Dr. Pepper Diet soda: Like most kids, I enjoyed mixing sodas at the fountain Machine whenever my family went out for fast food. Dr. Pepper always reminds me of that, a well-proportioned combination of cola, root beer, and a little something extra (probably cloves and allspice, I'm guessing). Their diet soda is my go-to for vending machine options. 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks drpepper diet soda 3.5
A&W 10 Root Beer: I can't pinpoint exactly when it started, but sometime in undergrad (when I was severely overworked as most MIT undergrads are), I chose diet soda as my caffeinated-beverage-of-choice. I wasn't reliant on it the same way my classmates depended on coffee, but I knew it was an effective way to keep myself alert, and I was scared of the unnecessarily high sugar content of non-diet soda. It took me a while to acclimate to the off-taste of aspartame, but once I did, I started to try different die... (read more) 2.5/5.0
drinks soda rootbeer aw 10 root beer 2.5
La Croix Coconut sparkling water: I tend to avoid La Croix, largely because I never buy cases of soda. But ever time I try it, I'm surprised how decent it is given its mass appeal. This coconut one had a concentrated tropical flavor and good level of carbonation. Good job people of America in promoting a quality product. 3.0/5.0
drinks soda seltzer lacroix coconut sparkling water 3.0
DeKEFIR Kefir frozen yogurt with peaches : While I've had store-bought kefir, this was my first experience with a frozen version of the yogurt. The mildly tangy, smooth frozen yogurt at deKEFIR is surprisingly hydrating and refreshing. However, its fruit toppings are honestly a little sad, as can be immediately identifiable by the color of my slightly brown sliced peaches. 3.0/5.0
Toronto froyo frozen dessert dekefir kefir yogurt peaches 3.0
Bang Bang Ice Cream Avocado and Matcha ice cream: Redolent of butter and baked goods, Bang Bang Ice Cream is a small shop specializing in ice cream sandwiches and waffle cones all made in house. I was lucky enough to experience Bang Bang without having to wait in line, a rarity I'm told. I ordered one scoop, without a cookie or cone, combining two flavors: avocado and matcha. Both were excellent, with a distinct creaminess without being heavy or dense. Having had a lot of matcha ice cream, I was especially appreciative of the deep, rich her... (read more) 4.5/5.0
exceptional icecream Toronto greentea bangbangicecream avocado matcha ice cream 4.5
Sweet Olenka's Ontario strawberry ice cream: Stumbled upon this minuscule ice cream shop and was drawn in by newspaper clippings praising its unique flavors. Sadly, no especially bizarre combinations were to be found tonight, but I got a very solid Ontario strawberry ice cream that was somehow vegan despite being creamy and smooth. Strawberry flavor was very pure though more light than concentrated. Shout out to the extra nice worker that I ended up having a super long music conversation with on everything from math rock to Molly Nilss... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended icecream Toronto sweetolenkas ontario strawberry ice cream 4.0