The three-week-old stand, which will operate through the end of the year, sells more than a dozen varieties of gourmet Asian pears, as well as other merchandise such as dried Asian pears, Asian pear spread, Asian pear blossom honey and Asian pear wine vinegar, aged five years.

Shoppers can sample the pears while learning about some of the unique dishes that can be made with them — from frites, salads and stuffing to cakes, tarts and dumplings.

"An Asian pear is not only rounder than a European variety that we're accustomed to, it's also a lot older and boasts a flavor profile that's a lot deeper, making it much sweeter," said Thomas Sacks, Subarashii Kudamono's general manager.

The Coopersburg-based company began shortly after Joel Spira, the late Lutron founder and inventor of the dimmer switch, enjoyed an Asian pear while on business in Japan in 1973. After returning home, he found the fruit difficult to obtain, so he endeavored to grow his own.

Subarashii Kudomono, which means wonderful fruit in Japanese, now grows the fruit on two farms in Lynn Township and one farm in Heidelberg Township.

It offers classic varieties such as Yoinashi, featuring a butterscotch-like flavor, and Niitaka, featuring a nutty flavor, as well as six patented selections.

Among the patented pears, created using rootstock grafting and cross pollination techniques, are popular picks JunoSan, featuring an applelike flavor; and the newest variety, AnaSan, featuring melon and green grass flavors.

"The Spiras wanted to not only grow the world's most amazing Asian pears, they also wanted to have their own unique varieties — even sweeter for the American palate," said Holly Harter, Subarashii Kudamono's marketing director.

A 5-pound box, $29.95, includes five to eight pears of your variety choice while a 9-pound box holds nine to 18 pears.

For those who can't choose a favorite, a Subarashii Sampler Box contains three varieties and a Gourmet Lover Gift Box features a mix of fresh and dried Asian pears.

There is also an Adopt-a-Tree option, $195, which allows you to receive a seasonal total of 40 to 60 pounds of fresh Asian pears from your tree's harvest in three installments.

The stand, on the mall's lower level near Teavana, is open seven days a week during the mall's regular hours.

On Wednesdays, it presents "What's Up Wednesday," highlighting pear-centric culinary creations. On my visit, I devoured a delicious dried Asian pear vanilla brownie. Info: 610-282-7588 or wonderfulfruit.com.

Staying on the topic of the Lehigh Valley Mall, here are a few other happenings there.

First, The Fix is listed as coming soon to an upper level space near Champs Sports. The store will offer cellphone and other electronics repair, said Sherry Smith, the mall's marketing administrator. A tentative opening date has not been announced.

Second, The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting Nov. 12 for Lehigh Wireless, an authorized Cricket Retailer, on the mall's lower level near bareMinerals, according to a news release.

Cricket's cellphones and plans are prepaid, so there's no contract for annual phone service because payments are month to month. Info: cricketwireless.com.

Finally, here is a long list of the mall's holiday tenants that have recently opened or will be opening in the next couple weeks:

Bamboo Pillows (near Charlotte Russe); Bethlehem Art (near Charlotte Russe), featuring handmade wooden crosses, nativity scenes and other creations; Camel (near Gap), featuring handmade camel leather bags and accessories; Cutco (near guest services); Go! Calendars (near Macy's); Lehigh Valley Phantoms (near Abercrombie & Fitch); Letter Art (near Cinnabon); North Garden (near Helzberg Diamonds), featuring bamboo, bonsai trees and other gifts; Polar X (near Ruby Tuesday), featuring customizable ornaments; Step 2 Go (near Starbucks), featuring hover boards on wheels; Sunrise Scarves (near Verizon); Sunrise Sports (near Ruby Tuesday), featuring sports team accessories and gifts; Toy Island (near Teavana); Turquoise Ceramics (near Journeys); and What's Your Mood (near Cold Stone Creamery), featuring emoji pillows. Info: shoplehighvalleymall.com.

The Outlets at Sands Bethlehem also recently welcomed a holiday tenant: Go! Calendars, Games & Toys.

More news from the south Bethlehem entertainment destination includes the announcement that another celebrity chef will soon freshen up the 6-year-old casino floor.

As my colleague Matt Assad reported Tuesday, Cake Boss Buddy Valastro — a legend in the Hoboken neighborhoods where Sands draws many of its customers — will be opening an Italian restaurant in the casino early next year.

It's all part of a "soft" makeover that will see the casino get two new restaurants, new carpet and a rehab of all of its 302 hotel rooms, casino President Mark Juliano said.

The most immediate change will be the closing of St. James Gate Irish Pub and Carvery Nov. 30, on the southeast corner of the casino, to make way for Buddy V's Ristorante, tentatively scheduled to open by mid-February.

"We wanted another celebrity chef, someone who could offer an Italian restaurant that's a little more basic," Juliano said.

Following Buddy V's debut, Emeril's Italian Table will be closed to make way for Emeril's New Orleans Fish House, which will open in late spring after renovations.

Both new restaurants will feature upscale menus with lunch entrees in the $20 range and dinner ranging from $25 to $45.

In north Bethlehem, McCarthy's Red Stag Pub and Whiskey Bar will debut a three-level brick patio along Walnut Street, adjacent to the 534 Main St. restaurant, in about a week, owner Neville Gardner said.

The 24-seat patio, separated from the new sidewalk by bollards, will be utilized year-round as a dining and performance venue, added Gardner, who noted there likely will be heat lamps in the colder months.

Additionally, improvements to the restaurant's brick facade will be completed by early next year, he said. Info: redstagpub.com.

Just east of McCarthy's, Mixology Masters will open in mid-December at 77 W. Broad St., Suite 8C.

The business, owned by Michele Sandt, of Bethlehem, will serve as a bartending school, as well as a mixology center, hosting wine, beer and craft cocktail seminars and special events. You also will be able to rent bartenders for private functions.

Seminars and other events will begin Dec. 16 with holiday martini glass painting while bartending classes should begin in February or March, Sandt said.

There will be 10-15 students in each three-week class (58 hours total), Sandt said, and each student will learn 230 drinks, including classic and new concoctions. Info: 610-419-4676.

Work on Kings Pizza continues in the Weis Plaza on Glenlivet Drive West in Fogelsville.

The 20-seat restaurant should open in three to six weeks in Suite 107, according to Prince Mujaj, son of co-owners Harry and Ela Mujaj and a worker at the couple's 11-year-old restaurant, Two Kings Pizza, on Route 309 in New Tripoli.

The new eatery will serve soups, salads, burgers, cheesesteaks, pizza, appetizers and more.

Other businesses that are coming soon to the plaza include China Moon, SuperCuts and Natural Sweet Gallery.

I'll wrap-up with news on the Lehigh Valley's first indoor trampoline parks.

First, SkyZone Trampoline Park opened Friday at the Westgate Mall on Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem, according to the business' Facebook page.

Second, FreeFall Trampoline Park will open Monday at 2800 Baglyos Circle in Bethlehem Township, according to spokeswoman Nicole Cochetti.