At its grand reopening this summer, O‘ahu culinary standout Mugen (mugenwaikiki.com), located in Espacio’s Waikiki resort (espaciowaikiki.com), welcomed a fresh face to the kitchen: pastry chef Jamon Harper. Bringing bold and flavorful desserts to Mugen’s tables, Harper’s delicacies draw from nostalgic flavor profiles with an innovative twist—“introducing something new and unexpected or reimagining a childhood favorite that encourages guests to rediscover a precious moment or memory from the past,” Harper explains. He draws inspiration from memories, including those of his late mother, whom he names as his ultimate influence for nostalgic pastry pursuits. One icy hot reimagined favorite on the afterdinner menu is Harper’s Neapolitan rendition, which features strawberry pink peppercorn, Mililani chocolate and spiced coconut with house-spun cotton candy on top. Harper also looks to his surroundings for inspiration, pointing toward admiration for Anthony Bourdain’s passion for different cultures’ cuisines. With 15 years of experience both in Hawai‘i and on the mainland, Harper calls Hawai‘i a “food lover’s paradise” and incorporates local zest into many of his tempting recipes, including mouthwatering local Manoa Chocolate infused with flavors like liliko‘i, yuzu and hazelnut.
Pastry chef Jamon Harper of Mugen prepares Mililani chocolate featuring cremeux with potato crisps, smoked cashew soil and miso. PHOTO COURTESY OF AQUA-ASTON HOSPITALITY
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