To help fete the 40th anniversary of Japan’s iconic feline character, a pop-up restaurant in Tokyo will serve Hello Kitty-shaped foods like finger sandwiches, apple pie and even drumsticks stamped with the character's instantly recognizable, mouthless face.
The Hello Kitty cafe at the Shibuya Parco shopping center's Guest Cafe and Diner is just one of several events being held in Japan and around the world to celebrate one of the world’s most beloved cartoon characters.
Starting next week, guests can choose between twee little dishes and foods like turkey and prosciutto sandwiches in Hello Kitty cut-outs or dishes; apple pie; cheesecake; and herbed and Cajun-spiced drumsticks.
Hello Kitty specialty coffees like lattes and cappuccinos will also be available, as well as Hello Kitty red, white and sparkling wines. The cafe runs November 14 to December 25.
Meanwhile, South Korea is already home to a Hello Kitty cafe franchise with a handful of locations across the country that serve up Hello Kitty-themed coffees and desserts.
A similar concept is expected to hit the US next year, when a Hello Kitty Cafe food truck will open as a brick and mortar cafe in Orange County, California. The cafe will serve pastries and desserts as well as savoury foods like salads and sandwiches.
Over the weekend, a Hello Kitty convention in Little Tokyo near Los Angeles drew an estimated 25,000 fans over its four-day run.
And Taiwanese airline EVA Air flies a Hello Kitty jet on routes such as Taipei to Paris, Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong that includes everything from Hello Kitty-themed seats, soap, foods and flight attendants. -- AFP RELAXNEWS