Bye Bye Blog—Hello Instagram

Hey Readers!

I wanted to let all of you know that for the time being, I will no longer be posting on this blog. (That's unless I get super inspired to write something super long that won't fit into an Instagram post.)

Speaking of which, I'm still writing. Except now you'll be able to find me on Instagram, @Just.Droll.With.It.

I have a weekly series entitled #𝗪𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 whereby I review wafer-centric chocolates. (It's been a bunch of Kit Kats so far!)

To celebrate Halloween, I'm doing a Giveaway!



Check it out here.

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you over on Instagram.

Cheers,
Kevin

La Rocca Revisited Part 3—Here's the Scoop 🍦

(Note—this is the final post of a series.

1) The first review was for Mango Coconut Cheesecake.
2) The second review was for S'mores Cheesecake.)

The seasons change. The head chefs might change. But one thing that doesn’t change? La Rocca’s desserts remain breathtakingly beautiful, and their summer collection is no exception!

Avid readers may recall this previous post I wrote about La Rocca Creative Kitchen’s Christmas Collection.

With summer coming to a close, I decided to try some of their summer desserts before they’re gone.

---

And now, for our final dessert. 

What screams summer more than a big scoop of ice cream? And in a waffle cone too! Presenting: Here’s the Scoop. 🍦

The first thing that hit me when I opened the box was a wonderful waffle cone aroma. A great start!

Although the scent was strong, the taste was milder. I find waffle cones a bit too sweet, so this was just right for me. It was softer than a typical waffle cone due the chilled nature of the dessert. However, it still gave a good crunch.

Unlike the waffle cone, the pink ribbon was over-the-top sweet. The tiny chocolate ball enclosed within actually helped temper this.

Time for the inside Scoop.

You may recall I found La Rocca’s pistachio cake from their Christmas collection extremely disappointing. Then, this particular dessert, Here’s the Scoop, also included lemon anglaise. And as you may recall from my Mango Coconut Cheesecake review, I don’t like lemon/sour things. So needless to say, I was more than a little apprehensive about trying this.

Thankfully, I spoke with Jessica, the head pastry chef, (who was wonderfully gracious 🙏) and she eased my concerns.

Regarding the lemon anglaise (the yellow triangle in the photo below), she swore that it would not taste sour because it was mixed with vanilla. And in case I still didn’t like it, the dessert was designed in a way whereby I could simply eat around it. I still didn’t like it; it tasted too creamy to compensate for the lemon. As she promised though, it wasn’t sour.

I was interested in Here’s the Scoop for the scoop part—pistachio (my favourite nut). My other concern was that it would only offer a faint flavour like the Christmas version. She proudly proclaimed that if one of her desserts is promoting a particular flavour, it would definitely come through strong. Again, Chef Jessica lived up to her words. 👩‍🍳💯

If the previous pistachio dessert had the intensity of a lazy river, this one, and in particular the praline, hit like a tsunami! 🌊

The pistachio mousse (light green) was very flavourful. They sprinkled some pistachio pieces to give it even more flavour and some added texture. It was also airy, melt-in-your-mouth soft. The mousse was creamy, but this time, the pistachio got to shine.

Somehow, the pistachio praline took the taste to another level. You’ll notice in the photo that it’s a deep green. This is indicative of its phenomenal potency. Every spoonful was intoxicating! They also added pistachio pieces in here too, so there was a terrific crunch to it. It was brilliantly balanced, with just the right amount of sweetness, also allowing the pistachio to shine. 

It’s fitting that the last component we cover is the chiffon cake. With everything else happening inside the cone, it would’ve been easy to overlook it. It was simple in its sweetness but so sublime. Also, it was fantastically fluffy, providing a different enough texture from the mousse to add some depth. I could eat this chiffon cake plain and straight as it is, so I can see why they charge $55+ for a whole cake!

Verdict (aka Here's My Scoop on Here's the Scoop):
The pristine praline and magnificent mousse were immaculate. The first-class chiffon cake and wonderful waffle cone were lovely. Combined, they more than make up for the sub-optimal lemon anglaise and pink ribbon. To wit—this dessert was so nice that I had it thrice!

Summer may be over, but I’ll remember this perfect pistachio praline forever!

(Since this series is about summer, we're swapping out stars for suns.)

P.S. Thank you for reading this review series on La Rocca’s Summer Collection. Follow me on Instagram for more sweet content!

La Rocca Revisited Part 2—S'mores Cheesecake 🔥

(Note—this post is the second in a series. The first review was for Mango Coconut Cheesecake.)

The seasons change. The head chefs might change. But one thing that doesn’t change? La Rocca’s desserts remain breathtakingly beautiful, and their summer collection is no exception!

Avid readers may recall this previous post I wrote about La Rocca Creative Kitchen’s Christmas Collection.

With summer coming to a close, I decided to try some of their summer desserts before they’re gone.

---

Today, we'll be checking out the S'mores Cheesecake.

As you can see from the picture below, they've got all the s’mores components covered. The varying sizes of marshmallows is a nice touch and exemplify the level of detail and planning put into this. Bravo for yet another exquisitely designed dessert!

La Rocca advertised this as a smooth chocolate cheesecake, and it definitely lives up to it texture-wise. Although not as light as the Mango Coconut Cheesecake we looked at (few desserts are!), it's still solidly on the lighter side of cheesecakes.

As for flavour, the chocolate was a little subtler than I hoped for. It’s still on equal footing with the cheesiness of the cheesecake though. And it’s still sufficiently sweet.

Usually, I don’t like marshmallows; I find them too synthetic and too sweet. However, these hand-made vanilla bean marshmallows were more mellow, making this one happy fellow! Plus, the fact that they were roasted conjured some campfire comparisons.

From hand-made to house-made, the graham cracker was also well-executed. It supplied some snappiness to complement the cheesecake’s smoothness. And in a pleasant surprise, it was also slightly spiced. This added another dimension to the dessert’s profile. They also included graham cracker via the outer crumble and in the crust.

Lastly, the La Rocca emblazoned chocolate atop added some welcome chocolatiness. It was a good quality milk chocolate, which is a good segue for our verdict.

Verdict:

As a chocoholic, I was hoping for a stronger chocolate flavour. With that said, this S'mores Cheesecake is both a faithful and flavourful re-imagination of the signature summer treat. It works well because all the flavours get their moment in the sun! 😎

☀️☀️☀️☀️

(Since this series is about summer, we're swapping out stars for suns.)

La Rocca Revisited Part 1—Mango Coconut Cheesecake 🥥

(Note—this post is the first in a series.)

The seasons change. The head chefs might change. But one thing that doesn’t change? La Rocca’s desserts remain breathtakingly beautiful, and their summer collection is no exception!

Avid readers may recall this previous post I wrote about La Rocca Creative Kitchen’s Christmas Collection.

With summer coming to a close, I decided to try some of their summer desserts before they’re gone.

---

First up is the Mango Coconut Cheesecake.

I’ve definitely consumed my fair share of sweets. So, there are times where I’ll be eating one and immediately think back to a similarly tasting sweet. This Mango Coconut Cheesecake immediately conjured comparisons of zestier Chinese mango pudding. They both burst with magnificent mango flavour and are silky smooth. Although the mango is the main attraction, the cheesecake is a solid sidekick. It provides tanginess to complement the mango's sweetness.

The glaze atop adds even more mango goodness while supplying some sourness with its hint of lemon. I’m not a fan of lime and lemon, so I could’ve done without its inclusion. For those of you that do though, you’ll like it! 

A coconut white chocolate whipped ganache crowns the cheesecake. The coconut counterbalances the typical sweetness that comes with white chocolate. And it’s airy as expected.

Now, for the one part I haven’t mentioned yet—the coconut almond crust. The mango is the star of the show, but this was particularly impressive. Admittedly, the almond could’ve been a bit stronger. However, using almond, along with some desiccated coconut, gave the crust a memorable crunchiness. It provided a welcome textural contrast to the rest of the dessert's softness. 

Also, if I’m honest, standard cheesecake crust, made with graham cracker, is a bit plain to me. So like a cool summer breeze on a hot, humid day, this coconut almond crust was a breath of fresh air! 

Verdict:

The Mango Coconut Cheesecake was a very refreshing, tangy and tasty treat. Perfect for summer!

☀️☀️☀️☀️

(Since this series is about summer, we're swapping out stars for suns.)

A Different Kind of Blog Post 🔀

Colin Kaepernick was back in the news recently after Jay-Z struck a partnership with the NFL. I recently wrote a different kind of blog post, one about values-based marketing. I covered Kaepernick in it, so I thought I’d share it here with you. Here’s the excerpt:

Nike + Colin Kaepernick

Perhaps the most memorable values-based marketing campaign in recent memory was Nike’s “Just Do It” anniversary campaign in September 2018. This featured former NFL star Colin Kaepernick.

In case you’re not familiar with Kaepernick, the former 49ers quarterback infamously knelt for the national anthem before NFL games. He did this to protest social injustices such as police brutality and racial inequality. This drew incredible ire and ultimately led to him being blackballed from the NFL (he later settled a suit). Nike knew what it was doing when it decided to choose Kaepernick for this campaign. It sparked some severe opposition, with some customers calling for boycotts, while others even burned Nike merchandise to demonstrate their displeasure.

As you’ll learn later in this post, the campaign ended up being a success overall.

Click here to read the full post. 

Kyle Lowry—He The North (Published in Sports Illustrated July 15, 2019)

Although I’ve had content featured on TV and online several times, there’s something special about seeing one’s name in print. I’m proud to say that I accomplished that for the first time this week, as my letter to the editor was included in this week’s Sports Illustrated! 🙌

After I read Chris Mannix’s phenomenal feature on Kyle Lowry, I was inspired to write a response to articulate my appreciation. For the piece, the player, the person.

Here's the version they published:

And for your reading enjoyment, here's the original, unedited version:

Celebrating 1 Year of Blogging at Just Droll With It! 🎉

Time flies!
It’s already been a year since I started blogging here at Just Droll With It.

Whether you’ve been reading since the beginning, or if it’s your first time visiting—thank you! 🙏

To commemorate the occasion, and to help new readers catch up, here are the Top 3 Posts you should read:


La Rocca-ing Around the Christmas Tree 🎄
 

Why You Should Read It:
✅ Reviews and rates three distinctly different desserts from La Rocca’s Christmas collection
✅ Pairs each rating with an amusing “Christmas Comparison Verdict” to help get you in a festive mood
✅ Contains some of the most dazzling desserts you’ll ever see


Sportsnet Slays with Provocative Pregame Raptors Hype Video 😮


Why You Should Read It:
✅ Deconstructs what made this provocative promo video about the Raptors so effective
✅ Makes the Raptors’ championship even more satisfying after understanding the demons they exorcised
✅ Incorporates Kawhi’s (in)famous laugh into the closing line


SanRemo's Stellar Donuts 🍩


Why You Should Read It:
✅ Spotlights SanRemo Bakery, which blogTO ranked as having some of the Best Donuts in Toronto
✅ Reviews three donuts, including one of their most popular ones: Nutella
✅ Employs an alternate rhyming structure for a more unique and entertaining experience


To ensure you don’t miss any future posts, you can subscribe by submitting your email address at the top right of this page (option available on desktop).

Thank you for reading!

Cheers,
Kevin

We The Champs! 🏆 I Am Happy. 😊

From my previous piece at the beginning of this remarkable Raptors season:

We should believe in ourselves, our team, our city,

Instead of dwelling on supposed inferiorities.

As Masai also wisely preached, “We should move past that.”

Kawhi had the first, let’s hope he also has the last laugh.

So, let's check how we did. Well, not only did our city believe in the Toronto Raptors, our country did too:

✅ Record price paid for an NBA Finals game 🎟️
StubHub's average price for Game 5 in Toronto was $2,223 per ticket.

✅ Record TV ratings 📺
For the clinching Game 6, 15.9 million unique viewers, or almost half of Canada tuned in.

✅ Over 50 Jurassic Parks across the country! 🙌
And one down south too in Rockford, Illinois, the home of Fred VanVleet.


As for Kawhi "Fun Guy" Leonard:
✅ Brought the Toronto Raptors its first championship, or as he calls it, "The Larry O-B!" 🏆
✅ Became one of only three players to win NBA Finals MVP for multiple franchises 🐐
✅ Lived up to his self-given "Fun Guy" moniker 😂
✅ Had the last laugh! From yesterday's parade:

The Finals Countdown ⏳

Somehow, waiting for the NBA Finals to start for the last four days have felt almost more excruciating than the last 24 years of being a Raptors fan!

Game 1's Giveaway Shirt (Photo via @Raptors on Twitter)

It's safe to say that one fan has been waiting with even greater anticipation. The Raptors reached the NBA Finals the first time. Based on an exorbitant exchange on the ticket resale market, this fan backed up the Brinks truck like this might be the Raptors' last time!

The average Canadian salary is $51,000. A fan paid a pulse-stopping $76,477.50 CAD ($56,876.77 USD) on StubHub for a pair of courtside seats for Game 1 tonight in Toronto.

People are (fairly) freaking out about this stratospheric sum of money, but I get it. There are scores of reasons why basketball is incredible. One of them is the opportunity for fans to be so close to the action. Most sports have some barrier between the fans and the game. For instance, there is glass (hockey), netting (baseball) and personnel (both types of football).

Basketball places fans so close to the court that they are practically rubbing shoulders with the teams. Or in Drake's case—literally!

On that note, here's hoping for a Finals free of incident and full of excitement! (And hopefully, a storybook ending to this magical season for the Team in the North! LET'S G🏀 RAP🍁ORS!!!)

Loving Longo's Copywriting 📝

A question I've been asked in an application and interview recently is "What brands inspire you (as a copywriter)?"

My answer? Longo's.

I love (copy)writing. <Waves while typing this 👋.> And I love food (I mean, you've seen my blog, right? 😛). So it’s easy to see why I love Longo’s flyers. Longo’s does a phenomenal job of being informative, entertaining and captivating with its copy, specifically its headlines. 

My favourite flyer from Longo's uses the headline “Now Here's A Daily Grind You'll Love” with multiple meanings to tremendous effect:

The primary meaning, of course, is to promote their certified Angus lean ground beef. The second, subtler meaning references the Labour Day holiday around which it was advertised. And the third, even subtler meaning: students about to go back to school embark on a grind of their own.

I have also adopted the phrase “a daily grind I love” as a mantra for why I changed careers — I truly love copywriting! Ultimately, when I see a Longo’s flyer, I know there’s a great chance that it will both interest and inspire me.

Jumped Through Hoops For These Froot Loops ⭕

(The title is in reference my two and a half hour commute (!!!) home from SanRemo Bakery.)

Froot Loops Donut +
Apple Fritters

You’ll notice there are only two different donuts in the box. That’s because at 3:38 pm on a Friday, that’s all that’s left. To wit, this was the second last Froot Loops donut.

(I decided not to review the Fritters because mine contained considerably fewer apple pieces than usual.)

The Froot Loops donut was one of the new items that I was dying to try. (The other was Zeppole but all the good flavours were sold out.) Along with Corn Pops, Honeycomb and Honey Nut Cheerios, Froot Loops formed the foundation of my childhood cereal consumption.

This colourful creation takes the same signature stellar SanRemo donut and garnishes it with a generous helping of Froot Loops. I went in expecting the donut to have a generic glazed icing. So it was a shock to my system to discover that it was Froot Loops flavoured!

It is also possible the shock was actually a result of the icing’s intensity because it was super sweet! Its potency was equivalent to the endmilk of a bowl of cereal comprised of 80% Froot Loops and 20% milk. In fact, it was so sweet that half a donut was more than sufficient for a single sitting.

I did enjoy how the crunchiness of the cereal pieces brought an added dimension to the donut. On a related note, I think that’s probably the source of sugar overload. Having both the cereal and the icing likely led to its loopy levels of sweetness.

So as the title of this post ponders: was it worth it?

For the Froot Loops donut alone, no.

However, when you factor in the fritters (still superb), cannoli and cookies which are not pictured (excellent and good), and the opportunity to catch up with an old friend (invaluable), then yes it was well worth the two and a half hour commute home.

Froot Loops Donut:

3.5 Added Dimensions out of 5