Prepping for Pumpkins This Halloween

Happy early-Halloween, Ono readers! With All Hallows Eve close to a week away, I thought it would be nice to take a ghost of a chance and start the Halloween festivities a little early this year. No, I haven’t decided on a costume yet, or stocked up on candy for the trick-or-treaters, but I can say that I’ve carefully picked out my pumpkins and plan to carve out some good times with a pumpkin-carving bash. Only freaky monsters allowed!

Rumor has it that jack-o’-lanterns are very influential this time of year, as the faces that are carved out of the pumpkins are meant to scare bad “spirits” away. Take it as you will, but what I love most about this season is the variety of foods that derive from the purest of pumpkins.

This week, I had a spooktacular good time trick-or-treating at my favorite “Ono, You Know” establishments for the best pumpkin creations around. Luckily for me, I was welcomed with no tricks, just treats — pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheese-cake, pumpkin butter mochi and even pumpkin lasagna! I was tickled to my bones!

So, go ahead, read on and get ready to carve out those jazzy jack-o’-lanterns and feast on pumpkin delights.

There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow with candlelight.

Patisserie La Palme D’or

In the spirit of Halloween, Patisserie La Palme D’or has turned pumpkins into sinful masterpieces with its delectable Halloween treats. This upscale patisserie, owned by Hiromi Tanaka, is bustling with customers who can’t wait to get their hands on none other than its holiday specialties, and head chef Akiko Kimura is working hard to meet their demands. Everything here is made with the finest ingredients and a passion for the craft, as Kimura offers a blend of French flavor and Japanese craftsman-ship in each of her heavenly creations.

The countdown to All Hallows Eve is on — eight days to be exact — which means there’s more than enough time to satisfy your sweet tooth with Patisserie La Palme D’or’s Pumpkin Cheesecake and Pumpkin Pudding. Hear that rumble? Don’t be alarmed, it’s not from a ghoul or goblin, it’s just my stomach growling.

The Pumpkin Cheesecake ($30 whole cake, $4.10 per slice) is captivating in every sense of the word, as La Palme’s famous cheesecake is kicked up a notch and blended with the most extravagant pumpkin puree and spices atop an almond and hazelnut cookie crust. Lastly, it’s adorned with a cinnamon honey creme to accentuate the flavor. Simply marvelous! Now, if you’re in pursuit of yet another of Kimura’s Halloween/holiday specialties, the Pumpkin Pudding ($3.60) is to die for. For a tasty treat, holler “trick-or-treat,” and before you know it, you’ll be devouring spoonfuls of pumpkin custard pudding, topped with original whipped cream with a hint of caramel.

Brew up some fun this Halloween and make no bones about it!

1132 Cafe & Catering

Bringing some spice to the ghostly gathering next week is 1132 Cafe & Catering which will put a spell on you with its boo-tiful Pumpkin Lasagna and Pumpkin Pizza. Located at 999 Bishop St. (First Hawaiian Center) and 1132 Bishop St., this convenient downtown cafe attracts the appetites of anyone from business professionals to those searching for a healthy alternative.

Now through the end of the month, owners Stefan and Edna Kruger are serving up the most exotic pumpkin creations. Priced at $7.26, the Pumpkin Lasagna is homemade and consists of a pumpkin puree intermixed with 1132 Cafe’s tantalizing lasagna.

“The lasagna is a very healthy option and great for the fall season,” says Edna, also noting that the majority of items are derived from her own personal recipes. Also paired with the lasagna is your choice of Mixed Green Salad with a homemade spicy cucumber dressing or Caesar Salad.

The Pumpkin Pizza ($15.75 whole pizza, $3.96 per slice) is another great option when the cooler weather is upon us. According to Edna, the pizza is topped with fresh pieces of pumpkin, carrot slices, steamed broccoli, bacon bits and fresh mozzarella cheese. This delectable pizza also can be catered to vegetarian taste buds, as Edna will hold off on the bacon bits, resulting in a veggie lover’s dream come true.

“People seem to love the combination of ingredients on this pizza — it’s very unique,” she says.

So, don’t be a scaredy cat, go ahead and explore the possibilities of pumpkin perfection at 1132 Cafe & Catering.

Larry’s Bakery

Picking up on the pumpkin extravaganza is the one and only Larry’s Bakery on Lawehana Street, also known as one of my baked good sanctuaries. As soon as I arrive I know that owners Iris Yafuso and her brother Lance are going to whisk me away to the kitchen where all the magic happens. This Salt Lake bakery is literally a Halloween wonderland, featuring the most festive of goodies for this haunting holiday.

“For Halloween we have our Pumpkin Pie ($13), Pumpkin Custard Pie ($13) and Pumpkin Butter Mochi ($2 each),” Iris says. “Halloween is a lot of fun, because we really get into it with all of our different treats.”

Care for a bite of pie? Even vampires can’t wait to sink their teeth into Larry’s Bakery’s utterly divine pies, made from scratch. These 9-inch, deep-dish pies are going fast, so I highly recommend placing your order at least a day in advance.

“Our Pumpkin Pie is unique because we use a secret ingredient that originated from my dad’s recipe,” Iris explains.

“The Pumpkin Custard Pie was actually made by mistake,” she adds with a laugh. “Years ago, in the late ’70s, we didn’t realize we had combined both the pumpkin and custard flavors, and when we baked the pie, the custard and pumpkin split into two layers. Surprisingly it ended up being delicious and ever since then it’s been a hit!”

And for good reason. As a fan of both custard and pumpkin pie, I really couldn’t ask for more — it’s like colliding two fabulous worlds into one.

However, my favorite of the bunch and the perfect treat to share on Halloween night is the onolicious Pumpkin Butter Mochi! In fact, this perfect pumpkin treat is a new creation made especially for Ono, You Know. Lucky us and luck you! Now you get to taste the magnificent butter mochi with zesty pumpkin flavor!

“We’re also offering hand-decorated cookies shaped as Frankenstein, pumpkins, ghosts, bats, skulls and other treats full of Halloween fun,” Iris shares, noting that the price of cookies range from $1.50 to $4.50 and Halloween baskets/sets range from $5 to $12.

Be sure to eat, drink and be scary at Larry’s Bakery this Halloween. Halloween howls and pumpkins await.