Matcha Pocky vs Green Tea Pocky

We went to the new supermarket Seasons (in Thornhill) to check it out and I ended up buying Pocky.  I have't bought it in years!!  It's one of those treats as a kid that made going grocery shopping with my parents fun.  If you don't know what Pocky is, it basically is a biscuit stick covered in a cream or flavoured chocolate coating.  I noticed they carried both a green tea flavoured Pocky and a matcha flavoured one.  Not sure when they came out, I'm guessing both have probably been out on the market for awhile.  In a drink the difference can be noticeable, but what about a snack like Pocky, is there a difference?

The green tea Pocky (right side) comes in a larger size, I just bought the smaller pack since I wanted to just try them out.

Many people think matcha and green tea powder are the same but there is a difference.  Matcha is basically steamed green tea (tencha leaf) that has been grown partially in the shade and later ground into a fine powder.  Steaming green tea is a method mainly used by the Japanese in the production of green tea (stops the oxidation of the leaf) and produces a different flavour profile compared to other methods of heating the leaf.  The leaf is grown partially in the shade to eliminate/reduce astringency and provide a stronger and "sweet" taste.  There is ceremonial grade (very expensive) and culinary grade which is more affordable and is commonly used in baked goods and confections.  More info can be found here.

Green tea powder is basically green tea finely ground into a powder.  Likely not grown in shade (which costs more).  

The Matcha Pocky was slightly more expensive ($2.99 for 61g vs $2.59 for 70g), so is it worth it?

Aroma:
Both had a nice green tea smell when you first open the package.

Taste:
Both taste like green tea, only a slight difference in taste when you just bite and chew.  However, if you allow the cream to melt on your tongue, the Matcha Pocky is stronger in tea flavour and slightly sweeter and creamier. The Green Tea Pocky while okay in taste, had a slight bitter after taste.

Packaging:
The ingredients lists show 2 notable differences. One, the Matcha Chocolate Pocky lists cocoa butter while the Green Tea Pocky does not (expected since it doesn't mention chocolate).  And two, the Matcha Chocolate Pocky lists 2 types of green tea, "green tea powder, roasted green tea powder".  I'm surprised the translation doesn't include "matcha" but I'm guessing when they say green tea powder it is the matcha in this case and the roasted indicates regular green tea powder.  The Green Tea Pocky lists "green tea powder" only.

The Matcha Pocky is a product of Japan while the Green Tea Pocky is made in Thailand.  To some, this makes no difference but to others, Japanese products generally are associated with having a higher quality.  I have to admit, there are times where something is made makes a difference in whether I buy one product over another given all other factors are fairly equal.

Verdict:
I prefer the Matcha Chocolate Pocky.  I'd spend a little more for a slightly more flavourful and better tasting product, the itty-bitty amount of matcha tea powder, and cocoa butter.  However, if the Matcha Pocky was not available or became more expensive than the already premium $2.99 price tag, I'd happily choose the Green Tea Pocky since the taste is acceptable and it's more economical.

July: I'm Dreaming of...

An unexpected growth...the cutest maple leaf!   ^-^  Something for Canada Day!

In July, summer is full on with heat, humidity, and festivals!  And I'm dreaming of...

- cherries, eating them fresh is the best, but there's also a recipe in the new book Paris Pastry Club that I've been meaning to try
- a picnic in the park...maybe some mung bean cold noodles will make it on the menu ^-^
- more ice cream!  (We picked up an ice cream maker for $5 from overstock.com!)  Last month I made ice cream without a machine somewhat following David Lebovitz's posted method which worked fine.  I just messed up the initial base so I'm going to try it again this month.
- visiting more farmer's markets
- eating pizza from an outdoor wood-fired oven (at Edithvale Park in Willowdale)

Last Day of Spring

Today is the last day of spring but for most, we think of tomorrow as much more exciting, the first day of summer!  Summer weather has started as our springs seem to get shorter and shorter, but when June 21st hits, I often think of the beginning of patio season, barbecues and ice cold beers or crisp white wines, summer fruits. picnics, outdoor sports, and when I was much younger, no school!!

However, today is about the last day of spring and I think a little reflection is in order...did I enjoy spring?

As I get older I find there are years that I don't remember much and that's fine.  Sometimes you remember events or sometimes there are years that were tidal waves and you remember all the details.  For me, "she rolled over" was one event to mark the spring of 2014 ^-^

Here are a few pics of what I've been up to...and yes, this past spring was enjoyable.

Le Cafe Michi - Great Sushi, Cozy, and Dessert All-in-One

Le Cafe Michi continues to be one of my favourite restaurants in Toronto for several reasons.  From the signage at the front you wouldn't think they serve sushi, let alone very good sushi for that matter, but the quality of sushi and food in general is very good; a real hidden gem!  The space is cozy and relaxed, I feel like it could be in Japan; but think smaller town feel, not the flash and energy of Tokyo. (So, if you're looking for posh, head to downtown Toronto instead.)  And, to top things off, the desserts are delicious and made in-house so you'll find desserts such as a green tea red bean cake or tofu cheesecake available.

1802 Pharmacy Aveune
Scarboough, ON  M1T 1K1

416-490-9688

The space

Le Cafe Michi reminds me a little bit of zakka culture and a slower pace of life by the atmosphere they generate, the decor, and the cute handmade goods on display/for sale.  The place is quiet, perfect for good conversation and when you just want to relax with a cup of coffee or tea and dessert.  (By the way, they offer an afternoon tea special that includes slice of cake and coffee or tea for $6.50.)

These kitties are so cute!!

Back room for dining and omakase.

The food

In Toronto there are so many all-you-can-eat sushi restaurants that for many, it's hard to find value in going to a sushi restaurant that isn't.  But, sometimes it's about quality vs quantity and Le Cafe Michi delivers on the quality.

Top left:  salad for chyo-chin bento (could have been a little more interesting tho').  Bottom left: seaweed salad for cafe au lait chirashi.

We ordered sushi specials which come with salad (pictured above), a choice of tea or coffee and choice of dessert.  Besides the sushi specials, they also serve cooked dishes like katsu don and items a la carte.

Chicken karaage, this is how the chyo-chin bento looks when served

The chicken karaage (basically Japanese fried chicken) was crispy on the outside and moist and tender on the inside.  Light seasoning and the batter wasn't thick or too oily.  Drizzled with a spicy mayo based sauce, this dish definitely stood out!!  I was tempted to order it a la carte too but each meal was just enough food on it's own and...I wanted to make sure I had room for dessert. ^-^

The rest of the bento includes 6 pieces of sashimi which were of good quality and unajyu (eel) on sushi rice was soft and flavourful, well made indeed.

The Cafe Au Lait Chirashi was beautifully assembled, my favourite being the mushroom shaped tuna on the left dotted with wasabi mayo (cute!).  The sashimi was fresh and the variety is standard (normally they have uni but didn't have any that day).  My only complaint was the tuna was not as good as I remember.  Underneath, between some sushi rice was some unajyu (bbq eel) which made the sushi rice even tastier.

The dessert

Ranging from Earl grey chiffon to mousse cakes to various cheesecakes, they offer a very good selection of desserts.  We opted for a slice of Sake chocolate cake and a slice of green tea red bean cake.

Part of the dessert case.

Sake chocolate cake

You can taste the sake but it wasn't too strong and really went well with the chocolate. Texture of the mousse and ganache was good.

Green tea red bean cake

The green tea  cream was ohhh so good, just the right amount of green tea and sweetness!  But they were kind of off on the texture of the cake, it was a little too wet and airy.  I've had this cake several times and the texture of the cake was never an issue in the past, moist, light and fluffy, so still worth a try if you like green tea flavoured desserts.

And just because I mentioned it, here is the tofu cheesecake.

One other thing to note, if you're going for lunch or dinner, MAKE RESERVATIONS!  The place is small and has a loyal customer base, you'll be disappointed if you don't!

Mel Lastman Square Farmer's Market 2014 - the Start of the Season

Yesterday was the first day of the Mel Lastman Square Farmer's Market and despite it being cooler than the past few days, there was still a good crowd.

Many of the other markets within the city have already started, each with a slightly different mix of stalls (see Atebyate's recent post).  Here, you'll find several fruit and vegetable farms, local artisanal cheese, honey, natural soaps, a few stalls selling hot food/ baked goods, and an herb and tomato plant stall where I wanted to buy more than I could carry!

My first experience with rhubarb was in sixth grade.  My class went to an outdoor education centre and stayed the week.  Meals were provided and one night we had rhubarb and strawberry pie.  It was probably the only dish that I have a strong recollection of, it was definitely good!  I had never heard of rhubarb at the time but ever since then, whenever I hear someone mention or see rhubarb strawberry pie, I instantly think, "Mmmm"!  But, that was the only way I knew of using rhubarb and surprisingly never tried to make it myself.  So, naturally I had to buy a stalk!

Here are some pics of the Thiessen Farms herb and tomato plant stall...

A huge variety available!

One herb that I have to mention is the chocolate mint herb that was there.  Unfortunately it doesn't taste much like chocolate mint but the leaves do smell like chocolate mint so it'll be a nice garnish or infused as a tea drink.

Really, really tempted to buy these spicy micro-greens but I have to think about how I would use/eat them first...

I bought 2 heirloom cherry tomato plants.  Hopefully they'll last the season since anyone that knows me knows I don't have a green thumb and would probably kill a cactus.  But, I couldn't resist, they were heirloom cherry tomato plants!


Mel Lastman Square Farmer's Market
Every Thursday 8:00 am - 2:30 pm
June - Oct

June: I'm dreaming of....

June is all about strawberries!  Let's hope the crop this year is not too delayed.

- picking strawberries, Ontario has a number of farms within the GTA (i.e. Whittamore's).
- eating warm-from-the-sun freshly picked strawberries, the best!
- making strawberry desserts
- strawberry ice cream or popsicles like these...

Mmm, yes, ice cream.  I'm also dreaming of making some ice cream or sorbet without an ice cream maker...lets see how that goes!

100 Days and More

It's been over 100 days since she made her first appearance.  She has been more than I expected, much, much more.  She makes me crazy at times, but that was to be expected.  It is the subtle things she does that makes me what to hold her forever.

She smiles at me when she wakes up and notices I am there
She stares at me intently and sticks out her tongue when she wants to feed
When she laughs after she spits up
When she smiles after she lightly coughs
Her reaction when she sees herself in the mirror
Her little hands exploring my hand, face and body as I feed her
The frown she makes for a second or two before she cries
The sound of her baby babble as she tries to communicate

All of it is special to me, only existing in pieces of my memory and if I'm lucky, caught on camera.

Here is a short poem I wrote for her to mark her 100 days and for the photobook I'm making...I'm not a poet by any means but hopefully one day she will read it and know I tried to express in words the beauty of her smile.

sketch was created by the app Sketch Guru

Baby's Smile


right from the very start
now and forever
it warms my heart

so sweet and innocent
so naturally charming
my attention is stolen in an instant

so beautiful
like the dawn that breaks the darkness
a light, so hopeful

my worn out wrists and body aches 
are no longer concerning
my weary eyes are now awake

to stare at her for a while 
to see her lips curl
to see my baby's smile