Dell's Kitchen and Bakery

Thanks to our sponsor for the complimentary meal. All opinions are my own.

We recently had the pleasure of visiting Dell’s Kitchen & Bakery in McCully for a cozy lunch stop, and it did not disappoint! From their comforting savory plates to the perfectly chilled drinks, everything hit the spot—especially on a warm Honolulu afternoon.

What We Tried

• Ahi Katsu
  Crispy on the outside, tender and flavorful on the inside. This lightly fried ahi filet was golden perfection—satisfying without being too heavy. A must-try for seafood lovers!

  
  

  

• Tonkatsu Curry
  Classic comfort food. The pork cutlet was juicy and crispy, served with rich, flavorful curry and rice. Simple, hearty, and exactly what you'd want from a katsu plate.

  
  

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• Each plate comes with a cabbage salad and a scoop of potato salad. Not bad at all, but the real stars of the show are definitely the entrees themselves—so well-executed and satisfying.

• Lava Float (Last Month’s Drink of the Month)
  This colorful treat was a tropical dream—sweet, fizzy, and fun. While it’s no longer on the menu, it gave us serious summer vibes.

  
  

  

• Strawberry Matcha Yuzunade (Signature Drink)
  Bright, citrusy—this drink was incredibly refreshing. We can see why it’s a signature!

  
  

  

And speaking of refreshing, this month’s drink special is a Melon Cream Soda, and it sounds just as exciting and thirst-quenching. Can’t wait to go back and give it a try!

Of course, I couldn’t leave without checking out their bakery. To my delight, they had their Salt & Butter Rolls in stock—something I rarely catch since they often sell out before I arrive. Soft, buttery, and just the right touch of saltiness—they're worth making a special trip for on their own.

Dell’s Kitchen & Bakery is the perfect spot for a casual lunch. And if you’re into unique, seasonal drinks, their rotating specials are worth checking out. Whether you're a local or just visiting, this spot is definitely worth adding to your lunch rotation!

DELL'S KITCHEN & BAKERY

1110 MCCULLY STREET

808-840-0496

 

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Visit Osaka: A Pizza

It is sometimes challenging for our family of 5 to find a place to eat in Japan, since most of the eateries we come across are small and have limited seating.

The first time we tried visiting A Pizza on a whim, the earliest reservation was 8pm, so we tried walking in at 6pm to no avail.  Takeout was an option, but we decided to go somewhere else instead.

We tried walking in again a couple of evenings later at 530pm, and the employee made it happen, saying if we can squeeze in on a table and be done in 2 hours, we could have the table.  

A Pizza has a variety of personal-sized flatbread pizzas to choose from. 

Salt Butter Cheese

Teriyaki Chicken Mayo

Potato Mayonaisse

Funghi

White Bismarck

The White Bismarck is the only one that does not come cut.  They describe this pizza similar in taste to carbonara.  It has a white sauce, bacon, cheese, egg, and mayo.  This pizza, along with the Potato Mayo, are two of the most popular pizzas as identified on their menu.

I didn't get to try the Salt Butter Cheese, but of the remaining four, the Funghi was my favorite.

All of the pizzas were great, however, and I'm so happy that the employee was able to take us in. 

They also have a variety of salads, appetizers, and other main dishes if you want something in addition to or other than pizza.

A Pizza

2 Chome-5-10 Nipponbashi

Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0073, Japan

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Visit Osaka: Matsu Take

Near our hotel in Osaka was Matsu Take. The first time we tried going, the coffee machine was broken so they weren't allowing customers in.

A couple days later we tried again, and the coffee machine must've been working, because they were allowing customers.

The morning menu, like many other tiny cafes in Japan, was limited, but still satisfying.

Ham & Egg Toast

I had the Ham & Egg Toast.  The toast was not the soft & toasty bread I was expecting (and have had at other places in Japan), but it was still tasty.

Pancake

Toast and Egg

For the Toast and Egg, you can have your choice of syrups - chocolate, caramel, strawberry, or honey.

Tonjiru (Pork Miso Soup), Egg, Pickles

Close up of the Tonjiru, which is a hearty miso soup with pork and veggies

Matsu-Take was a nice find for breakfast!

Matsu Take

Japan, 〒556-0005 Osaka, Naniwa Ward

Nipponbashi, 3 Chome−7−20 福島ビル

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Visit Kona: Walua Social

Helmed by Chef Chad Yamamoto and Chef Alessandro Taras, Walua Social offers the best pasta on the Big Island, in my opinion. 

White Bean Dip + Focaccia

I know they say not to eat or order bread when dining out, but I can't help myself.  This Focaccia was so amazing on its own, and the White Bean Dip is something you don't see a lot, at least locally.  Highly recommend!

Red Baby Romaine

Prosciutto di Parma

The Prosciutto di Parma salad included ripe papaya - a nice local twist on the common prosciutto and melon.

Agnolotti

Rigatoni Bolognese

Pappardelle

We loved the oxtail served with the pappardelle, and I liked the sweetness of the pumpkin agnolotti, but my fave pasta was the rigatoni bolognese.  It was pasta perfection!

Pork Chop

The Pork Chop was huge, and yet so juicy and moist!

Budino

I loved the Budino.  It was so decadent, and it had Speculoos cookies for a nice textural contrast.  It was heavenly! 

Zeppole

I was beyond stuffed, but Chef Chad asked if we wanted to try the Zeppole.  It comes in a set of four, but I asked for just one (and he brought out two).  It was a hybrid mochi / malasadas served with a Lilikoi butterscotch sauce.  The pastry itself was delightful on its own, and the sauce just added another dimension of flavor. 

Service was excellent!  We had a fantastic meal from start to finish!

Note: Naʻau is doing a collab with Walua on July 23 & 24!

Walua Social
75-5864 Walua Rd

Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

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Visit Osaka: Caffe Veloce

While walking around our hotel looking for some breakfast eats to take back to our room, we found Caffe Veloce.  Unfortunately, it wasn't open yet, so we decided to go back a couple days later, and ended up dining in, as there was ample seating on the main and upper levels.

They have an assortment of drinks to choose from, like coffees, hot or ice chocolates, matcha lattes, and more.

There are grab-and-go sweets, such as chocolate chunk scones, coffee danishes, baumkuchens, and croissants. 

And you can also order from the morning menu.

Cheese & Ham Toast

Cheese & Tuna Toast

Egg & Bacon Sandwich

I had the Egg & Bacon Sandwich - it was simple, but so tasty!  I especially liked the mustard, which gave the sandwich a nice tang.


Caffe Veloce

Japan, 〒556-0011 Osaka, Naniwa Ward

Nanbanaka, 2 Chome−1−18 丸丹ビル １Ｆ

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Lunch Specials at Appetito Craft Pizza and Wine Bar

Granchio Fettuccine

We were speechless when we arrived to Appettito in Waikiki and learned they did not
serve their delicious pizzas during lunch. For a split second we debated whether we
should just leave, but after the shock wore off we decided to stay and check out their
lunch sets.

The lunch sets feature an assortment of delicious sounding pastas and a daily
sandwich. Each special comes with a salad and soft drink, coffee, or tea. While we missed the pizzas a lot, the pasta dishes were definitely a welcomed consolation. 

Homemade Lasagna

Bacon and Eggplant Arrabiata

Shrimp Genovese Pasta

Daily Sandwich - Egg salad

Salad with set

Lunch is served from 11am to 1:30pm followed by Happy Hour from 3pm to 6pm. Hopefully, they begin to serve pizzas at lunch. Service was friendly and attentive. Validated parking is available at the Outrigger Waikīkī Paradise Hotel (formerly Ohana Waikiki East).

Appetito Craft Pizza and Wine Bar

150 Kaiulani Ave Honolulu, HI 96815

808-501-2001

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My Must-Have Travel Bags

Whether backpacks, slings, messenger bags, or carry-ons, these are the items we frequently use as a #TeamCarryOn family: (links are affiliate)  

My every day bag, including for most trips, is this Travelon Messenger Bag.  It has clips to lock zippers in place and several zippered pockets.  I like that there are two water bottle holders since I drink a lot of water when I travel and am out and about. 

If I'm taking a lot of public transportation and doing a lot of walking in a city, I use this Travelon Sling. It has ample pockets like the messenger back, as well as clips to secure zippers, but it only has one water bottle holder (I attached a water bottle holder I got at Disney years ago to hold another water bottle).

My kids have been using these Slings for years.  Each of the kids have one in a specific color.  They have plenty of pockets inside and out, as well as a compartment to hold your phone, as well as two compartments to hold water bottles.  

This Outdoor Sling is used a lot by my husband.  It has several pockets to store all sorts of items.  This backpack only has one water bottle holder, however.  

If we are carrying on more than usual, we use this Travel Laptop Backpack.  It can hold lots of gear and clothes!

This Travel Backpack is very roomy, and it holds a lot of items, allowing you to carry-on only.  

We got this Underseat Carry-On for smaller planes that limit the size of carry-ons, as well as for times when we may not get an early boarding priority, which may mean overhead bin space is limited.  This carry-on may not fit under all seats depending on the plane and configuration, but it's compact size makes it suitable for scenarios mentioned earlier. 

The carry-on has ample space and can hold quite a bit!

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