new Dean and Deluca, Halloween, Bairin

Sunday.
Here is the new Dean and Deluca in the new Ritz Carlton Condominium in Waikiki on Saratoga and Kuhio.

The space is rather smaller than we expected (there are big ones in New York, for example) .

I was looking for some unusual jams but didn't find any.  Nothing very out of the ordinary on the shelves yet.

But the refrigerated deli section looked yummy.

And so did the pastries.  The pastry chef said there isn't a kitchen on premises yet, but the goodies are brought in every couple of days freshly baked.

We got the chocolate cake and fragrant iced tea and coffee and took them outside.  Unfortunately it was very windy so we hurriedly ate and left.
The cake was delicious!! Rich and light without being overwhelmingly sweet and sticky.

The $5.00 slice of cake was big enough to half and share.
The iced tea was $4.00 and iced coffee, $3.50.

Then to the Ala Moana Mall to walk a bit.
Venturing into the Halloween Store was so much fun.
Amazing how many items there are to make you up into anyone or anything you want to be for Halloween.
Very different from the homemade, simple costumes we had when we were little.
I remember trick or treating around the neighborhood and delighting in the familiar neighbors pretending to be astounded at seeing all of us little creatures.
Some really nice ones would invite us into their homes for cookies.
Thank you to all the grownups in those times for making warm and exciting memories for us.

The ghosts and monsters in the "elevators" in the back of the store were fun and creepy.

Cute hula show at Centerstage of youngsters playing ukuleles and dancing the hula.

For dinner we went to Bairin for tonkatsu.

They make us work grinding the sesame seeds for our sauce.  I guess if they're freshly roasted the aroma should whet your appetite.

Fillet katsu set.
(This always reminds us of the rest of the family in California who enjoy coming here whenever they visit)

And for dessert we were looking forward to McDonald's chocolate dipped cones---But, but, but the season for them is over!
So we settled for the hot fudge sundae.