LEFTBANKED.: Akira Back

1.15.2020

733. Christmas Part 3 & New Year's

Finally the first post of 2020! I haven't had much time to blog these days (or motivation) unfortunately as I've just relaxed during the holidays, then got quite busy with work after the new year. Also I've been in my reading phase so I've just been doing that a lot in my spare time. Here is what we did over Christmas and New Year's Eve. This was my building's NYE decorations. They always go pretty over-the-top with them but I love it! (The bottom part of my building used to be a bank many years ago (the headquarters of TD) so that's why we have a vault downstairs). The first year I moved in here, I celebrated NYE in my lobby. I remember that was quite an eventful night as there was a shooting at the party in the vault (I think it was 2-3 shots fired and nobody got hurt though). I didn't see it happen as I was in the lobby but I did see the guy run out with a gun.

On Christmas Eve, my boyfriend & I went for dinner at Akira Back.

Our favourite dish..the tuna pizza!

Christmas puzzle of Santorini! Unfortunately it's still maybe only 15% completed.

On Christmas Day we went to Gyu-Kaku (one of the few restaurants open)

Then a dim sum lunch with my mom.

A nice surprise from my friend who spent the holidays in Australia!

Making our favourite matcha cookies.

One of the books I recently read. I think I'll do a big post soon of all the books I've read lately (and my review)

For NYE we went for dinner at Chotto Matte.

Pisco Sours

My 80s aerobics style inspired outfit.

Another recent book I've just read.

One of my work spots.

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725. Last Weeks in Toronto

Hello from Spain! We are currently in La Coruna as I make this post. In fact it's already the final day of our 2-week trip. We have a flight to London in a few hours then we will stay the night there. Tomorrow we go back to Toronto.
This trip was booked kind of last minute and it wasn't really planned. We spent a few days in Edinburgh first then came to La Coruna (my boyfriend's hometown) to visit his family and some other things he had to do here.

I'm pretty behind on my blog now. I will do the vacation posts once we get back to Toronto..but at least I managed to complete the main Peru posts before we left lol.

Here are the photos from the last couple weeks in Toronto before the trip.

Reading Sapiens, which I now finished! I really enjoyed the book.

A new Akira Back restaurant called DASHA. The cocktails were really good and nicely presented. The food was also delicious and tasted really authentic. However it is pricey for what it is, since Chinese food is generally really cheap at other places. For example the "har gow"/shrimp dumplings order was $14. At dim sum restaurants they are maybe ~$5.

We went to Ripley's Aquarium for their Halloween event called Dark Waters.

When we left Toronto, this was what it looked like. Now I guess it is way colder and snowier..

It was my first time visiting the Evergreen Brick Works park and walking along the Belt Line..I really loved it!

Don Valley Brick Works Park Fall Foliage

Now I must go and finish packing..

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692. Recent Life

Here is a long overdue "Recent Life" post! The first one since coming back from vacation in the beginning of January. Mostly containing food photos at restaurants (as always). In the photo above is my boyfriend and I, 3-D printed. We got it done for Christmas. It turned out better and more realistic than I thought it would.

Dinner at the newly-renovated Carisma. Well it was newly renovated when we went..maybe not so now lol.

Dinner at El Catrin

Making "art" with my masks:

I've been getting back into baking lately. Made madeleines for the first time and really loved them. I know they are not in the traditional madeleine shape but the recipe/taste is. Also tried a matcha version: