Tim Hortons Takes a Slice: First Impressions of the New Flatbread Pizza

Tim Hortons Unveils New Flatbread Pizza: First Impressions

Tim Hortons recently launched their brand-new flatbread pizza, which was the talk of the town. We wanted to try it for the first time and decided to do a first impressions video.

Ordering Up

Our initial excitement was dampened by the limited vegetarian options. With only pepperoni, bacon, and cheese on the menu, we settled for the chicken parmesan—the only option without pork. We also grabbed two coffees to complete our meal.

Behind the Counter

Intrigued by the preparation process, we watched as the staff assembled our pizza. The flatbread base was brushed with what appeared to be oil or butter, followed by a layer of sauce, cheese, and what we presumed to be parmesan cheese. The chicken was then added, making it the only option suitable for our dietary restrictions.

Super Fast Machine

The most surprising aspect of the experience was the cooking time. The pizza went into a compact oven and emerged a mere minute later, perfectly golden brown. This efficiency is a definite advantage for those on the go.

First Impressions

The pizza itself was a decent size, measuring approximately 11 by 7 inches. The initial aroma was pleasant, with a hint of cheesiness. However, the first bite revealed a noticeable level of saltiness, which may be a drawback for some.

Final Notes

Despite the higher salt content, we were generally satisfied with our Tim Hortons flatbread pizza. The crust was soft and not greasy, and the overall taste was decent. At a price point around $7.99, it's a convenient and affordable option for a quick bite.

Also, another feature we liked a lot about our Tim Hortons pizza was that it wasn’t too oily like Pizza Pizza. We found nothing major to complain about and we don’t mind having Tim Hortons flatbread pizza once in a while on an ongoing basis.  

Tim Hortons Pizza Challenge! First Impressions! (Honest Review)

Niagara Falls Marriott on the Falls Review – My Worst Marriott Experience

Marriott on the Falls Niagara Falls Canada Review

After staying at numerous Marriott hotels across the globe, I can say that I had my worst customer service experience at Niagara Falls Marriott on the Falls.

As I always do, I asked for an upgrade at the Bonvoy check in counter. The Asian-Indian woman had no idea what a courtesy upgrade was and demanded money. I told her that I have had upgrades from many other Marriotts and this had never happened before. I told her about my last Marriott experience in Manila. She reluctantly moved me to a king bed from 2 queen beds.

It’s not that I didn’t like not getting an upgrade. Many other Marriott hotels had declined me before, but with a smiling face and saying they were unable to accommodate me. But this rep didn’t even know how to handle it.

After a couple of hours, I went to the Bonvoy counter again for slippers, as there were none provided in the room. This time there was Chinese lady who asked me to wait, so she can give me the slippers to take back to my room.

My partner was shocked because it is humiliating to hand over amenities to the customer. I asked her, “Isn't someone supposed to take it to the room?” She said, “No, I will give it to you now.”

Instead of arguing, I returned to the room with a pair of dangling slippers. It was like a demonstration of how bad a Marriott can be.

I am a Bonvoy member but they never mentioned any thanks or appreciation for it, like they do at all other Marriotts. I wanted to call Marriott to complain, but my lady stopped me and asked me to let it go and still have a good vacation after some unprofessional associates ruined the name of Marriott within our first 2 hours of checking in.

Next morning, I wanted to print a copy of my itinerary, but the printer in the business centre had no ink. I notified someone and she said to come back after 30 minutes. I came back after 2 hours and still they hadn’t changed the ink.

I asked someone else again and she said to email her my itinerary and she would print it from a printer in her office. I was not comfortable emailing it and let it go.

I couldn’t help thinking about other Marriott hotels I had been to and their unparalleled service and attention to detail! My next Marriott stay is expected to be in Bangkok, Thailand and can’t wait to check in at a different Marriott again!

How to Pay TTC with A Credit Card or A Bank Debit Card

How to Pay TTC Fare with A Credit Card | How to Pay TTC with a Bank Card

The Toronto transit system (TTC), also called the Metro in many places, now accepts credit cards and bank cards to pay your fare. The various payment options available to pay TTC fare are:

- Visa

- Mastercard

- American Express

- Interac® Debit

- Visa Debit

- Debit Mastercard

- Apple Pay

- Google Pay

You can use mobile devices or smartwatches to pay TTC fares as long as they are equipped with Apple Pay or Google Pay.

There are no additional charges to use the convenience of using a credit card or bank card at TTC Presto reader machines. You will be paying the same $3.30 TTC fare (as of this writing) you would normally pay with your Presto card.

Also, you will enjoy a two-hour transfer when you use your bank or credit card on a Presto reader, the same as a Presto card.

When I charged my American Express card on a Presto reader, it only showed “accepted”. I tapped again after one hour – again it showed “accepted”. It looks like a Presto reader doesn’t show if you are within your two-hour period or past your two hours.

I checked my Amex account online and saw only a $1 charge. My guess is this just a pre-authorization charge and the actual charge will appear within a few days.

Paying with your credit card debit card feature is a good decision and it will make peoples’ life a lot easier, especially for tourists traveling to Toronto. I am thinking about not carrying my Presto card anymore to save space in my wallet.

I have a video documenting my experience paying TTC with a credit card (Video was recorded, edited, and published from my Pixel phone):

How to Pay TTC Fare with A Credit Card

Huntsville and Orillia, Ontario Trip | Cottage Country Travel

Cottage Country Canada Trip Challenge

My trip to the cottage country in Ontario, Canada will begin in a day. This will be my first trip within Canada this year (2022).

I have created a YouTube Travel Playlist for this trip, which will feature travel videos from Canada's popular cottage country locations in Huntsville (Muskoka) and Orillia (Simcoe County).

I am trying different formats and styles of videos in this playlist. There will be short-length videos, some long videos, and lots of YouTube Shorts.

The Trip Challenge is to post as many updates as possible throughout the trip. For this reason, I am taking my laptop. My goal is to stop over here and there to post fresh videos. However, due to circumstances and network availability, I may not be able to update anything.

The reason for this Cottage Country Canada Trip Challenge is to take lessons and design my upcoming trip to Asia next month, which is an even bigger and longer trip.

I will have to drive about 3 hours to reach my first destination and I am hoping to stop over somewhere in the middle and publish a quick post.

As of now, it looks like I got some favourable weather and it is expected to be sunny and warm, hovering around 25° C (77° F). Although this is hot, but it’s nowhere near the weather in Dhaka, which has a hot and humid tropical climate.

January is the coolest month in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with temperatures averaging near 26 C (78 F), which is their winter but the same temperature as summer in Canada.

You can follow all these trips on my YouTube Channel right here: www.YouTube.com/ADawn

What Are the Best places to Visit in Toronto For Free?

Top 3 Free Things to Do in Toronto

My top three best things to do in Toronto list is different than what you may come across on most other top tourist spots in Toronto recommendations. Notably, I eliminated crowded tourist landmarks such as CN Tower, museums, and many other tourist hot spots.

Rather, my top picks are where no one usually goes, compared to other top visited attractions, and you will find hidden gems in these top three picks. All these top picks are kid friendly and virtually free. Let’s begin.

Toronto Islands

The Toronto Islands, also known as the Island, or Toronto Island Park, are a chain of 15 small islands located in Lake Ontario, a short 13-minute ferry ride from downtown Toronto. The 3 most popular islands are Centre Island, Ward Island, and Hanlan’s Point.

On the Islands, you’ll find sandy swimming beaches (including a Clothing Optional Beach on Hanlan's Point), bike, canoe and kayak rentals, a marina, sports & park facilities, big grass fields for picnics, a theatre, nature trails, a fire station, and some residents. 

Visit my detailed How to Go to The Toronto Islands for more on this.

The Tall Ship Kajama

One of the best Toronto boat cruises is on a 165-foot-tall ship Schooner leaving from Toronto’s downtown Harbourfront.

I find the price of $35 to be a great value for sailing on Toronto Harbour and Lake Ontario. They even go close to the Islands, fire a canon, and sing. There is a mini bar offering drinks, snacks, and food. Washrooms are clean.

Overall, I recommend this tour. Employees are very friendly as well. Visit Kajama Tall Ship - Toronto Boat Cruise for more on this.

Trillium Park

Trillium Park is located next to Ontario Place in Toronto. It is a stunning urban waterfront park.

It has the best views for both sunrises and sunsets and offers an unobstructed view of the CN Tower and Toronto skyline. Regrettably, many Torontonians have never heard of Trillium Park.

Visit Trillium Park Toronto for more on this.