Ichigo Sando for Strawberry season!

Unbelievably, I had entirely erased this little corner of a blog from my mind for so many years! It was part of my life and my main means of documenting it ever since I began posting on it in 2009. It was a lovely way to look through past experiences and memories to make sense of the chaos that is a camera roll. Being able to look back 15 years and so specifically re-live a memory thanks to a post I made about it feels so priceless. It's an instant way to travel back in time. Getting absorbed by life, work, love, and other social media platforms had detached me from this little safe haven for far too long. I don't have access to certain software that allowed me to more personalize my photos but I am making it a point to post all of the memories that I would have shared when they happened.

To start with, I wanted to show my love for the Ichigo Sando. I can't recall when I was first introduced to what an ichigo sando is but it is ubiquotous within Japanese culture so is hard to miss! I may have seen it in an anime but it has built quite a reputation for itself so has always been something I've wanted to try, just never had the opportunity. Until recently! I tried a cupcake recipe and had to make my own icing, the recipe required whipping cream. Although I had failed I still liked the idea so tried to make whipped cream on its own and it turned out perfectly! I then put two and two together realizing how simple it would be to make an ichigo sando! 

On my next grocery run I bought a loaf of sliced brioche bread, some strawberries, and the whipping cream. To add some sweetness to my whipped cream, I put in a bit of powdered sugar and vanilla extract. The combination was divine! I also tried using a vegan alternative but sadly the consistency was more of a yoghurt, but I will keep looking!

My cross cut isn't perfect but what a lovely treat! It has become my favourite dessert accompanied by some tea.

Recipe:

• 1/4 cup of 35% whipping cream. I like to have a little extra on the side, so I use 1/3 cup! 
• A few medium sized strawberries or other fruit.
• About 2 tsp of powdered sugar, more or less to taste.
• About 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract, to taste although less is more!

Instructions

1. Use an electric hand mixer (I never had one for many years but bought one when I saw an affordable price, it's a very good investment!) to beat the whipping cream, low to high for about 5 or so minutes. You should see it coming together.
2. Once it starts looking like whipped cream, add in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract.
3. Continue to mix until combined.
4. Take your bread slices and add a generous amount of whipped cream to each side as the strawberry will have some empty space around it to fill. 
5. Place 3 strawberries down the center diagonally with the top towards the corner, this should give a nice cross cut of the strawberry. This is where you can get creative as well! Add more or other fruits in the empty space.
6. Place that slice on top of the one with the fruits.
7. I'm not patient so I don't refrigerate it, but that is a good tip! After 30 minutes it is easier to slice. I use a serrated bread knife.
8. Enjoy! And practice makes perfect! 

A very helpful video to explain how to make an Ichigo Sando!

 

Kampai pals

I recently re-connected with some friends I hadn't seen in a while and as we caught up we talked about whether we should go have a drink, or eat somewhere. We were in the middle of downtown so there were lots of options! We bounced a few ideas back and forth and then I remembered about a restaurant nearby called KAMPAI Garden. I had been there once before briefly with another good friend to share a lucky peach mojito pitcher at the bar and I remember the ambiance and interior design to be really unique, modern, with a bit of vintage flare. I had noticed that time that they also served food and had wanted to return at some point to try it!

And so, I suggested this restaurant to my friends and it was a unanimous yes!

We were seated by a wall bench that had a real life plant wall above it!

Although a bit blurry here, the neon lights read Edith Piaf's lyrics "non, rien de rien. non, je ne regrette rien."

We decided to order a few small plates to share, and as we waited I checked my phone for no real reason except I wanted to see if I had gotten any emails! Luckily I had paparazzi nearby to capture that exact moment!

We also ordered a passion fruit mojito pitcher to share and for the amount we were able to re-fill our glasses 3 times so it's definitely worth it. It wasn't strong on the alcohol end which was a bit disappointing but it was still enjoyable nonetheless.

I took a trip to the bathroom as one does while at a restaurant and I really enjoyed their choice of bathroom signs. A bit playful and cheeky. One thing I would comment is that the smell of beer was really strong which surprised me, I wondered if they brewed it nearby?

Soon after our orders started to arrive one by one. We had some steamed edamame beans, papas, fried tofu in peanut butter sauce, maple syrup salmon sashimi slices, and shrimp tacos on a home made corn crepe tortilla flavoured with curry. It was a delight! We had a second serving of tofu and lastly ordered a salad to share.

Looking back I think we overdid it a bit and could have been happy with a bit less! I personally was adventurous as I decided to treat myself and put it on credit to gradually pay it off later so I suggested to order more than we needed to! I feel bad now to have done this to my friends!

I would definitely return to KAMPAI Garden to enjoy that tofu, shrimp tacos, papas, and sashimi salmon again, but maybe just 2 out of 4 next time!

Downtown outing with Julia! Day 2!

So after meeting up with my friend Julia once during her visit, I was able to see her again!

This time we went to Burritoville. I'd never been there before, it was Julia's recommendation and I really really liked it. So much so that I went back on my own on a later occasion. Sadly however it seems that is may be closing :( .. I really hope it's not true!!

yum yum

Some tea and a sweet potato buritto.

Before we went to eat however we stopped by the the Museum of Fine Arts of Montreal to check out an exhibition that was up for one last day. It was an installation of guitars and birds flying and resting on them, creating sounds/music.

On the way to, we found this wall of plushies that I had to stop and take pictures of.

Photos weren't allowed within the installation so I tried to draw some sketches.

Including a quick one of my friend :)

We continued to wander a bit and found a chandelier with peacocks on it covered in metled wax.

Installation and sculpture by Petah Coyne, titled "Trois paons".

Captioning Julia: "Aw yiss, weird Art."

Downtown outing with Julia! Day 1!

During my friend Julia's visit to Montreal in March since moving to Calgary, I had the great pleasure to spend some time with her adventuring and eating delicious foods.

First we went to the Concordia Co-op Bookstore. Of the 5 years I was in University I NEVER heard of this place! Or perhaps wasn't inquisitive enough to look for it.. What a huge loss, it is wonderful. Used books, new books, stationary, zines, silkscreened tote bags. It's a treasure chest as dressed a book shop!

Such a clever way to organize zines.

This illustrative alphabet by Kate Lavut was hilarious.

After that we pit-stopped at one of my favourite places to grab a quick something to eat whenever I'm wandering downtown: 

The Green Panther!

I mainly go for their falafel pita. The half portion is filling enough for me and costs just a little over 5$ which is great. My favourite treats from there are the double trouble brownie, and viramisu cake (a vegan tiramisu).

For this occassion we decided to go for the trio option that is the half falafel pita with a salad and a drink.

It was beautiful just to look at and tasted really nice.

The sweet potato salad was a bit spicy so I would warn for anyone who might not enjoy that! I did though.

We capped the meal off with some chai tea and a shared slice of viramisu cake (pictured is half of a whole slice!)

My Co-op Bookstore purchases:

Typewriter silkcreened patch on a square of fabric.

Some metro station pins.

Mini zine about a nudist cat.

Natural herbs for mental health zine.

And lastly a lovely picture I took of my friend, I managed to capture her essence and how pleasant or meetup was.

Re-build

This past week I was finally able to be and settle and arrange a space to work in. I don't imagine things will be this calm for long but it's nice for now.

The snow arrived.

A lovely space I am loving so far. Mini xmas tree hey!

Quick supper enhanced by a thrifted plate I love.

Foound an old embroidery I should probably finish.

Treated myself to some a&w with sweet potato fries (not bad).

Honourable Mentions

This past week I:

Finished a pin cushion kit for myself thanks to my previous workplace. And this won't be the last one I make!

Ate cakes with Nicole at Pekarna before going to watch 'Wreck It Ralph'. 

Saw this incredible mural by A'shop after a meeting with Smigli Slings.

Met up with some long time gal pals at Benedicts for lunch/brunch.

Had a closer look at my weird hair and have been pondering what to do with it..