Vancity Blitz | DAY 3: Nature Republic (Aberdeen) + Baker & Table

3/8/2020

"Beautiful British Columbia" - there's tremendous validity behind this description.
Foreshadowing a sunny afternoon was a mysterious blue cloak overlooking the Fraser River. Streaked with a breathtaking glimmer of pink, it very nearly emulated light at the end of the tunnel.

In wait of sunrise, I began to assemble breakfast. But something felt lacking.
I took to another iteration of smitten kitchen's Banana Bread recipe, swapping out vanilla extract for 24 g of honey. Roasted peanuts were also incorporated into the mix, but ultimately discovered to be too big and not as suitable as walnuts.

Observing the oven from a distance, I proceeded with my scheduled blogilates/Zumba program - in bursts, if you will - before munching on some greens and readying myself for some much-coveted katsu.

Dosanko would have been the ideal choice. Alas, the closest outpost in the vicinity was Aberdeen's Saboten.

By no means is Saboten mediocre - since there really isn't "bad food" in this part of the country - however it wasn't a seamless alternative either.

Heavy hankerings for a katsu dish devoid of rice, I earnestly expressed my request to the boy behind the cashier. He turned to evaluate the options on the menu board behind him, then turned back to face my inquisitive gaze. "There isn't one without rice." He went on to suggest one of the sets, for they supposedly "contained the least amount of rice."

"Sure." I said, since a cold Katsu Sandwich would not suffice this time around. And onwards I went to explore Mumuso (aka Miniso's knockoff) while the established food court entity commenced preparations for my Pork Loin Set.

After approximately five minutes, I made my return and retrieved Order #70. The stall was relatively quiet at the off-peak time of 1:50 PM.

The portion size was on the compact end given the price point, and it would have been remained consistent whether I had opted out of the starchy grains or not.

Surrounding a sectioned plastic container were four small containers, plus miso soup. Pickles, ponzu sauce, and katsu sauce could be easily identified, but the element that truly struck me by surprise was the blend of coarsely ground black and white sesame seeds. Embodying a delicate crunch and a nutty, savoury aroma, this topping proved indispensible in broadening enjoyment levels.
Japanese short-grain rice and cabbage slaw assumed two of the three partitions; the highlight of the meal was positioned underneath - at the very centre of the tray.

The Pork Loin was a bit tough overall, with a few fatty bits at the ends of the cutlet. While it delivered crispiness without the grease, the fleshy bits made mastication somewhat tricky. Breading was also noticeably tougher/stiffer in comparison to Katsuya, my hometown favourite. Sauce containers were difficult to maximize given the size of the katsu strips. Otherwise, Saboten got the job done.

I then proceeded to empty my pockets at Nature Republic, almost earning Lifetime VIP status. (Whoops.)

Exiting onto Cambie enabled boarding onto the 410 bus. It ran quite frequently for a Sunday schedule, despite being late.
I took in the overall appearance of bus shelter, as well as roof design and other features, while waiting. The logo-bearing curved shelter looked nice, wastebins were in close proximity, and a lamp post was positioned nearby for illumination come sundown.
Nearby was a distinctive "T" sign for transit, hoisted high for easy recognition, as well as the bus stop number beside it in bold lettering.

(And this, ladies and gentlemen, is how one tends to act when work is on the brain.)

Eventually, after a gusty trek through King George Community Park, Banana Bread was swapped for Blueberry Lemon Cake.

The household's newest acquisition took shape as a De'Longhi espresso machine, which yielded a most wonderful cappuccino-turned-latte to pair alongside the fragrant, tart crumble.

Next up was Baker & Table, a destination graced twice by Miss Rushka and highly commended on both occasions. I had pinned the destination to my list for some time, not realizing its unseemly location on a dilapidated stretch of Fraser St. It was a rundown area, similar to Dundas between Spadina and Bathurst, but nowhere near as fearful as Vancouver's Chinatown (Oh, I shudder.).

Further contributing to feelings of distaste was the time-based parking meter - as if the overall questionable area hadn't been enough.

Lemon yellow walls, chalkboard menus, and a vast selection of adorable carby creations were quick to capture our attention. The immediate downsides, though, were the cute but overpriced offerings.
The owner - or whom I presume to be the owner - was particularly grouchy, going as far to blatantly grimace at the small group that gathered at the sight of freshly-baked melonpan. It was clear that he enjoyed the publicity, but was simultaneously impatient towards indecisiveness and inconsiderate of customer needs.

"Are these sold out?"
"There are more coming out."
"Oh, how long will the wait be?"
"They're in the kitchen. I just need to bring them out."
"Great! I'll wait for those then."
He spun on his heel with a grunt and furrowed brow, revealing utmost unwillingness to serve the patrons before him.

View the full album HERE !

Seating was minimal inside the cafe. There were a total of two 4-person tables; majority were two-seaters with minimal space between them. A few bar stools lined the street-facing end of the interior, likely for solo diners (that may also find joy in people-watching).

Our group obtained the following:

Matcha Tiramisu
Mango Yuzu Dome
Pikachu Melon Pan w/ Raspberry Jam filling
Shiba Inu Melon Pan w/ Belgian Chocolate filling
Sakura Mochi Matcha Melon Ban
London Smog (London Fog + Hot Chocolate)

of which the first two items were not tasted.

The shop attendant refused to provide us with plates for the melonpan(s), noting that paper bags was the usual method of packaging. While our intentions to dine in and share our items was crystal clear, plates were denied on the basis that he had "no one to wash dishes". Yet, oddly enough, the pastries had came on plates, albeit shoved and shifted from their serving boards rather aggressively.

With Baker & Table's signatures being character-themed melonpan, high expectations had been retained. With much regret, I shall profess that there was but a sole specimen that lived up to its visuals and hype.

Strictly speaking, the buns were average in all respects. Within the Pikachu Melon Pan was a tacky jam that I could have easily recreated, while Shiba Inu was a too-sweet composition of sugar-dusted sugar cookie topping and sugar-laden chocolate filling.

Sakura Mochi was beautifully structured in concept, though executed poorly, regrettably so. Pink sakura mochi was an appealing inclusion but otherwise flavourless. The matcha cream, on the other hand, was delicious. Baker & Table probably had their suspicions, for the stingy portion was a good case in point. This product was likely the best of the trio, though the bar wasn't high to start.
Not only were the buns an abomination to split and consume, fillings were also not inserted uniformly, leading certain pieces to contain only mochi, only matcha, or neither at all.

The visit also included a London Smog: a mix of London Fog and Hot Chocolate.
Speedily crafted, the beverage was velvety and almost mocha-like, until I arrived at the conclusion of its tea latte identity.

Admittedly, the chocolate overpowered the delicate Earl Grey, even though it was milky, sweet, and actually quite nice for the first couple sips. The beverage was, in fact, far too slick for my liking. Requesting hot water for dilution had the shop attendant slightly taken back. He followed through with my request anyway (and the water scalded instead of soothed.)

A single stall bathroom was positioned at the southern part of the eatery, beyond the coffee bar and condiment stand. General maintenance levels were honourable. The wastebin of paper towels could have used some care instead.

Some few hours afterwards, I found myself leeching off a family dinner of stir-fried asparagus with minced garlic, yellow curry with chicken and tofu pockets, and an appeasing broth of bones (pork? beef?) and carrots.