Since our visit to BNC - er, Tokyo Cheese Cake by BNC - I had been reminded that I had yet to visit Kobi, despite the fact that it was no longer a new opening on the west end.

The opportunity arrived when a Thai ahgase reached out to inform me of her availability. We went about our errands at the mall (Hi Amber!), broke a solid sweat at Playdium, then headed over to the KBBQ restaurant just as rush hour dissipated for the evening.

​One of my greatest fears (and peeves) is arriving at an establishment, famished, only to be told a wait would ensue. Thankfully, this was not the case. Kobi was at approximately 25% capacity when we entered.

There was no host by the entrance. We remained stationary until a middle-aged man looked over at us; "Table for two" I uttered while forming a peace sign. He responded with a slightly annoyed glare, to an extent where I wondered if I had mistaken a patron as a member of managerial staff. My initial hunch was correct, however, for he cast a glance at a younger male who was clad in uniform. I repeated my request to him, at which point he rapidly grabbed two menus and sauntered over to one of the booths. A silent "Please come this way." rang in my head, and we followed suit.

​The booths were quite spacious, comfortably seating two or even four more customers. Its faux suede lining was on the grimier side, with little grey spots here and there; frankly, I hadn't expected the cleanest dining environment anyway. Splashes and spltters are inevitable when one cooks at the table.
Two grills spots were found on the table: one rectangular and the other circular.

​We browsed the menu with scrutiny, for our cravings lay with grilled meat in ssam wraps accompanied with a bubbling ring of egg and/or cheese. There simply wasn't an item that offered this. Ultimately, we settled for the Tofu Kimchi & Pork, swapping the tofu for cheese (at no additional cost), and an order of Beef Dumplings.
The server provided us with hot tea in Stainless steel mugs, side dishes, and, later, a jug of cold water.

The banchan set comprised of: kimchi, pickled cucumbers with red pepper flakes, soft radish strips with broccoli florets, green beans, and rapini. All were tasty and distinctly flavoured, with the rapini earning the highest praise. Neither of us gravitated towards the kimchi, for there was a substantial amount in the entrée already. Kobi's rendition was the middle ground between Nuri Village and Sikgaek: delicious yet not entirely mild. Evident was the heavy usage of 고추가루 (gochugaru).

​The Tofu Kimchi & Pork arrived on a segmented round plate. In the centre was a mixture of kimchi and cooked slices of lean pork (think shabu shabu-style strips), while shredded mozzarella, corn kernels, and a few pieces of pineapple filled the outer ring. Our grill was fired up once the dish had been set on the table, such to melt the cheese ring and maintain warmth of the meat.
Four degrees of spiciness were available: Spicy, Regular, Mild, and Non (none??). We had opted for the "Mild" level. Admittedly, this was more fiery than expected. Given our low tolerances, bowls of rice were requested shortly afterwards. We also drained the cold water as the meal progressed.

​Chinese New Year just doesn't feel complete without witnessing a Lion Dance or a visit from the 財神 (God of Wealth). Although we hadn't seen the bearded man clad in red at our yearly festival visit, we did manage to make it to Square One's Holt Renfrew for the jubilant performance.

​A lion dance team with relatively young members had been invited for the occasion - one duo maneuvering the red dragon, and another a yellow one

​Following the joyous event, we proceeded eastward for bingsoo. Needless to say, the idea had been wholly mine.

BNC Bakery had popped up on Insta-searches several times while researching bingsoo establishments in the vicinity. Too late had I discovered its long-time reign in Mississauga. Apparently, it had been around long before Snowies.

For every mood, mindset, and budget, there's a sushi place.
​
From budget-friendly finds like Banzai (on the West Coast) to semi-annual splurge spots like JaBistro, there is bound to be at least one in the five-kilometre radius fitting of your requirements. (This shall always hold true in urban and suburban communities, unless, of course, you're not fond of raw fish to begin with.)

The newest venture of the Aburi family, led by none other than the team behind Miku, officially landed in Yorkdale not too long ago. First sighted in late August, the two-story eatery officially commenced operations last month. Alongside their classic selection of torched oshizushi, TORA aimed to introduce EdoPrime nigiri while incorporating a tablet-style ordering system and small-scale monorail delivery.

​Positioned near the top of my North York to-go list was TORA, together with more economic Yonge/Finch finds such as Sang-Ji Fried Bao (they were closed during my last attempt) and Eat BKK. The three restaurants were proposed to my dining partner, and the new sushi destination triumphed over all.

​Complying to a first come, first serve basis, it was in our best interest to arrive early - aka at the opening time of 11:30 AM. I pulled into the parking lot on the Dufferin St. entrance, then swiftly made my way past RH Courtyard towards the entrance. The host greeted me immediately, whilst assuring my anxious demeanour that there was no wait at this early hour.

An "Escort Bill" stating the check-in time and party size was printed on the spot. From this point, I was gestured towards a dimly lit corridor which led to a series of elevators, one of which for patron use. TORA's dining area was located on the second floor; it encompassed a large quantity of booth seating in an ambient setting as well as a few stool-equipped tables by the window. Before the booths were two levels of monorail tracks, aimed to transport orders directly from the kitchen once ready. Those that opted for a view of the outside world would be exempt from the monorail experience, though had the advantage of dining in a well-illuminated environment.

I took note of my surroundings while my dining partner was mid-transport. Situated on the table were a drink menu, soy sauce bottle, several soy sauce dishes, condiment cases, and, of course, the ordering tablet. Unlike Miku, there was only one form of soy sauce; Tamari and Shoyu had been replaced with the all-too-familiar commercial-grade dipping sauce. Wasabi and ginger were found in packets, instead of being freshly ground or obtained from the kitchen. Both were of mediocre quality: the pungent horseradish was nowhere as powerful as it should have been, while the yellow ginger scraps were sweet upon first bite but fiery after a few chews. Another interesting element to note was the contrast of thick, monogrammed napkins versus disposable wooden chopsticks. Navy or deep indigo would have suited the overall palette of the decor much better.
With that said, I will admit that I enjoyed having wet napkins within reach. Also appreciated was the grime-free (read: devoid of fingerprints) status of the ordering tablet. Too common is it that the serving staff neglect hygiene levels of such devices.

On that note, I would like to commend the waitstaff during my visit. Despite hovering about for over twenty minutes while waiting, I was not rushed to make an order. Hot water was served (and refilled!), inquiries were answered, and recommendations were given. Several members of the team had served the table; all were extremely amiable, but one in particular was especially so - Hi Linda!!

View the full album HERE !

​Our orders included picks from the Aburi and Nigiri categories, in addition to the exclusive EdoPrime menu.

​I do admit that while I identify a little less with pigs than dogs, traditions are closely adhered to regardless. (I'll have you know: I almost pulled a muscle tackling dust purgation of the entire house unaccompanied.)

As with other years, we made our annual visit to the Chinese New Year Market. This time around, we arrived early enough that parking was not an issue. Thank goodness.

Welcome, winter.

The first snowfall of the season is bound to hit before Chinese New Year, and by February if not in January. That said, snow isn't quite as foreign to us Central Canadians as it is to West Coast-ers and some of our southern neighbours. We are not the type to cease activities because of precipitation. Rather, the adequate services are simply forced into play. Life must continue.

​1) Behold our beautiful blue skies!
2) Another snippet of a CoCo run, as per usual

3) Sonoya has seemingly been replaced (renamed?) Brown Donkatsu
4) Just typical 아가새 things with JJP

​5) Attempting quick s'mores with the few unused digestives lying around the house
6) A pineapple-turned-potato-head microfoam creation
7) Experimenting with waffles while utilizing orangecane's most trusted recipe source ultimately led to the nastiest, stiffest lumps of cooked dough ever. (I'll stick to my regulars next time.)

8) Love Me Sweet (Square One)
​The bakery had introduced bubble tea to their menu towards the end of last year. Seeing as the mall-centric chain does not specialize in such a field,  I was fully informed that quality was not guaranteed.
I steered clear of their ostentatious smoothies and cream caps, opting for an Oolong Milk Tea with Grass Jelly instead. It was a typical combination that allowed little room for error; the absence of complication was the very reason why it was chosen.

​There comes a time where one must engage in a trade off between efficiency and sanity. While meticulously packing up my study setup is more than just time-consuming, the need to present myself as a proper human being to the rest of the world surfaces on occasion.

In a world where working acquaintances are widespread and unemployed vehicle-equipped companions are few, making last-minute plans almost never follow through. This wasn't a huge deal to me, since I had a few solo activities to accomplish and was more than ready to engross myself with. (Amongst these was the latest episode of Real Thai, which had aired several days prior. Of course, it had taken a considerable amount of willpower to filtrate out the spoiler screencaps.)

​Few spots in Markham are open before noon on weekends. Thankfully, Platform happens to fall within the sector of early openers.

​​I made my way over around the 9:40 AM mark, then proceeded to ease myself into one of the two small booths situated towards the back of the café. This area was not only dimmer than the table I had selected previously, but also much chillier. As these tables were camouflaged from sight from the bar area, bells had been provided to alert the counter staff of any requests.
Seeing as I had just set down my belongings, I strode up to the barista to inquire about the possibility of turning down the A/C in the back. She seemed troubled by this request.
"You can just ring the bell." came her blunt response. "I don't think so but I can ask the owner."

​By this point in time, many would have resumed their regular workflow for the new year. This is the case for most of my dining pals, but, for me, it's been a period of recapping Atlantic adventures from last fall, as well as the continued job hunt.

A limited budget equates to investing more time at home and deploying coupons whenever possible. Of course, standardized bubble tea sessions cannot be forgoed though.

1) CoCo's Brown Sugar Milk with Pearls 
Despite having landed in BC since the summer months, the highly raved-about concoction didn't arrive in the province until January 15th.

​Points could not be redeemed for this promotional item, nor could ice and sugar levels (or size!) be adjusted.

Truthfully, I am far from being brown sugar's greatest supporter. I kept an open mind towards CoCo's rendition, though the absence of tea in only exaggerated the sweetness of the beverage; it was simply too sugary to be consumed in a Large size. There remains the possibility of deliciousness within a hot variation of the drink, however I honestly can't say I'm itching for another cup.

2) A Big Mac with Fries for only two dollars plus tax? Don't mind if I do!

3) Shuyi Tealicious
​New to ever-expanding roster of bubble tea franchises in the GTA is Shuyi Tealicious. Its discovery was actually a pleasant mistake: I had been researching a different establishment when its name surfaced in the sidebar.
The chain hails from China and currently has three locations in Ontario: conspicuous coordinates in Agincourt (Scarborough), a shop on Spadina in Toronto's bustling Chinatown, and a Mississauga outpost in a plaza that also houses a former pet store and tutoring facility. Needless to say, it was most convenient to venture over to the last location.

​The interior was quite spacious and mostly free of stickiness. Girls behind the counter understood the fundamentals of the English language, but had difficulty with communicating anything beyond that level.

I took to a Signature Grass Jelly Milk Tea along with a Mango Pomelo Meet Grass Jelly. Neither permitted ice/sugar adjustments; in addition, the latter was only available in a Regular size.

​Having requested a hot beverage, I anticipated a toasty cup of milk tea to emerge in one of their insulated paper cups. Instead appeared a lukewarm formula sealed in a narrow plastic cup. Grass Jelly floated at its surface, while specks of unidentified toppings had sunk to the bottom. Given its name, I hadn't expected any other toppings besides grass jelly. Moreover, I had also found it odd that the girl behind the cashier hadn't inquired about any possible allergies: the additional toppings consisted of cubed coconut jelly, peanuts, red bean, and a few indiscernible others.

​My New Year's Eve had been spent working on an intense project, to the extent where determination to complete the backbreaking task far exceeded any desire to celebrate the arrival of 2019. Said project remains incomplete and undisclosed from the world due to technical limitations (otherwise known as an extremely faulty laptop with diminishing RAM).

I had granted myself a short breather from the venture, which permitted indulging in other interests - namely GOT7 fancams and food adventures.

1) Attempting the Inkigayo Sandwich
Never to be the quickest at picking up trends, news of the Inkigayo Sandwich hadn't quite made its way to my attention until orangecane uploaded her extremely overdue Korea post.

​I was instantly intrigued, for how could I not be? Strawberry jam and egg salad sounded like a fabulous combination. The same cannot be said for cabbage slaw, on the other hand. Regardless, I became invested in the idea and promptly set out the next day in search of ingredients.

Many YouTubers had developed their own rendition on the broadcast station cafeteria special, which I scrutinized down to the very detail before formulating my own recipe.
Potatoes were neglected - for carbs on carbs is just excessive - and a dash of fresh dill was incorporated. Homemade strawberry jam was substituted for the sugary storebought nonsense. Imitation crab meat was wholly forgotten until the slaw filling had been completed and set to chill.

​A large batch had been constructed in preparation for a potluck dinner. The remaining ends of the purchased loaf were then utilized to create a prototype featuring the three fillings. At this point, it was discovered that four slices of bread was absolutely ridiculous, even when pressed together firmly. Consequently, the final version consisted of three slices, with sides bearing strawberry jam and cabbage slaw meeting at one end of the sandwich.

​To be quite frank, the resulting product was a tad odd-tasting. Coleslaw wasn't my cup of tea to begin with, though tried-and-true fillings such as strawberry jam and egg salad hadn't succeeded in raising its ranking either. Food fads have always been a hit or miss though.

​2) A cozy east-meets-west potluck marked the farewell party of a certain foreign comrade. It was here that homemade 쌈 wraps, mushroom-laced 불고기, extra-mild kimchi fried rice, and not-so-mild Mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐) were served to us (in a rather interesting manner, I should add).

The room we dined in lacked a table, so the group resorted to eating off the floor. A candle was lit to set the mood and compensate for inadequate insulation.

(Side story: Amidst setup preparations, someone carelessly dropped my coleslaw on the ground, cracking the container in a manner I hadn't thought possible. Hence, there was no other choice than to wrap up leftovers in a flimsy plastic bag...reminiscent of scraps. Sigh.)

The occasion also marked my first attempt at SoMaek (소맥) - a popular Korean mix of beer and soju - as well as the first intake of soju in my entire lifetime. Both thrilling and terrifying, the experience was one I wouldn't mind repeating at a later point in the future, when I have a ride home secured.

We ended the evening off by dashing out into the streets with a confused, angry middle-aged man questioning our identities. Fun things do happen downtown.

​And with the New Year resumed the pre-arranged catch-up sessions. Three continuous days of toiling away at a major, soon-to-be released project had resulted in the over-exertion of wrist and ocular muscles. A breath of fresh air was needed before one could summon up the strength to proceed with the lengthy assignment.

I first stopped at Chinatown, a district that has never witnessed a shortage of bubble tea joints. Arriving after 3 PM meant the availability of Cactus Tapioca, so I headed to the spot that I hadn't frequented for quite some time. (Of course, I had to have forgotten my stamp cards at home...)

​With utmost confidence, I can now proclaim that One Zo has officially gone down the drain.
The pricing system and loyalty program have been altered such that customers are paying even more than before, but with fewer rewards even swearing loyalty. What's more is that drink quality has plummeted significantly - terrible to the point where nausea and stomach sickness were experienced after only one-third of the cup had been consumed.

​Purchasing a large-sized Caramel Oolong Latte had been an awfully uninformed decision, and I ultimately tossed the seven-dollar atrocity into the trash to prevent further unpleasantness.

To atone the lingering slickness of One Zo, I made a brief stop at Juicy Dumpling at Dragon City Centre. It was appropriately named after their signature $2.99 Steamed Soup Pork Dumpling - also known as Xiao Long Bao (小籠包/XLB), though the menu also comprised of savoury pancakes and other carby delights.

​At a measly $3.14 after tax, one could not go wrong with the eatery's namesake S1 order. The bite-sized dumplings were positively delicious with an insanely reasonable price. Moreover, seating was plenty and service was friendly and efficient. Several diners took their orders to go, but many also stayed to enjoy some chitchat time with their fellow feasters.

I met up with feedthebear shortly afterwards, at which point we leisurely made our way over to our chosen dinner destination in the Entertainment District.

​Fune was located in close proximity to Roy Thomson and the largely familiar King/John intersection, yet I had never batted an eyelash while striding past in the past (unintentional homograph usage).

​Just as countless others are reminiscing about their accomplishments within the past twelve months, I am subconsciously acting likewise. I've arrived at the conclusion that the latter half of the year progressed speedily without any signs of halting, whlie the first two quarters were sluggish and largely uninteresting - except for Kipling and graduation of course!

The Year of the Dog was a pivotal period in my life, overloaded with emotions and brimming with extreme ups and downs. I was periodically rewarded with several GOT7 sightings and a DAY6 World Tour, yet also flung into an unknowingly toxic work environment. New friendships were made, while old ones were strengthened (or withered, for whatever reason).

​2019 lies not far away, and I anticipate its many offerings. As someone who believes strongly in the concept of fate, there is not much else to kick back, observe the flow of the year's happenings, and react accordingly. (AND hopefully continue the Maritimes Madness series.)

Many would have assumed this roundup to consist mainly of meal snippets. And I have no reason to deny this hypothesis, for it is completely accurate.

​1) Experimental Pound Cake (as led by Cooking Tree)
​2) The inescapable CoCo runs

3) GOT7 - Present: You & Me
Despite my initial reluctance to purchase yet another repackage, the availability of a locally-organized G.O. (as well as Jinyoung's all-too-persuasive teaser images) convinced me otherwise.
That said, this may be my last time joining a group order, for I always seem to have better bias luck with sealed orders.

​4) More CoCo!
5) A late lunch of mild Chipotle at Mississauga's busiest shopping centre