fried till golden brown, the inclusion offered an entirely different consistency than the softer whole ones used in the Tom Yum Soup, highlighting its versatility as an ingredient. Admittedly, the Pad Thai leaned towards the greasier end of the spectrum, but was phenomenally rich in the flavour of soy. Leftovers were also discovered to pair exceptionally well with blanched gai lan and minced pork with eggplant.

​Other meals of the week consisted of: Steamed Pork with Pickled Turnip and Choy Sum over Rice, Braised Eggplant with Minced Pork and Gai Lan over Rice, Air-Fried Bacon and Chive-Carrot Omelette over Rice.

​Previously prepared and frozen chives and carrots helped tremendously with the last-minute dinner idea. The household's air fryer - not mine - would also assist tremendously in fuss-free crisping of fatty pork strips. Albeit the rather uniform snappiness, bacon could be cooked with ease in small batches of four to five strips, eliminating the hot oil splatters associated with pan-frying.

​The following office day saw distinctly grimmer conditions than the last. While the morning commenced with somewhat bluish skies, greyness and precipitation was predicted to creep up as we eased into the afternoon.

​Initiating my commute from the PATH enabled observation of yet another newcomer. Louis BonBon, a name utterly unfamiliar to me, was slated to open its doors to the public come Monday.

​Breakfast would entail oatmeal with partially successful pineapple jam, a combo I now deem as 鳳梨meal, and a supplementary Isabelle Pineapple Cake.

​The Union-bound trip for Paramount samples on Tuesday had been dismissed in favour a quieter trip to IKEA, as well as determining the validity of a reddit review of Mystic Muffin. But when 1PM on Thursday rolled around, I undertook the southbound trek with an outlook for warm pretzel bites and a first glance at Neo Coffee Bar's newest location in the Exchange Tower.

The first stop was DoorDash's pop-up in the York Concourse. Several uniform-donning staff hovered about the booth, summoning unsuspecting commuters for an unnecessarily long briefing. Contest regulations required downloading the DoorDash app and entering a promotion code after creation of an account. Chances to win have never appealed to me; instead, I inquired, "How can I spin the wheel?" While the lady on duty noted that the fifteen- and fifty-dollar gift cards would only be redeemable via the app, she provided an alternative option for me: One could like the Instagram contest post, which was relatively painless compared to app download. The shallow degree of social media engagement then earned me a spin chance. Budget for the wheel itself felt very limited, for the backing was unlined cardboard and a stopper hadn't even been installed.

I emerged from the booth with a thin, cheap canvas logo bag and slightly crumpled passport with tropical-themed stickers - think pineapple, patties, etc.

Next up was the Wetzel's Pretzels sample booth in the Bay Concourse.

​The stall had just out of samples, consequently resulting in an approximate 10-minute wait for refills. The teensy bite-sized pretzels were average at best, being mostly crust and an odd blend of savoury brushed butter and specks of cinnamon sugar on its surface.

​Overall, the two stops made for a highly underwhelming visit to Union.

Last on the list was Neo Coffee Bar's fourth and newest outpost in the PATH. Previously occupied by a Starbucks, the interior and seating area had been altered to meet the general appearance of their other outposts throughout the downtown core.

​Absolutely bustling with customers, I weaved through the crowd to browse the on-site selection of tea and coffee equipment, then transitioned towards the display case for a gander at their Japanese sando and pastry assortment.

While no purchase was made, I can proudly declare that my footsteps have adorned all locations of the café to date.

Feeling rather hollow, I succumbed to a 15-count pouch of Lindt truffles following continuous  ̶p̶r̶o̶p̶a̶g̶a̶n̶d̶a̶  ̶advertisement of gold Lindt bunnies. The exclusive spring selection was sweeter than desired, with neither Blood Orange, the milk-white Spring Tulip, nor the mixed Neapolitan bringing as much as enjoyment as the classic Milk or indulgent Double Chocolate.

​A swift stopover at Miniso later and I found myself back in the office.

​Alas, the week concluded with more cleaning-related activities lined up. A crisp lager hailing from Cyprus and a solid pilates routine set the tone for weekend productivity.