Vancouver Voyage | DAY 9: Yaletown Trip + Mister

What is Yaletown? No, it's not next to Yodel-town. It's actually just northeast of Granville Island, one stop after Olympic Village on the Canada Line.

Classified as a neighbourhood of downtown Vancouver brimming with local shops and high-end dining experiences, Yaletown was probably the last district I'd visit had I not learned of Mister. (And by this, I don't mean that it's an unsuitable area for tourists; I am simply referring to the fact that I felt tremendously out of place given that the area flooded with workers on lunch hour when I exited at Yaletown-Roundhouse.)

Given how Mister and their Crème Brûlée Ice Cream had made waves on my Instagram feed, it didn't take long to become acquainted with their royal blue pentagon logo and their uniquely pointy cups of velvety-looking creations.
I was able to spot the simple blue-and-white banners even from a good distance away, though their shop was located in extremely close proximity the train station anyway.

I arrived a few minutes after noon, which coincided with their opening hours. Unfortunately, they weren't in full operation yet as they were in the midst of replenishing their liquid nitrogen inventory. Opting to hang around until their entire selection of products were ready, I realized that the artisan ice cream shop's popularity was not to be taken lightly. Several inquisitive customers poked their heads into the small shop, only to walk right back outside when informed that they were still preparing.

Most would describe the interior as "minimal". However, I opt to depict the atmosphere as simple with a serious degree of modern edge; upon closer inspection, one would be overcome with the realization that an incredulous amount of effort had been exerted to perfect the details of the shop.
To the right was a beige/grey-toned brick wall with napkins and clean spoons, above was a series of vertical hanging lights, and near the front was a silver, fence-like structure of a table. Mixers sat atop a marble tabletop; the cashier area assumed a stone-like appearance.  The setting emitted a strong industrial vibe, all with a sleek, sophisticated twist.

Being one of the first customers of the day meant that sample flavours had not been created yet: "Our ice creams are made to order", or so I was informed. The rotating selection of flavours for the week included Double Oreo, Vegan Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Mojito, Thai Milk Tea, as well as their best-selling vanilla Crème Brûlée. A portion of these flavours were also available for purchasing in larger jars - "pints" - to enjoy in the comfort of one's home.

View the full album HERE !

I decided to take advantage of their belated Twitter Tuesday special, and ordered the Blueberry Mint Mojito. Curiously observing the crafting process, I silently gazed at the action happening behind the protective glass that separated the mixers from eager ice cream-goers.
Milky formulas were poured into the main compartment and churned to a creamy consistency with the assistance of liquid nitrogen. It was quite a sight to witness: a translucent mist flooded from the mixing bowl, filling the entire work area. Some even escaped from between the cracks, gently swirling around my feet in the fragrance-less cloud.

Once the appropriate consistency had been attained, the mixing blade was lifted. I watched as the off-white mixture was smeared into a small paper cup to the halfway mark. A thin layer of blueberry syrup was then squirted into the container and succeeded by more smearing. I suppose the most intriguing moment was watching the formation of the conical point.

Unique to this flavour were the subtle purple swirls and toppings of fresh blueberries and a SORTED-esque sprig of mint.

In contrast to the sorbet texture I had been expecting, Blueberry Mint Mojito adopted an unfathomably smooth, uniform consistency. Albeit possessing creamy, indulgent characteristics, the ice cream maintained its refreshing properties by veering from an excessive use of sugar and heavy cream.
I particularly enjoyed how the individual flavours could be tasted clearly: from the breezy shreds of fresh mint to juicy blueberries to tart hints of lime, not a single element was excluded. The incorporation of fresh blueberries, a seasonal product in BC, was an aspect I was especially fond of. (Afterwards, I learned that the ice cream also contained Bacardi rum - the "mojito" part. Those familiar with my

Every dine-in purchase was served atop monogrammed rectangular planks for maximum visual appeal. While I had found the presentation to be relatively attractive, I had other matters at hand and opted to grab my Iced Latte to go.

Their washroom stalls were also worth taking note of. Levels above the nightmare that was Tacofino's back room, Small Victory's was lined with narrow, gold-trimmed white tiles and featured a faucet capable of swiveling.

And did I mention their dandy little spoon and sugar holders?

Overall, Yaletown made for a very interesting trip. The district is home to a plethora of restaurants and local shops, especially independently-owned organic juice bars and 24/7 convenience stores. For those looking for a leisurely hangout spot, cafés are also aplenty in this region.

Before making my departure, I headed back towards Mister to pick up a pint of Thai Milk Tea ice cream. By this time, the shop was packed with curious customers.

Speeding home, my tub of Thai Milk Tea made it back in one piece in just under forty minutes. 

Having only opened for two months, I was thoroughly impressed with the reactions among the online community of food enthusiasts. Mister skillfully established their brand and concept within a very brief period of time. Ice cream crafted from real ingredients instead of artificial flavours and sugars is always appreciated; adding to the wow factor is the creative mist-inducing crafting process. It is also important to note that their shop is situated in a prime location, amidst an assortment of pubs and patio-inclusive restaurants and within walking distance to office towers and a major SkyTrain station.
It's highly likely that I'll make my greatest effort to revisit before I make my return to the motherland.

After making my swift return to drop off ice cream, I proceeded to Richmond Centre for errand running.

Following a turn of unfortunate events, I missed my bus and my transfer window expired. With extra time to spare, I trudged over to Japadog for an early supper.

I took to ordering the second-most popular item on the menu: Okonomi Hot Dog. With a hefty price tag of $6.25 attached, I had hoped a stellar hot dog invention but was gravely disappointed.

Indeed, it tasted better that your average willy dog. But greasy fried cabbage and stale bonito flakes definitely did not justify the cost. It also didn't help that the hot dog bun erred on the dry side.

A breathtaking sunset concluded the day's activities on a positive note.

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